Posted: Thu Sep 08, 05 10:14 am Post subject: Seed saving
Are there any seeds that anyone here would not recommend keeping?
I usually save pepper and chilli seeds and they seem reliable enough. This year I was thinking about trying to save the courgette and tomato seeds but I can't remember if the courgette was an F1 variety and wonder if the tomatoes might end up as a bizarre red alert / alicante / tumbler hybrid?
Also is it practical to let some plants go over to seed use those, e.g. broccoli and onions. I grow sping onions from seed but other onions from sets so is it possible to grow non sping onions from seed and if so when should I sow?
I'd pick em and dry them indoors, carrots and parsnips are umbellifers, I can't see any reason why the seeds shouldn't be viable as long as they're not F1. My first time saving carrot. Forgot I'll be saving French Beans and an excellent ridge cucumber called Wautoma too.
Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 13967 Location: Eastoft
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 05 6:31 pm Post subject:
I would bring parsnip seed inand hang it over a tray, if you do want to put a bag over it outside, ensure it is not plastic as the damp from condensation will not help the seed quality and parsnip seed is , firstly notoriously difficult to germinate and secondly not recommended as one of those seeds that you keep over from one year to the next as the germination rate for the second year is said to be very poor.
Are there any seeds that anyone here would not recommend keeping?
I usually save pepper and chilli seeds and they seem reliable enough. This year I was thinking about trying to save the courgette and tomato seeds but I can't remember if the courgette was an F1 variety and wonder if the tomatoes might end up as a bizarre red alert / alicante / tumbler hybrid?
Also is it practical to let some plants go over to seed use those, e.g. broccoli and onions. I grow sping onions from seed but other onions from sets so is it possible to grow non sping onions from seed and if so when should I sow?
You can easily grow non-spring onions from seed. Sow under glass in January or February and plant out in March or April (recommended), or sow direct outside in March. I'm sowing Giant Zittau in January - supposed to be a seriously strong onion. I always keep runners and broad bean seeds.
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 05 9:35 am Post subject:
Bernie66 wrote:
I would bring parsnip seed inand hang it over a tray, if you do want to put a bag over it outside, ensure it is not plastic as the damp from condensation will not help the seed quality and parsnip seed is , firstly notoriously difficult to germinate and secondly not recommended as one of those seeds that you keep over from one year to the next as the germination rate for the second year is said to be very poor.
Brilliant. Thanks Bernie. Now why didn't I do this two days ago before the rain started?
I grew some of my onions this year from seed and they were fine. Shop bought though.
I have a japanese winter onion that I have left growing and was surprised to see it not only had its little seed pods but also little onion sets growing between them as well, just like the tree onions.
I assume they will grow on if I stick them in pots to get them going?
I have grown marrow and squash plants this year from saved seed donated by my neighbour and they have done wonderfully well. I am saving seed from this crop for next year so fingers crossed.
This year I was thinking about trying to save the courgette and tomato seeds but I can't remember if the courgette was an F1 variety and wonder if the tomatoes might end up as a bizarre red alert / alicante / tumbler hybrid?
Courgettes and squashes and melond and cucumbers too I think, are harlots who will cross with anything similar so even if it's not a F1 you might have some kind of rogue plants in there unless you follow all the instructions on how to keep it pure. I would probably not bother with that unless you particularly adore that variety.
I believe most tomatoes are OK unless they are a type whose stigma protrudes from the stamens (I'm sure I've got that wrong, always got them mixed up). I've just finished rinsing seeds of Salt Spring Sunrise and Veeroma (from the HDRA) according to Tahir's instructions. Got loads now so I hope they turn out all right! I grew them outside and next to each other.
DavidW
Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 31 Location: South Wales
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 05 3:22 pm Post subject: Seed Saving
How do you prepare and store the seeds once collected
I keep
I always keep runners and broad bean seeds.
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