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saving seeds
Reprinted by permission from Coping with Turbulent Times newslet-
ter, c/o III, Box 4630 SFA Sta., Nacogdoches, TX 75962.
$5/four issues, $1 & SASE for sample.
SAVING SEEDS: THE GARDENER'S GUIDE TO GROWING & SAVING VEGETABLE
& FLOWER SEEDS (revision of '78 Growing & Saving Veg. seeds),
Marc Rogers, '90, 185 pages 6x9 (wide margins), $10 + $2.75 p&h
in '92, Garden Way, 105 Schoolhouse Road, Pownal VT 05261. 800-
827-8673. Free catalog of 250 + titles: gardening, animals,
cooking, crafts, building.
With petunia seed over $10,000 and tomato over $2,500 per
pound, Marc Rogers concluded that seeds aren't cheap. Seed
saving can cut costs, and reduce dependence on seed companies.
And, by careful selection "you can produce plants best suited to
your climate and your growing conditions." This book gives
directions for saving seeds of 48 vegetables and 61 flowing
ornamentals.
"Watch your plants throughout the growing season.... It is
the whole plant, rather than an isolated fruit, that you should
consider...." Save seed from early-bearing plants, to encourage
that trait. Mark your seed producing plants with a ribbon, or
stake, so they're not accidentally harvested.
Seeds picked before they're mature won't have enough stored
nourishment for a good start, or even to last the winter. (Seeds
"carry on their basic life processes even while dormant, but at a
very low rate.") Fruits, such as tomatoes, peppers, and
eggplant, should be allowed to get "a bit overripe, before seed
is collected." Harvest melons for seed and eating at the same
time.
Tomato and cucumber seeds separate from the pulp easier
after fermenting in a little water. Stir a few times daily to
discourage mold. The good seeds will sink to the bottom. After
4-5 days rinse them and spread to dry,
"Most seeds, in most climates will dry adequately for home
storage if spread on paper towels or newspapers in an airy place
for a week." Turn seeds and replace paper several times if
necessary. Larger seeds take longer. If conditions are damp and
you use artificial heat, don't go over 100(better 90) F.
Fungi are almost inactivated at 50 F, and bacteria at under
about 18% moisture, therefore, "keep your stored seeds dry and
cool. ... Long-term storage in the refrigerator or freezer is
your best bet ..."
Silica gel (at drug, camera, craft, or hardware stores) may
be used as a desiccant. Most "is treated to turn color when it
has absorbed its maximum of moisture." It may be repeatedly
oven-dried for reuse.
"It's hard to go wrong growing peas or beans for seed", thus
they are perfect for beginning seed savers to start with, says
Marc.
Scientific as well as common names are given for all plants.
Address and catalog price given for 50 seed companies, large and
small. The U of MN's Source List of Plants is mentioned as
listing "over 20,000 varieties...commercially available in N
America." For info about the Seed Savers Exchange, Marc says to
send a SASE to RR3 Box 239, Decorah, IA 52101. Their 418 page
Garden Seed Inventory ($17 1/2 ppd) describes 5,000+ non-hybrid
veg. varieties from 240 catalogs. County extension agents may
know of local/regional seed exchanges.
Review by Julie Summers, who's also in DWELLING PORTABLY (sample
$1, POB 190-sr, Philomath, OR 97370); SURVIVALIST SIG (sample $1
1/2, POB 20188-js, Cleveland, OH 44120); & COLTSFOOT (wild edible
plants, sample $2, RR1 Box 313A-js, Shipman, VA 22971).