What Seeds are You Saving?

[flowerbug]

in many fruits once they start turning color that means the seeds are done enough. in strawberries the seeds themselves are what cause the change of color (at least that is what i've read ).

i could have saved some cucumber seeds today but i talked myself out of it. there was a large submarine sitting on top of the ground in the vines i buried.

 

[ducks4you]

Just turned over the sunflowers I had upside down for 2 weeks on my picnic table and put away about a 1/2 pint full of seeds! HAPPY surprise! I will be fermenting tomato seeds, both our 2019 favorite beefsteak, which Weren't the prettiest, the yellow/orange/pinkish ones, AND the big, Amish Paste Romas. That won't be until end of month when I find some frosted that I forgot to bring in. And, of COURSE, I am saving corn cobs for next year.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I planted some zinnias from saved seeds in this corner earlier this year, hoping to add some color. Practically everything is some sort of pink though there were some purple reds that were pretty nice. I've saved a few of these.

But I was hoping for more yellows, oranges, whites, deep reds, purples and such that just did not show up, so I planted some more seeds in a pot on the back patio. I've removed several pinks from this as I have plenty of those, but will be saving many different colors from here as they dry up. I don't know why these colors did not show up in that first planting but I'm quite happy with these colors. I have nothing against pink and have some seeds from those but I waned some of these others too.

 

[Zeedman]

As of now, have harvested seed from everything but the bitter melon (which I decided to pass on this year) and the Fledderjohn soybean (destroyed by voles). Still getting seed from Fortex, Soissons Vert, and Hopi Pole. I'll probably wrap up dry seed harvest Wednesday, and harvest all remaining Soissons Vert & Hopi Pole to freeze as shellies.

I could save some seed for Zebrina flowering mallow as well, if anyone is interested in it. Normally I just turn those under... because I welcome the volunteers, to fill any vacant spaces in the garden.

 

[flowerbug]

As of now, have harvested seed from everything but the bitter melon (which I decided to pass on this year) and the Fledderjohn soybean (destroyed by voles). Still getting seed from Fortex, Soissons Vert, and Hopi Pole. I'll probably wrap up dry seed harvest Wednesday, and harvest all remaining Soissons Vert & Hopi Pole to freeze as shellies.

I could save some seed for Zebrina flowering mallow as well, if anyone is interested in it. Normally I just turn those under... because I welcome the volunteers, to fill any vacant spaces in the garden.

do you get many seeds from the Fortex beans? i'm not sure how many seeds i'll have on mine, but i'm hopeful.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

saved long strands of Loves lies bleeding seeds. I guess they are seeds....

 

[Zeedman]

do you get many seeds from the Fortex beans? i'm not sure how many seeds i'll have on mine, but i'm hopeful.

Quite a few so far, maybe 8 ounces, with a lot more pods drying. I let a 6' row go to seed, and will probably end up with about a pound or so. As always, Fortex is pushing up against our average frost date for dry seed; it is really benefiting from the extra week.

 

[Zeedman]

saved long strands of Loves lies bleeding seeds. I guess they are seeds....

I tried growing that once, unsuccessfully. It is a beautiful plant, SSE has it growing all over one of their display gardens. My best guess is that like Zebrina (and Martynia) it is best grown unintentionally.

 

[flowerbug]

Quite a few so far, maybe 8 ounces, with a lot more pods drying. I let a 6' row go to seed, and will probably end up with about a pound or so. As always, Fortex is pushing up against our average frost date for dry seed; it is really benefiting from the extra week.

good to know they do well for you. i'm thinking i should pick all the smaller newer ones because they won't have a chance to finish and hope there are some seeds in the older ones, but i've not looked at it very closely yet.

 

[digitS']

... best grown unintentionally.

I'm not quite sure what I think of that.

It seems to be my experience with the Coyote tomato. I was given the seeds and didn't experience anything unusual for the first season, that I remember. They then volunteered and were a successful volunteer so I tried direct-sowing. All that seed failed to emerge. Grew from gifted seed again and saved seed and those seedlings had a terrible time competing with other 2019 tomato seedlings that emerged more quickly in a community container. Then, it turned out that they were crossed with something else!

This year, that Coyote was out growing in the weeds beyond the garden. A nearly impossible location although it certainly did try. I wanna take care of them ... have them where they can do well, try to anticipate their needs, baby them along ...One thing, Coyote is obviously very early maturing a crop. A successful volunteer! But there are other volunteers. Not really distinctive enuf to identify early - how can I know which are the useless volunteers and which, that sneaky Coyote??

Also, I saved seed from that love-lies-bleeding close relative, the ornamental amaranth before I discovered that it had self-sown. The blanketing seedlings were much too close and competitive towards each other and invaded a garden path! Now, I'm wondering, because of @Zeedman 's experience, if my saved seed will be viable .

Steve