A Seed Saver's Garden

[Shades-of-Oregon]

@heirloomgal Just looking at the TomTom pics is making my mouth water especially on a burger. What a delight.
They look as pretty as a picture.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

I think this is the case for all seed people, I share the same issue. I haven't come up with a 'good' solution, but one that is working for me; I put the first seed lot into the envelope and seal it, even though I know more is coming, because I tend to prioritize variety purity and avoid seed mix ups like I avoid my hair catching fire. When more come in, I either use a separate envelope and seal that one too (I can get 75 envelopes for $1 at the dollar store) or I cut open the side edge of the envelope and then fold it shut, use a paperclip, and prop it up on the tall side. I can add as I go that way too, and clip it shut over and over again if need be. I usually use small carboard flats or rectangular cake pan and create a 'file' of seed envelopes that support each other upright. It isn't the best methodology, but considering how cheap white envelopes are I find having multiples of them with the same seeds doesn't add up to that much and it really saves the headache of having to worry about problems stemming from envelope contents falling out.

Envelopes are not a problem; I can get all of the coin envelopes (which are pretty much seed packets anyway) from any Staples. As for upright, that's sort of what I am doing as well, thought I am using an empty plastic soup container (fewer packets).

I also have the option of using little re-sealable plastic bags (which seem to be what most sellers use now instead of envelopes). But those are hard to write on, and I usually don't want to go running down to get a printer label to stick on the side to write on.

And my problem is sort of the reverse. I DON'T want multiple packets of the same seed, because that means having to find multiple envelopes the following year to plant, since none of them have enough in themselves to plant alone (I'm using saving the seed from one fruit at a time, Plus, It requires me to remember exactly what I called it before to make sure I call it the same thing again.

 

[heirloomgal]

I DON'T want multiple packets of the same seed, because that means having to find multiple envelopes

True! I forgot to mention the part where I consolidate all into one at the very end of seed harvest. lol (forehead smack moment) But it's more work to do it that away for sure.

 

[heirloomgal]

Got this gem today at the market, it's a yellow pumpkin! The camera alters the shade a bit, but it's unique indeed.

Drinking in the last bright colors of summer, before it's all turned to grey.

One of the things I worried about with edible landscaping was how bad it would luck before it grew in, and then how bad it would look when the summer was ending. Turned out that, yes, it looked bad before things gained in size. However, at the other end of the season I find it's holding out better than even the perennials are. The peony plants and phlox look dreadful compared to the annuals. So, it isn't a perfect situation but it's better than I expected. I'm definitely not giving up on getting this edible landscaping thing right. This was today - not bad for mid October. When I had all perennials in here it was pretty much brown at this point.

Little pansies are still kicking.

The Iberian White Thyme survived the bean plants and the perfume grass crowding them. The smell of it is very intense, quite medicinal to me but lovely. One whiff and your transported. I really hope it can survive winter and then I'll move it to the front where it'll be happier.

Anyone know the trick of harvesting the seeds from these? Seems like the second they're mature, they're gone. And I don't want to pick them immature either? I wonder if I hang it if the seeds will still mature? I think I may have tried that before without success.

 

[flowerbug]

Anyone know the trick of harvesting the seeds from these? Seems like the second they're mature, they're gone. And I don't want to pick them immature either? I wonder if I hang it if the seeds will still mature? I think I may have tried that before without success.

they seem to drop by the million here. don't they look like tiny hollyhock seeds? i've never harvested seeds from them but always see them on the stalks as they finish drying after flowering.

 

[heirloomgal]

they seem to drop by the million here. don't they look like tiny hollyhock seeds? i've never harvested seeds from them but always see them on the stalks as they finish drying after flowering.

They spread easily here as well; yes, the seed formations are similar to hollyhocks, however holly's have seed pods bred to remain on the plant and thus are collected very easily. These have an unusually aggressive shatter tendency, it's likely what you are seeing on the plants are not pods full of seeds but the prominent location were the pods were held until they dropped. Zebrinas don't hold mature seed.

 

[flowerbug]

They spread easily here as well; yes, the seed formations are similar to hollyhocks, however holly's have seed pods bred to remain on the plant and thus are collected very easily. These have an unusually aggressive shatter tendency, it's likely what you are seeing on the plants are not pods full of seeds but the prominent location were the pods were held until they dropped. Zebrinas don't hold mature seed.

maybe put some tinfoil under them when they are drying down some flowers and check once a day and empty? or craft paper, but that may let moisture through too easy. just something to try... good luck!

 

[Pulsegleaner]

Good news bits and bad news bits.

1. The last cucumber did give me a decent number of mature seeds).....I THINK. I say "I think" becuase I'm unsure if a lot of the seeds from this one (or the last one, for that matter) actually ARE good. They'd didn't dry down to absolutely nothing like the rest did, but most of them (possibly all of them) do have one side that is sucked in, which seems to indicate the insides are not as full as they should be.

2. I'm beginning to wonder if I prepped the seeds from the "surprise" mung bean correctly. Last night, I was going through them removing the less than perfect seeds, and I noticed that I was having no trouble cutting (not breaking, cutting, as in they were soft) those in half between my fingernails. For those, that was fine, I was getting rid of them anyway. But I couldn't help noticing that there were no "recoveries" in what I was pulling out; no seeds where I thought they were bad but they turned out to be hard (and therefore good), So I'm a bit worried that ALL of those seeds are in fact soft and not mature. They look fine, but the problem with mung beans is that they're pretty much the same shade of green when they are immature as when they are mature, And I HAVE been getting a lot of seed where the pods were soft (indicating ready to harvest) but the seed dried up (showing the pod died early, and was just withering).

