A Lesson in seed saving

Apr 30, 2015

By Dawn Morden, Mountain Grove Seed Cpompany

SOME DEFINITIONS:

Heirloom - Very old, usually more than 50 years, usually passed down through generations. Are open pollinated.

Open pollinated - The ability to breed, with offspring being the exact replica of the parents.

Hybrid - A mix of two or more open pollinated varieties. The first generation of offspring usually displays all dominant genes. They are usually all the same, e.g. all tall, red tomatoes. However, in subsequent generations of growth, many recessive genes are displayed as well. Almost all of the plants are different. If you want to breed your own seed, pick the plants with traits you like from the second (mixed) generation of offspring, and remove the other ones. Save the seed, then replant the following year, doing the same thing. Continue for as many years as it takes for all of the plants to be the same. There are some varieties that have inconsistency as a characteristic; they are called landraces. Beans may have multicoloured pods, or dried white beans may include 5-10% of yellow or brown beans.

Annual - A plant that produces seed in one growing season. Annual vegetables include tomatoes, beans, peppers, peas, lettuce, rapini, mustards, all squash, corn, broccoli, radish, eggplant, and rapini.

Biennial - Plants that require two years of growing to produce seed. They require vernalization to flower (a period of cold). Plants can be overwintered in the garden under a thick mulch of hay, or stored in the root cellar and replanted in the spring. Biennials include onions, beets, other brassicas, parsnip, carrots and celery. Do not collect seed from plants that flower the first year.

Self-pollinating plants - Are in-breeding. Flowers are “perfect” that is, they each have both male and female parts. One flower, with no bees or wind, can produce fruit. They do mix a little. To maintain genetic diversity it is advisable to grow about 25 plants when saving seed. Self pollinated vegetables include tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, peas and beans.

Cross-pollinating plants - Are out-breeding. Plants have separate male and female flowers, or need male parts (pollen) from one plant and female (the stamen) parts of a different plant. To maintain genetic diversity, it is advisable to grow about 100 plants, but as few as 20 can be used (corn requires at least 100). Cross-pollinated vegetables include brassicas, squash, onions, spinach, beets, carrots, corn and parsnip.

Inbreeding depression - Deterioration of size, vigour, and yield due to inbreeding. Never use only one or two plants for seed saving, especially cross-pollinating ones.

Clonal - Cloning. Potatoes, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes. These plants will produce seed, but take multiple years to grow to full size. Cloning produces full size plants in one year.

PLANTING YOUR GARDEN FOR SEED

Basic plant biology - plant>families>genus>species>

varieties

Through pollination by insects or the wind, varieties in the same species will mix with one another.

To prevent cross-pollination, options are maintaining an isolation distance, hand-pollinating (caging, bagging, taping techniques), or timing of flowering. The level of adherence to these guidelines is related to the purpose for saving the seed.

For self-pollinating plants, isolation distances can be reduced a little, fairly safely. Bees usually fly up and down rows, but do sometimes skip sections (20-50'). They do not usually go from row to row; they go to the closest flowers.

If there are flowering plants between varieties of the same species, then the risk of cross-pollination is reduced.

Is seed is saved from the center of plots, and middle of rows, then the risk of cross-pollination is reduced.

Allow space between plants to improve airflow. This helps to prevent disease.

Never plant all of your seed in one planting! Bad things can happen. Save some of your valuable seed just in case you need to replant, or do not have success growing it that year. If you have seed saved from multiple years, plant a little from each year. this will increase genetic deversity and strengthen your plants.

SELECTION AND HARVESTING OF SEED

Selection - Select plants for health, strength, timing (early and/or late), quick germination (early to sprout, early to bear), good maturation, disease resistance, heat, drought, rain, and cold tolerance.

Look at the plant as a whole. Look at the shape, colouring, size, durability, and disease resistance of the fruit as well.

Rogueing - Remove plants that do not perform well or are "off" types, ones with poor traits. Do this before and after flowering.

If seed is saved only later in the season, and the early produce used, then it will be selected for lateness. If seed is saved only early in the season and the remaining produce is used, then it will be selected for earliness. Collect seeds throughout the season. Some at each harvest is best.

Try not to select for high yield alone. This diverts the plant's energy to doing that, often compromising sweetness or quality.

