Collecting seeds from your garden

Collecting seed

Collect ripe seed on a dry day, as soon as the seedheads (e.g. capsules or pods) ripen. ...
Pick the seedheads, either singly or on stalks, and lay them out to dry on a greenhouse bench, warm windowsill or in an airing cupboard. ...
If they don't open when dry, gently crush pods and capsules to release the seed.

Can I just throw seeds in my garden?
How do I save garden seeds for next year?
How do you collect and store seeds?
Can you plant seeds from fresh vegetables?
Can I sprinkle wildflower seeds on grass?
Can you just throw turnip seeds on the ground?
Is seed saving illegal?
When should I buy seeds for next year?
How long do garden seeds last?
Which stage is suitable for collecting seeds?
Is it legal to collect wildflower seeds?
Are seeds found in pine cones?

Can I just throw seeds in my garden?

Even if you don't know what main crop you want to plant yet, you can start your garden as soon as the ground has thawed enough to be worked, by throwing seed mix at your blank garden now, and planting into it when the occasion arises.

How do I save garden seeds for next year?

Keeping your saved seeds

Store seeds in tightly sealed glass containers. You can store different kinds of seeds, each in individual paper packets, together in a large container. Keep seeds dry and cool. A temperature between 32° and 41°F is ideal, so your refrigerator can be a good place to store seeds.

How do you collect and store seeds?

Store seeds in the refrigerator, not the freezer, until you are ready to plant. Low temperature, humidity and light level protect seed longevity. If it is not practical to store seeds in your refrigerator, store them in any place that is cool, dark and dry, protecting them from insects as much as possible.

Can you plant seeds from fresh vegetables?

Vegetable growers often save seed from their crops, especially when they have grown a desired species. Can you plant fresh seeds? Some plants will start just fine from newly harvested seed, while others need several months in a specialized environment to jump-start the embryo.

Can I sprinkle wildflower seeds on grass?

We're often asked "Can I sow wildflower seed onto grass?" Generally customers have an existing lawn or pasture which they want to enhance. The short answer is it may well not work. You'll more often than not have a better chance of establishing a wildflower meadow area if you start from scratch.

Can you just throw turnip seeds on the ground?

Turnips need to be planted on freshly worked ground. You do not want seed below 1/4 inch deep. Works best to spread them on the top soil and then compress them in. ... I've made the mistake of spreading turnip seed too heavily...

Is seed saving illegal?

Legality. While saving seed and even exchanging seed with other farmers for biodiversity purposes has been a traditional practice, these practices have become illegal for the plant varieties that are patented or otherwise owned by some entity (often a corporation).

When should I buy seeds for next year?

Therefore, you could (and probably should) start buying your seeds around January and February! Buying your seeds sooner than that wouldn't hurt either. Keep in mind that some plants will not transplant well and should not be started indoors.

How long do garden seeds last?

To keep the seeds cool (ideally, below 50 degrees), some people store them in a jar in their refrigerator or freezer. Seeds in good condition and stored properly will last at least one year and, depending on the plant, may last two to five years.

Which stage is suitable for collecting seeds?

Germination is a stage where the plant grows from a seed. All seeds need moisture, oxygen and right temperature to germinate, or grow. When the seeds start to grow their own roots, stems, and leaves, they are often called sprouts.

Is it legal to collect wildflower seeds?

Contrary to widespread belief, it is not illegal to pick most wildflowers for personal, non-commercial use. In a similar vein, it's not illegal to forage most leaves and berries for food in the countryside for non-commercial use.

Are seeds found in pine cones?

Mature pine cones are woody and brown in appearance. One cone produces about two seeds beneath each scale. These seeds will remain in the cone until it dries out and opens up completely. Seed in pine cones can usually be identified by the prominent-looking wing, which is attached to the seed for aid in dispersal.