Let's make a difference! I need YOUR help! (Contest details and discussion)

[tntchix]

If you like, I could send a variety of seeds to you as part of the prize ( get people growing in tire gardens or what not )

en"tire" gardens with heirloom seeds Awesome ideas Sam!

 

[Sydney Acres]

Consider it done
I'll sort out some seeds, and should have some great rare heirloom stuff showing up in the mail shortly, I can surely spare some for your cause.
I'll pm you soon.

Sam,
What heirloom seeds do you collect? Do you sell them? I have a few heirloom growers that I typically buy from, but would love more options. Your plants might be more suited for my region, as you're in BC and I'm ~60 miles north of Seattle. I don't currently use a greenhouse, so am limited to short-season or cold tolerant varieties. --April

 

[hennible]

Sam,
What heirloom seeds do you collect?  Do you sell them?  I have a few heirloom growers that I typically buy from, but would love more options.  Your plants might be more suited for my region, as you're in BC and I'm ~60 miles north of Seattle.  I don't currently use a greenhouse, so am limited to short-season or cold tolerant varieties. --April

I focus mostly on greenhouse plants, i'm starting to get into more of the outdoor cold tolerant varieties. I don't sell seeds I just save as many as possible from everything I can and trade. All my seeds are organic, at the moment I only have a few heirloom varieties that I have actually saved. Tomatoes, squash melons, cucumbers... Beans... Peppers... I have 20 new varieties coming in the mail shortly ranging from Russian kale to Brazilian squash... Anyway get to the point Sam! Lol
If you like I love to trade and should have lots come September/October to trade with you. I do have cold crops... One I'm really working to save is this heritage soup celery... Hopefully it will flower this year...

 

[hennible]

Here's a recycle I like, old chocolate box turned awesome gift of seeds.
From
http://www.motherofahubbard.com/say-i-love-you-with-seeds/

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I love that idea!

 

[Sydney Acres]

Here's a recycle I like, old chocolate box turned awesome gift of seeds.
From
http://www.motherofahubbard.com/say-i-love-you-with-seeds/

That is absolutely beautiful!! I would be a little concerned about the seeds spilling when the box is turned up, but plastic wrap or tiny zip lock bags would ruin the picture.

I have tried saving seeds and so far have not been good at it. I don't think I'm getting them dry enough, and they're molding. I did great with a pea I let dry on the vine -- no mold, and nice high germination rate the following year. I just bought a food dehydrator, so I'm thinking that should work well compared to plain air drying in our rainy, humid, cold fall seasons. PM me in the fall and we can see if we have anything the other needs. In the meantime, any advise for successful seed saving would be welcome. Thanks Sam. --April

 

[hennible]

I ferment any wet seeds, (tomatoes,cucumbers etc) and then dry after a good wash in hot water on a screen in the sun. Store in bags, bottles, jars... Anything really. Hot peppers, peas and beans, I harvest after the plant dies and dry in the pod/pepper... sometimes I store them in the pod/pepper until I plant them. Plants that scatter seeds (lettuce, broccoli ) I let go as long as possible before shaking into a bag ( broccoli type seed) or tie a paper bag over the flower head and wait for the seed to fall in the bag (lettuce type).

Here's some fermenting. Just remove the seeds, place in jar, add water and wait for mould to grow then rinse off... Some times I redo the ferment and rinse process a few times before drying.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I ferment any wet seeds, (tomatoes,cucumbers etc) and then dry after a good wash in hot water on a screen in the sun. Store in bags, bottles, jars... Anything really. Hot peppers, peas and beans, I harvest after the plant dies and dry in the pod/pepper... sometimes I store them in the pod/pepper until I plant them. Plants that scatter seeds (lettuce, broccoli ) I let go as long as possible before shaking into a bag ( broccoli type seed) or tie a paper bag over the flower head and wait for the seed to fall in the bag (lettuce type).

Here's some fermenting. Just remove the seeds, place in jar, add water and wait for mould to grow then rinse off... Some times I redo the ferment and rinse process a few times before drying.

What does the fermenting do?

 

[hennible]

A few things. The first is break down the seed coat so they sprout better. The second is an increase in disease resistance in your seeds ( not a part I really understand ) it mimics the natural rotting and seeding plants do on there own...

 

[Sydney Acres]

I ferment any wet seeds, (tomatoes,cucumbers etc) and then dry after a good wash in hot water on a screen in the sun. Store in bags, bottles, jars... Anything really. Hot peppers, peas and beans, I harvest after the plant dies and dry in the pod/pepper... sometimes I store them in the pod/pepper until I plant them. Plants that scatter seeds (lettuce, broccoli ) I let go as long as possible before shaking into a bag ( broccoli type seed) or tie a paper bag over the flower head and wait for the seed to fall in the bag (lettuce type).

Here's some fermenting. Just remove the seeds, place in jar, add water and wait for mould to grow then rinse off... Some times I redo the ferment and rinse process a few times before drying.

Wow, it really pays to ask! That all seems easy enough, and definitely not how I've been doing it Thanks Sam. How long do you typically leave them in the water to wait for the mold to grow? It looks like the jar is in a sunny window -- does that help with the process? --April