How to Collect Seeds

The cheapest way to get seeds is to collect them yourself from the plants in your own garden. You’ll be amazed at the amount of seeds you can collect in your own flower garden.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Container such as a large bowl or paper bag
• Paper and pen for labeling your seeds

1. After the flower blooms, the flower will die off and the plant will develop the seeds. The seeds won’t be ready to collect until the seed pods turn brown and are cracking or just about ready to crack open. At that point you can cut the stems and shake the seeds out into a large bowl, bend the stems upside down over a bowl, or open the pods by hand.

2. 
   Blue Flax Linum Seed Pods

   Label each container of seeds immediately so that you won't forget which kinds of seeds you have.

3. 
   Blanket Flower Seeds

   The seeds need to thoroughly dry out for a week before you put them into envelopes or zip lock bags or else they will mold. Make sure there are no bugs among the seeds and try to clear away as much of the chaff as possible before packaging up your seeds. Label each package of seeds. You can purchase 2"x2" mini zip-lock bags at Staples or other stores, or make your own seed envelopes by folding square paper.

4. 
   Lupine Seeds

   Store seeds in a cool dry place until you are ready to plant them.

Tips & Warnings

• Some seeds are poisonous. Keep seeds away from children and pets.

Resources

• International Seed Saving Institute
• GardenWeb Seed Saving Forum
• Making Seed Envelope From Paper

[LilacGirl]

on 10/15/2008 This is great, thanks for the tips on collecting seeds from your own garden and plants.