For thousands of years, seeds have been preserved at each harvest for sowing in the following season in a continuous chain. Seed prices have increased significantly over the past few years, but more importantly, the reliable availability of seeds has been questioned. You can save money and secure your seed supply for the next growing season.
Assuming the seeds are not patented, the seeds can be collected for personal use, given to other local growers, or even sold commercially. For those interested in selling commercially, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regulates the sale and distribution of all seeds sold in Florida. Is required. However, it may not be necessary in situations where total sales are very low.
There are two main categories of seed storage methods that determine how seeds are collected and treated. Seeds for preservation can be classified as either ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ seeded crops. Wet seeds are usually found inside the plant’s fruit, while dry seeds originate from unfruited flowers, pods, or shells. crops are the easiest to collect. Common dry seed crops include beans and peas, all leafy greens, basil, corn, okra, onions, sunflowers and turnips. It is best to wait until they are mature and begin to turn brown.
Moisture is the biggest threat to both seed harvesting and storage. High moisture content on the outside or inside of seeds can quickly lead to spoilage by ubiquitous fungi or bacteria. Without careful implementation of a few key steps, an entire batch of seeds is worthless. may become.
The first step in ensuring good quality seed is to harvest the flowers or pods when they are dry and keep them dry. After removing the dried flowers or pods from the plant, label these seeds so they are not accidentally mixed with other seeds or cultivars. Place the seeds in an area with direct sunlight. A good place to dry the seeds is indoors by a window in direct sunlight. Another method is to use a fan to gently circulate air around the seeds contained in a material such as paper towels or cloth. The time required to completely dry seeds varies considerably, but in general, the smaller the seed, the better it will dry. You might. Do not heat the seeds in an oven or otherwise dry them, as this will impair the seed’s ability to germinate. Room temperature or slightly higher is appropriate to remove water from the seeds.
Wet-seeded crops require additional steps to process the seeds. Before harvesting the seeds, the fruit must be fully ripened to ensure that it contains viable seeds. Seeds should be separated from the pulp of the fruit. This can be accomplished by thoroughly washing and removing any remaining pulp with a paper towel or wash cloth.
Seeds can be stored in paper envelopes, paper bags, or equivalent for storing seeds. Once packaged, include the name and variety of the original plant and the date it was packaged on the label. Packages of seeds can be safely stored in jars or airtight containers to prevent moisture and pests from spoiling the seeds during storage. Seeds, once stored, should be kept cool and dry. , usually remain viable for several years. Harvesting and storing seeds gives gardeners greater independence during times when future seed supplies are not guaranteed.
The topics of hybrids, heirlooms, natural pollination, cross-pollination, and genetically modified seeds should be covered in separate discussions.
For more information, call the Marion County Extension Office, call 671-8400, or email ironhill@ufl.edu.
— Mark Bailey is the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Extension Agent for UF/IFAS Extended Marion County. For more information, contact the Marion County office at 671-8400. Extended services are located at 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala, FL 34470.