Seed plants are still useful. The outer leaves of lettuce plants can be harvested to sell or eat. Off types of tomatoes or peppers can be potted and moved (or replanted) to a location where they will not cross with seeds to be saved. Fruit can be sold or eaten. The flesh of peppers, melon, watermelon, squash, even tomatoes can be used without harming the seeds.

Harvesting - Harvest at proper maturity. Tomatoes, melons, squash and peppers should be ripe. Cucumbers very over-ripe.

Harvest dry seed with low moisture content. Lettuce, brassicas, beets, and spinach should be dry. Harvest when the maximum quantity on the plant is ready. Beans and peas should be dry, but can be harvested when the pods have shrivelled and thinned, and the bulging legumes are prominent.

CLEANING AND STORAGE AND CARING FOR SEED.

Cleaning - Curing seed. Squash needs to sit after it is picked for one month, to allow seeds to ripen properly. Cucumbers, for two weeks. Watermelon and melon can be used when they are ripe.

Dry seeds - Umbel, podded, and clustered seed. Harvest whole limbs. Run thumb and finger up the branch when it's dry to dislodge seeds. Pods can be crushed, and the large debris removed. Winnow what is left. Put seeds in a low-sided container and use a fan, the wind or your breath to carefully blow away what is not seed.

These types of dry seed can be stored at any stage (as long as it's dry), and cleaned later.

Beans and peas should be removed from pods as soon as possible to prevent mold. Spread out to dry until seeds become hard.

Wet seed - There are two methods for cleaning wet seeds (seeds that form inside the vegetable). The first is the simplest and is used for cleaning squash, peppers or watermelon seeds. Remove the seeds from the vegetable when you eat it. Squash and watermelon seeds can be rinsed in a strainer. Spread out on a non-stick surface dry. They are dry when they become hard, breaking instead of bending.

The second method involves fermentation and is used for tomatoes, cucumbers and melons. Fermentation helps reduce seed-borne disease. Do not let seeds sprout. Cut the fruit in half and scoop out the seeds. Put the seeds into a glass jar or yogurt container. Add a very small amount of water. Leave the container on the counter for a few days until there is white mould on top and it smells bad. Then, stir vigorously and add ¼ to ½ cup water. Let it stand for a couple of minutes. Carefully pour off the water (and yucky stuff) from the top of the container. Its okay if there are some seeds in it, these ones are no good. The good seeds are at the bottom. Add more water, let stand a few more minutes and pour the water off

(carefully) again. Repeat until the water is clear and seeds at the bottom of the container are clean.

Spread seeds out on a non stick surface to dry.

Storage - Be certain your seeds are dry before storing. Never heat seeds to dry them. Never dry seeds in the direct sunlight. Never overuse silica powder as a drying agent because if seeds lose all of their moisture, they will die.

Store seeds in a moisture-proof container. Only glass and metal are airtight.

Muslin bags or paper envelopes absorb moisture and are good. Multiple packets can be placed in a canning jar for storage.

Label each packet of seed with the variety name, year grown (location grown on property), and when to re-grow or check germination. Do not mix seed from different years when storing seeds.

Seeds need to be stored somewhere dry, cool and dark. Not in humid or damp environments with fluctuating temperatures. The refrigerator is good. The freezer is great, but only if the seeds are dry enough. Otherwise, seeds will crack when moisture inside them freezes and expands. Cold temperatures slow down the energy consumption of seeds, so lengthens their viability time.

Caring for seed - Check for germination if not growing every year. To germinate, most seeds require 75 degrees F. temperatures (peppers and eggplant 80°, cowpeas 85°).

To test germination, count the seeds that were planted. At the end of the first week, count how many sprouted, and carefully remove them. Do this at the end of weeks two, three and four. Add the total number of sprouted seeds, then calculate the germination percentage.

If there is 20% germination, that means that 20% of the seeds are still alive, but also that 80% of the vigour is gone from all of the seeds.

Seeds should be re-grown when germination is around 70%, to maintain good quality.

Appendix.

Categorization of vegetables

The AMARYLLICACEAE family (aka liliaceae, or aliuceae)

Species:

i) allium ampeloprasum. LEEKS

ii) allium sativum. GARLIC (no scapes) AND ROCAMBOLE (has scapes)

iii) allium schoenoprasum. CHIVES

iv) allium tuberosum. GARLIC CHIVES

v) allium cepa. ONIONS AND SHALLOTS. Has subspecies.

a) aggregatum. shallots, multiplier onions, potato onions.

b)cepa. onions that produce seed.

c) proliferum. egyptian onions (aka walking onions or tree onions).

