Seed Saving Guides
Learn to save seeds from your garden and become self-sufficient. Our guides cover everything from harvesting and processing to drying and storage.
Why Save Seeds?
Seed saving is one of the most rewarding aspects of gardening. It connects you to thousands of years of agricultural history and gives you control over your food supply. Whether you want to preserve heirloom varieties, save money, or develop plants perfectly adapted to your garden, seed saving is a skill every gardener should learn.
Save Money
Never buy seeds again for your favorite varieties. One tomato can provide hundreds of seeds.
Preserve Varieties
Keep heirloom varieties alive. Many unique varieties only survive through gardeners saving seeds.
Adapt to Your Garden
Seeds saved from your garden gradually adapt to your specific soil, climate, and conditions.
Self-Sufficiency
Complete the growing cycle from seed to seed. True garden independence.
Guides by Crop Family
Plants in the same botanical family share similar seed-saving techniques. Choose a family to learn the specific methods for those crops.
Seed Saving at a Glance
| Family | Difficulty | Method | Viability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nightshades | easy | fermentation | Tomatoes: 4-6 years |
| Cucurbits | moderate | wet | Squash: 4-6 years |
| Legumes | easy | dry | Beans: 3-4 years |
| Brassicas | advanced | dry | 4-5 years (often longer) |
| Alliums | moderate | dry | Onions: 1-2 years (short-lived!) |
| Leafy Greens | easy | dry | Lettuce: 3-5 years |
| Root Vegetables | moderate | dry | Carrots: 3-4 years |
| Herbs | easy | dry | Basil: 5+ years |
| Berries | moderate | wet | Strawberries: 2-3 years |
Essential Equipment
You don't need fancy equipment to save seeds. Most items you probably already have:
Getting Started
Begin with self-pollinating crops like tomatoes, beans, peas, and lettuce. These won't cross with other varieties, making them foolproof.
Only save seeds from open-pollinated or heirloom varieties. F1 hybrid seeds won't grow true to the parent plant.
Always label with variety name and harvest date. Seeds look similar once dried - you won't remember which is which!