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Post by BigM on Jan 9, 2013 7:32:24 GMT -5
Last year I just squeezed them onto paper towels and let them dry. Well, that meant that this year I grew a clump of plants that was inconvenient and (to me) wasteful with all the "thinning" I had to do. Next time I plan to tear the paper into strips and squares for planting... unless there is a better way... any suggestions?
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Post by susan on Jan 9, 2013 8:06:59 GMT -5
Squeeze them into a jar and let them sit until they have mold, look disgusting and your ready to throw them out. Then add water. The good seeds will drop to the bottom and all the rest of the yuck will float. Pour off the bad stuff, then pour the good seed onto paper towels or whatever else you want to dry them on. Put them where they can get a small breeze, but not in full sun. When they are dry package them until your ready to use them. This was in the new Baker Creek catalog with pictures.
Susan
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 9, 2013 12:41:53 GMT -5
I squeeze the gunk into a jar, add about twice as much water as I have gunk, slap on a lid, let them ferment for a few days, pour off as much of the water as I can, pour the rest through a strainer, rinse with cool water, and dry on a plate. I tried drying them on paper towels, but they stuck to it so I use a plate now.
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Post by Valerie on Jan 9, 2013 14:13:53 GMT -5
Gayle, do most of them sprout pretty well the next year?
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 9, 2013 15:26:38 GMT -5
I get as good, or better, germination as I get from seed packets.
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Post by Valerie on Jan 9, 2013 17:50:56 GMT -5
You know what I never am sure of? When to pick whatever it is I want to save seeds of. Do they have to stay on the plant until they fall off or until they almost rot, or how long? I worry that I might pick them too early and then the seeds might not be done enough to grow next year. Is there some kind of guideline about this?
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 9, 2013 18:35:12 GMT -5
I pick them when they're dead ripe, but still firm enough to eat. In fact, I usually save the seeds from tomatoes that I'm cutting up for a salad or something. That way I can tell if that particular tomato is good or not.
Also, save seeds from more than one tomato plant and mix them together. It's best not to keep growing from a single seed source. They tend to get inbred and bad traits will start showing up.
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Post by Valerie on Jan 9, 2013 18:56:47 GMT -5
Kinda like chickens. What about squash, cukes, beans, etc. I imagine beans need to stay on there until the seeds are about as big as they'll get, right?
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 9, 2013 20:03:54 GMT -5
I leave the beans on the vine until they're dry or nearly dry. I leave squash and cucumbers until they're way past their prime, but not rotted. The cukes turn just about orange when they're ready. What the squash looks like depends on the variety.
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Post by BigM on Jan 10, 2013 7:51:55 GMT -5
Hmm, I just picked some beans and put the seeds in the dehydrator yesterday. I was thinking I'd try and start a couple to see how they do. Now I'm thinking I should have left them out there longer.
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Post by Valerie on Jan 10, 2013 12:20:18 GMT -5
OK, y'all hold me to it, this year. Ask me in about May if I'm remembering to save seed!
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Post by Granny Smith on Jan 10, 2013 21:45:21 GMT -5
M, try putting a few of those seeds between the layers of a folded paper towel and wet it. Then stick it in a plastic bag and seal it up. Check it after a few days and see if they're growing. If they are, then your seeds are fine. Bean seeds are more forgiving than some other vegetables.
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Jan 11, 2013 1:27:03 GMT -5
You know tomatoes are perennials, don't you? If you have a particularly good plant, you can take cuttings to overwinter and use to start your garden the next season.
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Post by BigM on Jan 11, 2013 7:33:26 GMT -5
I've never really had much luck with cuttings. (Read, I've never successfully done it)
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Post by Valerie on Jan 11, 2013 12:39:28 GMT -5
Lord have mercy, Kim! I did not know they were perennials! I did start some cuttings off a good plant for fall one time, but didn't think about bringing them in the house for the winter and they froze. I'd like to try that!
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