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Garden Gate:  How Does one SAVE seed?  |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 11:07:33 AM
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OK. I know it's a LOT early to be thinking about seed SAVING, but I'd really like to know how. Can anyone help me here? Here are a few that I'd like to save:
Carrot
Bean
Peas
Squash
Sunflower
Tomato
I think I will be able to figure out how to save my dill.
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
Edited by - oceanfarmgirl on Feb 11 2007 11:08:22 AM |
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simpler1773
True Blue Farmgirl
234 Posts
Ricki
Ashland
Wisconsin
USA
234 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 11:14:21 AM
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I'll be watching this thread with interest. I don't know the answer to your question but have you been to www.seedsavers.org ? I get lost in that site, love it!
~Ricki~
You can't pour anything out of an empty vessel, take care of yourself! |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 11:48:31 AM
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Seed saving methods depend on the type of seed you will be saving. For example, with beans, you just let them dry on the vine but tomatoes have to go through a fermentation process. A great step-by-step book for all different kinds of veggies is Seed to Seed by Susan Ashworth. It's an indespensible reference! Oh, and something to know about carrots-- they are technically a biennial plant, so you will need to let it overwinter at the end of this year so that the followig spring the plants will flower and produce seed.
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com
Opening in March 2007:
http://shadetreestudios.etsy.com |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 12:02:36 PM
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Let us know how the carrots turn out; I've never tried saving seeds from them myself. You might want to set up a coldframe to protect them over the winter, but if you're relatively close to the coast, you might get away without one.
(And by the way, I had to ask my husband to set a budget for me at Seed Savers. Not very feminist, but I know I have no self-control when it comes to seeds! I could spend several hundred in a matter of minutes!)
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com
Opening in March 2007:
http://shadetreestudios.etsy.com |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 12:10:51 PM
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Oh, Amanda,
I have another question.
I live on the Oregon Coast, as you said. In Reedsport. It's not DIRECTLY on the coast, so the winds are low here, yet we are less than 2 miles away from the beach. My question is, being in Oregon, our fall can be wet. If I were to leave the beans and peas on the vine to dry, I'm not usre they would have the chance to do so totally. Is it OK to pick some pods and allow them to dry indoors? Have you heard of anyone using a low setting dehydrator to finish the job? I guess that was more than ONE question. Thanks in advance for the answers!
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
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herbquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
891 Posts
Kristine
Bonney Lake
Wa
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 3:34:04 PM
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Rachel
You bring up a good point for us on the coast saving seeds. I have used my dehydrator to "dry" seeds because in western WA it's too moist in the fall & the seeds will mold or rot.
The best book out there on seed saving is, Seed to Seed. I checked it out at our lib., but am looking for a used copy to buy.
I have saved herbs like dill & that's easy. Just let them go to seed. When they start to fall off the seed head, go around the plant with a bowl and strip the rest of the seed off. I just plant them next year & what isn't mature enough to germinate will turn into compost right in the soil.
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many & Herbalist
www.herbalmomma.com
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 3:44:28 PM
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I've not heard of using the dehydrator method, but it seems to be working for Kristine. I was going to suggest pulling up the vines and putting them in a dry environment-- greenhouse, shed or garage and let them finish drying that way. You might run into rot issues if you try to overwinter your carrots and whatnot. Do you have raised beds? If not, you might consider putting some in, if for nothing else, just to overwinter bienniel root crops you're trying to save seed from. A raised bed will allow you extra drainage, lessening your risk of rot.
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com
Opening in March 2007:
http://shadetreestudios.etsy.com |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2007 : 08:37:32 AM
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Amanda,
I do have raised beds. I have a flower bed that is at the back of our yard, and it's about 4 feet off the ground. That's my garden area. It's 8 feet by 40 feet. I've got a lot to squish in there! LOL
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 7:43:12 PM
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I cannot afford the seed to seed book right now, but I'm very interested in how to ferment tomato for seed. I think I saw it once on Martha Stewart when she had the Seed Savers guy as a guest. Would anyone be willing to share a how to with me?
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 7:54:56 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by kitchensqueen
Let us know how the carrots turn out; I've never tried saving seeds from them myself. You might want to set up a coldframe to protect them over the winter, but if you're relatively close to the coast, you might get away without one.
(And by the way, I had to ask my husband to set a budget for me at Seed Savers. Not very feminist, but I know I have no self-control when it comes to seeds! I could spend several hundred in a matter of minutes!)
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com
Opening in March 2007:
http://shadetreestudios.etsy.com
HA HA! We spent well over $700 on seeds and transplants from Seed Savers last year! It is all too easy to go overboard. This year I am spending very little there, but more on my herb garden. I have budgeted 300 for seed savers and 200 for Horizon Herbs.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage: http://mysticwoodsfarm.com
http://gaiasrose.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
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Garden Gate: How Does one SAVE seed? |
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How Does one SAVE seed?
