Saving seeds - using a dehydrator?

[curly_kate]

From what I've read about saving seeds, you need to let them dry out before you pack them. Can I use my dehydrator for this purpose?

 

[vfem]

I would think if you are playing with nature and want to conserve the optimum ability to germinate... I would NOT use a dehydrator!

In fact, if you think about it.... seeds do the best when allowed to dry right on the plant in their pods compared to any other way. I think they are really still maturing while they are drying!

 

[patandchickens]

I totally agree. I wouldn't do it. The only use I could see for a dehydrator is *maybe* if you have seeds that had dried out naturally and got rained on just before you harvested them... but even in that case, what's the hurry They will dry just fine on the plant or in your house, on their own.

Remember that drying out per se is not the only thing going on, a major thing is seed maturity. Picking slightly immature seeds and dehydrating them will just give you dead dry unusably-immature seeds, you know? I would also be concerned about artificially-rapid dehydration damaging the seed's viability even if it's mature, although I have no hard info on this one way or the other.

Plus, wouldn't you rather be using that dehydrator (and its associated portion of your electricity bill, unless it's solar) for something USEFUL, that HAS to be done in a dehydrator, like dried fruit? Instead of occupying it with something that totally does not need dehydrator use in the first place

JMHO, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[vfem]

Ok, one change of thought... maybe for sunflower seeds you wanna eat!?! I like to munch on sunflower seeds and hate waiting!!!!