seed saving – MINDING MY P'S WITH Q

The beautiful blossoms of summer have dwindled leaving an abundance of seeds in their wake. It’s time to collect for next year’s garden!

Recycled water bottles are my container of choice this year for collecting seeds. I’ve overturned many a plate, glass and paper bag while collecting in past years. I’ve found holding a water bottle between my body and upper arm frees both hands. Even if I drop the bottle, the small opening keeps a good portion of the seeds from spilling out. Give it a try!

Let the seeds dry for a week or two in the bottle before packaging/storing
Store your foil-wrapped seeds in a jar/container in the fridge or cold garage, some seeds need a period of cold (cold stratification) to germinate.

Vinca Seedpod and Seeds

I have seedpods and seeds strewn all over my house. It’s time to get serious about letting a few plants go to seed so that I will not have to buy the same seed packets again next year.

I’ve even collected a few wildflower pods. Milkweed attracts monarch butterflies so I collected a pod from a roadside plant.

I let my collected seeds dry out for several days, either on the windowsill, or inside a glass.

I then enclose the seeds in aluminum foil and store this packet inside a recycled tea bag wrapper.

Finally, I file these seed packets, and any leftover seeds from spring, inside a recycled plastic container. In the picture below I’ve used a baby wipes container. These are kept in my refrigerator until I begin to plant once again.