Quick Seed- Saving Facts • Self-pollinating, flowering plants, such as tomatoes, pep- pers, beans and peas, are the easiest choices for seed-saving and require little to no special preparation prior to storage. • Some plants, such as car- rots and beets, need two growing seasons before they develop via- ble seeds. So you have to use cut- tings to propagate. • Save open-pollinated va- rieties because seeds from hy- brids, two plants that have been crossed, won’t produce new plants that are similar to the original. • Plants with separate male and female flowers, like cucum - bers, squash, and tomatillos, may cross-pollinate. So the seeds you save at the end of the season may produce a different flavor, appearance or other characteris- tics next summer. • Seeds from peppers, peas, and beans can be harvested and spread out to dry. But tomato seeds need to soak and ferment in some water for about five days (seeds will sink) to remove the gel from the seeds before drying. • Store dry seeds in tightly- sealed glass containers and in a dry, cool location, ideally be- tween 32º and 41ºF. The fridge works! • Buy plant starts from local farmers and start your own heir- loom seeds to pass down! N
ing and selling seeds, most seed sav- ing today is done by governments or official seed banks. The world’s larg - est, most comprehensive seed bank is the Millennium Seed Bank in Sus- sex, England with over 2.4 billion seeds representing approximate - ly 40,000 species. However, Nor- way’s Svalbard Global Seed Vault is probably the most famous and is the largest secure, long-term storage of thousands of varieties of seed sam- ples of essential food crops. What a precious thing to give or re- ceive the seed of a unique, delicious tomato that perhaps your great-great grandfather planted in his victory garden during World War I. Heritage seeds can light the spark to grow, nur- ture and feed a new generation. >> Brace Against Uncertainty For nearly 30% of the world’s pop- ulation, moderate to severe food in- security is a daily tragedy. In the U.S., that number was 13.5% in 2023 as 18 million American households struggled to afford enough food for themselves and their families. I have read many stories of people who, during 2020, awakened to the pos- sibility that easy access to food may not always be the case. Personal and community gardens significantly in - creased, and the pandemic spurred a younger wave of gardeners to dig in the dirt and grow their own food. Saving and protecting seeds is one small action that can turn uncer- tainty into opportunity. As Jordan Chabonneau writes, “When we fail to continue the work of stewarding seeds, we lose thousands of years of work and information. We lose biodi- versity. We lose culture. We lose fla - vor. We lose celebration.”
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cal starts, they’ve thrived, for the most part. Saving seeds and replanting year after year can produce plants and fruit adapted to your climate that can handle the pest, weather and soil challenges your garden may face. >> Preserve and Bestow There was a time when seeds were carefully protected and passed down from one generation to the next. His - tory is full of stories of people saving seeds from fires, floods, famine, en - dangerment, war and other disasters and dire situations. There are still some cultures and families that save seeds for heritage, but, due to laws and regulations around saving, shar-
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