Saving Seed

[Rusty]

Can anyone point me to a reliable source of instruction on how to do this? I've tried a couple of times but each time my seed was moldy by the next spring. I am planning an herb garden and think it would be neat to be able to save my seed from year to year. That way I could expand my plantings without going broke! Just one more thing to learn about. Herbs have become a fascination.

 

[journey11]

I just bought a copy of Seed to Seed, by Suzanne Ashworth . It comes highly recommended as one of the best seed saving books. I am really looking forward to getting into it. I want to save my own seed to further narrow my operating expenses year to year and to have a part in keeping old varieties going.

 

[old fashioned]

If your seeds get moldy by the next season, I'd say they weren't dried enough when stored, or weren't kept from moisture during storage. The best ways of drying (IMO) is to leave them to dry naturally on the plant, then harvest the seeds (cleaning out stems & debris), and then spread out on trays, paper, etc to dry some more in dry sunny spot for a few more days or use a dehydrator until kinda brittle.
Alot of herbs are perennials (continue to grow every year) or biennials (grow for 2 years, like parsley). Those that are annuals (one year), alot of the time will self sow and act as perennials. Atleast in my area.
I have sage, rosemary and oregano that I planted store bought starts and they continue to grow with little or no help from me-though the oregano plant kinda looks dead, but you can also see some green growth starting.
As for dill and cilantro (annuals), these I have planted the seeds and left some to produce more seed for next season. Which is to say plant in spring and when seed heads form, leave until dried on the plant. Harvest the seeds, but let them dry more before storing in air tight containers.
I don't know about other herbs YET, since these are what I have most experience with. But I am expanding my herb beds this year and will be probably doing the same with new herbs I have on order for this year.
This is the same method for annual flowers & veggies seeds. Good luck with it, just remember the seeds HAVE to be dry and kept dry!

 

[boggybranch]

I just bought a copy of Seed to Seed, by Suzanne Ashworth . It comes highly recommended as one of the best seed saving books. I am really looking forward to getting into it. I want to save my own seed to further narrow my operating expenses year to year and to have a part in keeping old varieties going.

Hey J,

I have a copy of that book. You will need no other source of info on saving seeds. I got my copy off eBay a couple of years back.