Saving & Sharing Seeds
Once you've become a successful gardener, it's time to start saving those seeds! At the end of the season, let some of your healthiest plants “go to seed.” Harvest the seed, save some for yourself, and donate some to the seed library to keep our collections stocked.
Tips
- Pick up a seed saving guide, attend a class, or watch these videos online.
- If you are planning on saving “easy” seeds, we recommend planting one variety of each plant to help prevent accidental cross-pollination.
- “Advanced” seeds require special planning . If you’re a more experienced gardener that is growing seeds for saving, you’ll want to learn how to isolate plants to prevent cross-pollination.
- Make sure your seeds are dry and clean.
- Label clearly and accurately, using our seed donation form. Find it at a library or download it here.
Seed-Saving Difficulty Level
Easy to Save Seeds:
These plants take just one growing season to complete a full reproductive cycle, and they generally self-pollinate, so you don’t have to worry about cross-pollination from your own garden or other gardens.
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Medium seeds:
These plants take just one growing season to complete a full reproductive cycle, but they may rely on insects for pollination and they can cross-pollinate, so you need to plan ahead in order to ensure pure seeds.
These plants may take two years to complete a full reproductive cycle, or they may cross-pollinate very easily. They require special care to ensure pure seed, such as hand-pollinating or caging.
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