Leeks, onions and shallots are biennials. Seed producing alliums have perfect flowers but are outbreeding.

Chives and garlic chives, once established, will provide seed each year. garlic has lost the ability to reproduce sexually so will never cross with itself.

Isolation distance: 1.6km

Life expectancy of seeds: 2 years

The BRASICACEAE family.

Species:

i) brassica napus. RUTABEGA, SIBERIAN KALE, SWEDE TURNIP, FINNISH TURNIP. Has subspecies.

a) napobrassica. rutabegas grown for their roots.

b) pabularia. rutabegas grown for foilage (siberian kale, hanover salad).

c) rapeseed. canola including winter rape kale

ii) brassica rapa. TURNIP, RAPINI, CHINESE MUSTARD

iii) raphanus sativus. RADISH

iv) brassica oleracea. BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, CABBAGE,

BRUSSEL SPROUTS, KALE, KOHLRABI, COLLARDS

Broccoli, Rapini, chinese mustard, and radishes are annuals. All others are biennials. Brassicacaea flowers are perfect but require insects for pollination. Many varieties are self incompatible (sterile), so multiple plants are required to produce seed. Alternate day caging can be used for seed purity.

Use a knife to cut an x into the cabbage and cauliflower heads, so that the seed stalks can emerge.

Isolation distance: 800m for radish. All else 1.6km.

Life expectancy of seeds: 4-5 years

The CHENOPODIACEAE family.

Species:

i) beta vulgaris. BEET, SWISS CHARD, MANGEL

ii) chenopodium quinoa. QUINOA

iii) spinacia oleracea. SPINACH

Chenopodiaceae are wind pollinated. Beets, swiss chard and mangels are biennials. They will not flower until roots are mature and vernalization has occurred. Beet seeds are clusters of 2-5 seeds each. When growing, thin leaves so that only one leaf stalk grows on each plant. Use at least six plants for seed (beta vulgaris). Quinoa and spinach are annuals. The quinoa grains are the seeds, they form in large heads on stalks. Quinoa is short day sensitive and will develop flowers or seed until late in the season. Spinach is either a male or female plant. At least 4'x4' of spinach plants are needed to grow seed. Plant in plots to aid fertilization. Only the female plants will bear seed.

Isolation distance: minimum 8km.

Life expectancy of seeds: 5-6 years

The COMPOSITAE family.

Species:

i) helianthus annuus. SUNFLOWER

ii) lactuca sativa. LETTUCE

Annuals. Flowers are perfect, most self compatible. Alternate day caging can be used to produce seed. Seed heads may need to be bagged if birds are consuming the seeds. Sunflowers are outbreeding plants. Sunflower seeds are found in the shells that form on the flower head. Remove seeds from the flower heads but leave them in their shells. Lettuce is an inbreeding plant. Lettuce seeds form on flower heads from bolted lettuce. Harvest lettuce seeds when the fluff sticking out of the seed pods becomes dry. Winnowing does not work for lettuce seed. Use your fingers or a screen. Types of lettuce include crisphead, butterhead, cos (romaine), stem (celtuce, asparagus lettuce), leaf and latin. If growing a crisp head variety, heads should be cut down the centre to allow emerging flower stalks to form.

Isolation distance: lettuce 8m. sunflowers 4km.

Life expectancy of seeds: lettuce 3 years,

sunflower 7 years

The CUCURBITACEAE family.

Species:

i) citrullus lanatus. WATERMELON

ii) cucumis melo. MELON. Has seven subspecies cucumis

iii) cucumis sativus. CUCUMBER

v) cucurbita maxima. SQUASH (eg. hubbard, most pumpkins)

vi) cucurbita mixta. SQUASH (eg. cushaw)

vii) cucurbita moschata. SQUASH (eg. butternut)

viii) cucurbita pepo. SQUASH (eg. zuchinni, acorn, spaghetti)

Annuals. Plants have separate male and female flowers. Most require pollen from a different plant. Grow at least 20 plants. Blossom taping is often used to maintain seed purity. In the evening, tape shut blossoms just about to open, or just opened. Tape male and female blossoms. In the morning, after the dew has dried, pick, untape and remove the petals from the male flower. Carefully untape the female flower and pollinate using the male one. Retape the female flower closed. Hand pollination is most successful with the first few blossoms, early in the season. Melons abort about 80% of their blossoms. Cucumbers will abort their blossoms during drought or extreme heat. Harvest only ripe fruit for seeds. Allow cucumbers to turn a dark yellow orange (overripe) before picking. Let cucumbers sit (at room temperature) for two weeks, and squash for a month after picking. Seeds can be removed from melons and watermelon, when fruit is ripe.

