Free Seeds! ... Sort of

As you know, seeds can be expensive. To curb the cost of buying seeds and garden plants, we have started collecting seeds from various fruits and vegetables as we eat them. Not only do we get to enjoy what we have eaten, but for the same price, we are able to harvest seeds for our backyard gardens.

How do you do this?

When you are dicing and slicing fruit and vegetables, remember to scoop out any seeds and set them aside. Simply rinse them and place them on a paper towel to air dry.

We placed some seeds in a plastic bag with the intention of planting them very soon. If you are not ready for this step, you can store them until planting time. Lay seeds out on a paper towel and allow them to dry completely. Next, place them in an air tight container such as an old baby food jar, Tupperware or anything else with a lid. Before storing, it is a good idea to write the date the seeds were collected and the type of plant they came from on the container.

To store and sew seeds, follow these rules of thumb.

• Keep them cool and dry. A fridge or freezer is a good place because temperatures do not fluctuate and the humidity is low.

• There is no set time per seed for how long it can be stored. As long as the seed is mature when harvested, it should go dormant until planted.

• Each seed germination time and sprouting conditions vary, so, when storing multiple seeds, do not expect that they will all sprout at the same time. Be patient.

Also, take time to research different seed types and growing conditions for your area. Remember, we all learn as we go and failure is an option. But, don’t let that keep you from trying. You never know what you might get.

Below is an example of seed harvesting success! We harvested the seeds from a cantaloupe purchased at the grocery store. We planted them right away instead of storing.

Seed Scooping, Money Saving ,

Ling Ling and Crutch