There rest of them are nice and hard, but that plant WAS the majority of the harvest, so it would be a pity if it all was no good.

3. With the cold coming, I brought the mystery plant in yesterday. This might have been a good idea in terms of keeping it from freezing, but it proved a BAD idea in that Juniper apparently took a shine to it overnight and ate the top off! (he seems fine, so whatever it is, it apparently isn't toxic.) He didn't eat all of it, but he chewed the ends off all of the taller bits. So I'm moving it to my room tonight (light's not as good, but it's the one place Juniper can't get into. With a little pruning it will grow back, but I might have to wait an extra year to see it make whatever flowers it might make (and give me a clue as to what it is).

In other news, harvested the heads from the Chinese mint and Syrian oregano, so will try and rub out the seeds as soon as they dry down enough to be crumbly.

I'd do the same thing to the Southwestern oregano and the cat thyme, but, with the former, there's no separation between the stalks where the flowers are and the ones where the leaves are, so cutting off the flower calyces would be cutting down the whole plant (and they don't pull off the plant easily either, they stay fully green as long as the plant does, unlike with basil). And the Cat thyme has to be handed carefully, since there's so little of it (I'm glad it survives through the winter, but I wish it would GROW a bit more during the rest of the year).

 

[heirloomgal]

Good news bits and bad news bits.

1. The last cucumber did give me a decent number of mature seeds).....I THINK. I say "I think" becuase I'm unsure if a lot of the seeds from this one (or the last one, for that matter) actually ARE good. They'd didn't dry down to absolutely nothing like the rest did, but most of them (possibly all of them) do have one side that is sucked in, which seems to indicate the insides are not as full as they should be.

2. I'm beginning to wonder if I prepped the seeds from the "surprise" mung bean correctly. Last night, I was going through them removing the less than perfect seeds, and I noticed that I was having no trouble cutting (not breaking, cutting, as in they were soft) those in half between my fingernails. For those, that was fine, I was getting rid of them anyway. But I couldn't help noticing that there were no "recoveries" in what I was pulling out; no seeds where I thought they were bad but they turned out to be hard (and therefore good), So I'm a bit worried that ALL of those seeds are in fact soft and not mature. They look fine, but the problem with mung beans is that they're pretty much the same shade of green when they are immature as when they are mature, And I HAVE been getting a lot of seed where the pods were soft (indicating ready to harvest) but the seed dried up (showing the pod died early, and was just withering).

There rest of them are nice and hard, but that plant WAS the majority of the harvest, so it would be a pity if it all was no good.

3. With the cold coming, I brought the mystery plant in yesterday. This might have been a good idea in terms of keeping it from freezing, but it proved a BAD idea in that Juniper apparently took a shine to it overnight and ate the top off! (he seems fine, so whatever it is, it apparently isn't toxic.) He didn't eat all of it, but he chewed the ends off all of the taller bits. So I'm moving it to my room tonight (light's not as good, but it's the one place Juniper can't get into. With a little pruning it will grow back, but I might have to wait an extra year to see it make whatever flowers it might make (and give me a clue as to what it is).

In other news, harvested the heads from the Chinese mint and Syrian oregano, so will try and rub out the seeds as soon as they dry down enough to be crumbly.

I'd do the same thing to the Southwestern oregano and the cat thyme, but, with the former, there's no separation between the stalks where the flowers are and the ones where the leaves are, so cutting off the flower calyces would be cutting down the whole plant (and they don't pull off the plant easily either, they stay fully green as long as the plant does, unlike with basil). And the Cat thyme has to be handed carefully, since there's so little of it (I'm glad it survives through the winter, but I wish it would GROW a bit more during the rest of the year).

What are the Latin names for the herbs please? Would you recommend any of them as especially fragrant or wonderful tasting? I'm guessing that if you can get it to seed, I might be able to as well, unless of course these herbs were all overwintered.

 

[heirloomgal]

I don't know why, but with every passing year the growing season seems to pass by faster and faster. Seems like last week was June and I was out watering. We're starting to begin all the tasks involved with dismantling the gardens this weekend, our Canadian Thanksgiving. The birch poles all got shredded today, and turned into beautifully textured mulch. Very nice stuff indeed after DH put in the new chipper blades. Half a dozen left to do, but those ones are covered in beans still.

I think I'm not going to till the main garden this year. The hoeing has worked pretty well all summer, even though I let it go the last 1.5 months, so there isn't that much to get rid of and digging the terrace rows is just SO laborious. It's a job I'd like to avoid next year if I can so I'm going to pounce on the opportunity. A few of the raised beds never grew much weeds at all, I might not even till some of those either. A scrape here and there will do it. The corn patch and all the new soil from spring there needs it though.

I am finished shelling about 75% of the bean pods, and need to start tackling peas soon. On the one hand I'm trying to get through it with diligence to reclaim house space, with *git 'er done* energy, and on the other I feel like I'm rushing Father Christmas back up the chimney . It's such an utterly enjoyable time for a seed saving gardener because this is our 'real' harvest time, yet it's such an avalanche there is an instinct to tunnel out.