Saving seeds
 

I am new to gardening. For the first time in my life I planted some cherry
tomatoes, big boy tomotoes, bush beans, eggplant and zucchini. All in pots
as my wife doesn't want to dig up our yard. Anyhow, this year I bought most
of my plants and transplanted them into the pots. I also grew some tomatoes
and bush beans from store bought seeds though. If I wanted to somehow save
the seeds from these plants to replant next year, how do I go about doing
it? Thanks

Ottawa wrote:
I am new to gardening. For the first time in my life I planted some cherry
tomatoes, big boy tomotoes, bush beans, eggplant and zucchini. All in pots
as my wife doesn't want to dig up our yard. Anyhow, this year I bought most
of my plants and transplanted them into the pots. I also grew some tomatoes
and bush beans from store bought seeds though. If I wanted to somehow save
the seeds from these plants to replant next year, how do I go about doing
it? Thanks

1) you use only varieties that are OP (open pollinated). You can't save
big boys because
they are F1 (hybrid, will not come true). Many of the cherry varieties
are OP.
2) you google "saving vegetable seeds" to find out how to preserve each
type of seeds.
Tomatoes need a little work, beans and zucchini are a snap. You always
dry them thoroughly before putting away. You keep them all in a ziploc
bag in the freezer to make sure they last a long time. I am still
planting savoy cabbage from 2000.

I plant everything from seed. I find it an enjoyable part of the work,
not to mention it brightens those dreary late winter/early spring days.
Most garden centers have the trays to start seedlings.

"Ottawa" wrote:

If I wanted to somehow save
the seeds from these plants to replant next year, how do I go about doing
it?

Go to your favorite online bookseller and get "Seed to Seed," by Suzanne
Ashworth. Available quite reasonably used, and not horribly expensive new.

The short form: tomatoes in general don't readily cross-pollinate, so if
different varieties are a few feet apart, they are generally OK. Seed is
readily cleaned by scooping the pulp out of ripe fruit, mixing with water
and letting ferment for a few days. The good seed will be on the bottom,
and you can float/rinse the dross off.

HOWEVER: Many tomatoes are hybrids, so you may or may not get something
like your plant in the next generation.

Have a look at www.seedsavers.org as well....

Danger: It's an obsession. Probably less harmful than drink or gambling,
but I'm not even sure about that.


Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G

The tomato has been with us humans for thousands of years. This is
perhaps partly because it sustained us very faithfully throughout these
years.

The seeds are quite hardy. It is known that they do best when first
dried. They do not need to be vernalized (i.e., exposed to Winter
conditions before growing), although, as a new gardener, you should
familiarize yourself with the fact that other seeds depend on this.

In getting your seeds to sprout, they will need heat. Somewhere around
75/95 degrees F (let us say 30 degrees C) would be optimal. Do not fear!
These seeds will do very well until next year, and when the time arises,
if you give them these temperatures, they will faithfully begin to furnish
the next generation.

Later we can discuss fertilizers.

Dominic-Luc Webb
Near Uppsala Sweden, where tomatos are always a challenge.

1) you use only varieties that are OP (open pollinated). You can't save
big boys because
they are F1 (hybrid, will not come true). Many of the cherry varieties
are OP.

Wow, this is true.... I stand partially corrected... however, I have not
had any problems saving tomato seeds, in general. The drying thing is
helpful, although, I must say, I have seeds that I planted directly from
the fresh fruit that grew very well. Published statistics say drying
first is better.

Dominic

On Fri, 3 Jun 2005 22:20:00 +0200, Dominic-Luc Webb
wrote in rec.gardens.edible:

Later we can discuss fertilizers.

I had an extra package of 45 Moskvich seeds which I gave to a
friend to plant on her farm because I did not have space for even
one more tomato plant. She planted 15 seeds in each of sheep,
emu and llama, er, fertiliser. We intend to see which tastes
best, if any.

Greetings from Perth, near Ottawa.
--
Gardening Zones
Canada Zone 5a
United States Zone 3a
Near Ottawa, Ontario

good to see someone local here
"Jim Carter" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 3 Jun 2005 22:20:00 +0200, Dominic-Luc Webb
wrote in rec.gardens.edible:

Later we can discuss fertilizers.

I had an extra package of 45 Moskvich seeds which I gave to a
friend to plant on her farm because I did not have space for even
one more tomato plant. She planted 15 seeds in each of sheep,
emu and llama, er, fertiliser. We intend to see which tastes
best, if any.

Greetings from Perth, near Ottawa.
--
Gardening Zones
Canada Zone 5a
United States Zone 3a
Near Ottawa, Ontario