You can freeze seeds, but for the average gardener, the refrigerator will do nicely. I've stored seeds in the garage on occasion, which is fine in cooler weather, but the kiss of death to the little things if left when temperatures warm up a bit! So indoors makes more sense.
Most seed companies release their catalogs each January, so in order be "first in line", start contacting them now to get on their 2012 mailing lists. Be sure to place your orders early so as to get the seeds you really want. I've waited, only to be disappointed to find out some particular company was sold out of the seed I had hoped to acquire and grow.
Next year, I'll be concentrating on varieties for short season growing. The summer just isn't long enough up on my mountain for 90-day crops that require heat to do well.
What will you be focusing on for your 2012 seed selections?
My mum did all this when I was a kid growing up on the farm we had a cool cellar where we kept all our home grown made foods. Now I buy from our local farmers market. Great post and video. Have a wonderful day !
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy...this is a wonderful video! I saved a few seeds this year and hope to do more next year.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
~Julia
This post came at a perfect time for me. We will be saving our squash seeds for the first time and didn't know where to start...thanks for this valuable info.
ReplyDeleteAmy, we've been harvesting seeds from Rocky Ford cantelope and will be planting them in the spring... along with much, much more. We've since moved to the country since following your blog and will be tilling up the garden in late March of 2012 to begin our growing season. Right now we're in the planning stages with plenty of room for growth. Don just walked it off and said it will be 17 yards wide and 70 yards long. ~Shelly
ReplyDeleteSaving seeds is as much a part of having a garden as pulling weeds and enjoying the harvest. Some seeds involved a bit more than others. Here is some text and photos I did about saving eggplant seeds (tomato seeds are done much the same way):
ReplyDeleteSaving Eggplant Seeds
There are a few more photos on the site about saving okra seeds, but those are very easy and straight-forward.
Stephen Clay McGehee
SouthernAgrarian.com
Hi Amy! I haven't watched the video yet, but I'm itnerested in learning about how to save pumpkin seeds. I've already saved some of my Hollyhock seeds and some from my black eyed susans. My dream seed for this winter is to learn how to earn a small income ( to start )
ReplyDeletefrom organic backyard flower farming! Now, if you have a minute come by and enter your Hen House in my first annual Hen House Hop! It's just not right not having you there! :)
farmgirl hugs,
Deb http://deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com/2011/10/first-annual-hen-house-hop.html
Great video to watch - in 2012, I am going to continue buying heirloom seed so that I can save my own seed from them.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, we are able to gather more and more heirloom seeds and not only does it help the wallet, it means we won't be disapointed if the seed companies run out. We have had that happen to us and then we madly scramble trying to find what we still need.
(Don't know why Blogger won't let me comment as Annie here).
Annie from CountryLivinginaCaribooValley
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI have saved seeds for a long time, but I plan to increase plant varieties. We had a strange season, late freezes and a late Autumn. I hope to add a few short season and late season varieties to my garden.