Isolation distance: 0.8km.

Life expectancy of seeds: 5-6 years, cucumbers 10 years

The LEGUMINOSEA family. (aka faboideae, caesal piniodeae, mimosoideae)

Species:

i) arachis hypogaea. PEANUT

ii) pisum sativum. PEAS

iii) phaseolus vulgaris. BEANS, BUSH, POLE

iv) phaseolus coccineus. BEANS, RUNNER

v) phaseolus lunatus. BEANS, LIMA

vi) glycine max. BEANS, SOYA

vii) vigna unguiculato. COWPEAS

Annuals. Bagging or caging techniques can be used for seed saving. Peanuts need to be saved overwinter in their shells for replanting in the spring, and need 120 days of hot weather to grow well. Bean and pea seeds are the beans and peas in the pods. Allow to dry on plants before harvesting, or remove entire plant with roots and hang upside down in a warm location until dry.

Isolation distance: peas, bush and pole beans, cow peas 15-20m.

Runner and soya beans 0.8km. Lima beans 1.6km.

Life expectancy of seeds: 3-4 years

The SOLANACEAE family.

Species:

i) capsicum annuum. PEPPERS

ii) lycopersicon lycopersicum. (aka lycopersicon esculentum) TOMATOES, CURRANT TOMATOES

iii) solanum melongena. EGGPLANT

iv) solanum tuberosum. POTATO

v) physalis pubescens. GROUND CHERRY

vi) physalis alkekengi. CHINESE LANTERN

Annuals. Currant tomatoes are ¼” in diameter, red and grow in clusters. Potato leaf varieties of tomatoes tend to cross

pollinate so have a greater isolation distance. Potatoes should be saved overwinter and replanted in the spring.

Isolation distance: Peppers, 165m. Tomatoes at least 5m, potato leaf varieties 50m.

Ground cherries and chinese lanterns 50m.

Eggplant 15-20m.

Life expectancy of seeds: peppers, ground cherries, chinese lanterns 3 years, tomatoes 4-10 years, eggplant 7 years.

The UMBILLEFRAE family.

Species:

i) apium graveolens. CELERY

ii) anethum graveolens. DILL

iii) daucus carota. CARROT AND QUEEN ANNES LACE

iv) pastinace sativa. PARSNIP AND WILD PARSNIP

v) foeniculum vulgare. FENNEL

vi) coriandrum sativa. CILANTRO

vii) petroselinum crispum. PARSLEY

Have umbrella like seed heads. Cilantro, dill and fennel are annuals. Celery, carrots, parsnips and parsley are biennials.

Isolation distance: carrots, fennel 0.8km. Others 1.6km.

Life expectancy of seeds: parsnip 1 year. carrots, parsley, fennel 3 years. dill 5 years. celery 8 years.

The GRAMINEAE family. (aka poeceae)

Species:

i) zea mays. CORN

ii) sorghum bicolor. SORGHUM, BROOM CORN

Annual. Timing of flowering can sometimes be used successfully. Select a mimiature corn that matures quickly, such as tom thumb. Plant around May 15. Select a full size corn, preferably of a different color to plant in early june. Often if cross pollination occurs, the different colour kernels will show on the cobs mixed in. If sweet corn is planted near field

corn, the sweet corn will not be very palatable. Use a 100 yard minimum distance that includes a barrier such as a forest, or field of sorghum. Allow ears to mature or dry on plant. Pick and peel back the husks, remove silks and hang cobs to dry (or lay flat turning once a day). Pick kernels off, the kernels are the seeds.

Isolation distance: 3.2km.

Life expectancy of seeds: 3 years

The LABIATAE family.

Species: olimum basilicum. BASIL

Annual. Isolation distance: 50m.

Life expectancy of seeds: 5 years

The LILIACEAE family.

Species: asparagus officionalis. ASPARAGUS

Seeds form in round pods on tall feathery stalks.

Isolation distance: 3.2km.

Life expectancy of seeds: 5 years