How to Save the Seeds From Fruit & Vegetable Gardens

Save those watermelon seeds and plant in the garden next year.

All avid gardeners know that saving fruit and vegetable seeds from the garden saves them money. It also promotes community when they share seeds with their neighbors and friends. Each fruit and vegetable seed requires a slightly different approach to harvesting and saving. Start saving those garden seeds this year; it makes financial sense.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic baggies
• Paper bags
• Paper plates

Instructions

1. 

   Although tomato seeds are small, they're easy to harvest and plant.

   Save tomato seeds for planting next year. Most people think tomatoes are vegetables, but they are a fruit. To save tomato seeds, cut the tomato in half and with a spoon scoop out all the seeds into a glass bowl. Add some water to the seeds to leach away sprouting inhibitors. Set the bowl aside for two to three days then pour the seeds into a fine sieve and rinse them with water. Pat them dry with a paper towel; then shake them onto a paper plate, and set them in a bright airy place to dry. Store seeds in a resealable plastic bag or container.

2. 

   The large summer squash can yield many seeds to plant next year.

   Save seeds from the summer squash in your garden. Allow the squash to over-ripen. You'll know it's time to harvest the seeds when the flesh can be dented with a fingernail. Slice the squash open, and scrape out the seeds. Wash them and let them dry on a paper plate or paper towel. Store the dry seeds in a paper or plastic bag.

3. 

   Harvest the pea seeds when the pods are brown.

   Harvest pea seeds when the pods have turned brown. This occurs about four weeks after you would harvest them to eat. Remove the seeds from the pods and dry for a week before storing them. Store in a paper or plastic bag.

4. 

   Scoop out the pulp with a spoon to save cantaloupe seeds.

   Save melon seeds by placing the seeds and pulp in a bowl of water. The seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl. Remove the seeds and dry on a paper towel or paper plate. After a week, store them in a paper sack or baggy.

5. 

   Avocado seeds grow into houseplants.

   Save avocado seeds and start the plant in a jar of water. Avocados are another fruit, and there probably aren't too many kids who haven't tried to grow an avocado plant. The seeds may be started at any time. There's no need to dry the seed out, but you can if you don't want to plant it right away, after eating the avocado. Clean a glass jar and fill it with water to about a half inch from the top. Push three or four toothpicks in the avocado about two-thirds down from the pointed tip. Rest the seed on the top of the jar with the pointed side facing up, and the base of the seed submerged in water. Adjust the water level as needed and watch the seed sprout. Check every day to see if more water needs to be added.

Tips & Warnings

• Since every fruit and vegetable requires a slightly different method for saving seeds, research the fruit or vegetable you want to grow if not listed in this article.

References

• Starting from Seed; Editor: Steve Aitken; 2010
• The Garden Helper: Avocado Seeds

Resources

• Kitchen Garden Box: Save and Grow Seeds of Your Favorite Vegetables; Mike McGrath; 2009