Saving seeds is the cornerstone of an environmentally friendly and sustainable garden. Saving your own seeds helps to ensure a wide variety of plants endure, genetic diversity is maintained, and gives you the ability to grow plants suited to the local environment. It also means you do not need to buy (another cost) hybrid or genetically engineered seeds. If you save hybrid seeds they are unlikely to grow into exactly the same plant they came from, so it is best to save seeds from heirlooms, and old fashioned varieties.
The other benefit is that you will get thousands of seeds from one plant, so there will be plenty for you to sow amongst your family and friends.
What to harvest
A good place to start is with seeds from cucumbers, beans, peas, peppers, tomatoes, and melons, as they are easy to harvest and store.
Each plant is different, so it is important to get to know the individual plant, but for the ones mentioned above -
Beans and Peas – harvest when the pods are dry, turning brown and starting to open. Allow to dry for a few weeks on waxed paper before you shell them.
Cucumbers and tomatoes – when the fruit is ripe, remove the pulp and seeds and place in a container with enough water to cover them. Over 2 or 3 days give them a stir and see the dead seeds float to the top (remove them) and the good seeds drop to the bottom. Rinse those off and leave on waxed paper to dry for a week or so.
Peppers – harvest when completely ripe, remove the seeds and place on waxed paper to dry for 2 – 5 days
Melons - (not seedless ones of course) – remove the seeds and wash away the pulp, place on waxed paper to dry, turning them daily for about a week.
Storing the seeds
Place the seeds in a paper bag or paper envelope (not plastic as the seeds could sweat). Most importantly write on the bag or envelope what the seeds are and when you harvested them, store away from direct sun, in a cool dry place with a consistent temperature between about 2 - 12 degrees. These will then last for years and give you a constant supply of good fresh veg!
Enjoy!
Peter