SEEDs - the cycle of life
We harvest seeds to replant the following year, selecting for characteristics we value; whether size, flavor, ability to adapt to our variable rainfall or to better resist insect predation. Some of our peppers, tomatoes, beans, corn and winter squash have been saved for almost 30 years.
When we experiment with new varieties we try to purchase open pollinated seeds. Open pollinated means the seed will come true from the parent plant, unlike those labeled F1 hybrids. F1 hybrids may have some advantages in size or early ripening, but the seeds collected will not produce the same plant the following year. So if you purchase a melon you like at the store and decide to save the seeds for replanting, you may be disappointed. Most commercial varieties grown today are F1 hybrids.
When we experiment with new varieties we try to purchase open pollinated seeds. Open pollinated means the seed will come true from the parent plant, unlike those labeled F1 hybrids. F1 hybrids may have some advantages in size or early ripening, but the seeds collected will not produce the same plant the following year. So if you purchase a melon you like at the store and decide to save the seeds for replanting, you may be disappointed. Most commercial varieties grown today are F1 hybrids.
Not only do we save seeds from our garden fruits and vegetables, but we also collect seed of native medicinal and woodland plants, cultivated and wild flowers, and culinary herbs. Tubers and bulbs such as garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric and potatoes are replanted, year after year.
Our propagation is not limited to the saving of conventional "seed" but includes grafting, spawn and cultures used in brewing, making vinegar, kombucha and kefir, yeast starters for breads, and mushroom mycelium.
Dried beans are easy to save once the pods have dried. For small quantities we pick and thresh by hand, for larger amounts we run them through our combine harvester. Tomatoes are an easy crop to save seeds from. Squeeze seeds into a container, add a little water and let sit for a few days. The pulp will separate from the seeds. Pour off the water, rinse a few times and place the seeds on a paper plate labeled with the name of the tomato. When dry, store in a paper envelope in a cool, dark place until time to plant. Sorghum is related to corn and sugar cane and is grown for the sugar in the stalk. The tops are removed before harvesting. Dry on screens and save the seeds for next year. Extra seeds make good feed for chickens.
The Vac-A-Way seed cleaner is used for cleaning wheat, beans, peas, and other smaller seeds.
We try to grow enough potatoes to eat all winter and to provide enough seed for the next year. Eat the big, plant the small. We move the potatoes to a different spot every year to avoid soil borne disease. A three year rotation is usually good enough in our area. We are also careful to never plant anything but a perfectly sound potato.
Our woods and fields are filled with an abundance of native trees and plants that can be eaten or used for medicinal purposes. The pawpaw is a great example. The green fruits grow on slender under story trees approximately eight to ten feet tall. The creamy yellow flesh surrounds a few large, brown seeds. Harvested in the fall it can be eaten raw or cooked, baked, brewed, jammed or jellied. The pawpaw is coveted by humans and wildlife alike.