How to Save Seeds from Your Garden for Next Year's Crop

As fall quickly approaches, for the vast majority of the United States, the gardening season is close to ending. For you gardeners out there, here is something for you to consider as you harvest this years crops. The majority of you know there are two basic forms of seeds, but for those of you who do not know, let me explain. The two basic types of seeds are hybrid seeds and non-hybrid or open pollinated seeds. Hybrid seeds are created by crossing only select varieties of plants. The plants which grow from hybrid seeds have what are believed to be desirable characteristics from both parents and are deemed superior to either. Open pollinated seeds or non-hybrid seeds are produced by a plant which is pollinated by itself of a plant of the exact same variety.

I recommend that you only use non-hybrid seeds in your next garden. If hybrid seeds produce superior plants and crops why do I recommend non-hybrid seed usage? The term superior is someone's viewpoint based upon the plant characteristics that fit their individual need for the plant which may not fit your need. For instance one grower may need a tough variety of a plants crop because they ship their crop cross country and this tough variety will result in less damage while shipping. Also, you usually can't save the seeds from hybrid crops and those you are able to save generally produce a mutant off spring. That is not what you want for your next years garden is it?

Seeds from non-hybrid plants will grow into an almost identical plant as the one that produced the seed it came from. By saving seeds from your garden to plant in next year's garden you are pretty much assured you will produce the same crop as the previous year's and you also reduce your reliance on commercial sources for you next batch of seeds. The majority of seeds from commercial seed dealers are hybrid seeds but some dealers also carry some varieties of non-hybrids. Some hybrids packages will state they are hybrids in their name or description.

To collect seeds from your garden you must first decide which plant you want to replant the following year. If you notice that a few plants are doing especially well, you may want to select them and not harvest their entire crop. Let them mature and go so they will produce seed. Those crop plants that have the seeds inside themselves be sure you leave some of the crop on the plant, allowing it to ripen and to dry out.

Save twice as many seed as you think you will need, in case of an emergency or mishap. Make sure the saved seeds are full dry before you put them away. Store them in an airtight container and label them. Store the labeled containers in a cool dry location where they will be safe from damage and varmints. Hybrids and genetically modified seeds have their place in the food chain, unfortunately. Non-hybrids are the mother of all seed and the way God intended for plants to grow and us to eat. Use non-hybrids seeds...please.

Resource: Personal Experience