How to Preserve Fruit & Vegetable Seeds

Preserve seeds to grow later.

Preserving seeds is a good way to save money and to grow plants, year after year. This involves selecting seeds from heirloom plants at the right time and storing them properly. Soft fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes and squash should be picked when ripe, while beans and peas can be harvested and left in the pods to dry. Choose healthy looking plants as those attacked by pests or disease will not produce quality seeds.

Things You'll Need

• Spoon
• Water
• Jar or container
• Fine mesh colander
• Paper towels
• Knife
• Paper envelopes
• Storage container with a lid
• Silica gel
• Pen

Instructions

1. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon from soft ripe fruits and vegetables, including pulp.

2. Put the seeds into a jar or container and fill with water.

3. Stir the mixture twice a day for five days or until seeds have sunk to the bottom, separating from the pulp.

4. Remove floating pulp and strain seeds with the colander.

5. Spread out the seeds to dry on paper towels. This can take five to seven days.

6. Slice other fruit and vegetables with a knife and take out seeds.

7. Place on paper towels until they are dry, which should be five to seven days.

8. Picks seeds in pods such as beans and peas and allow them to dry indoors on paper towels.

9. Pour dried seeds into paper envelopes.

10. Write on each envelope the type of seed and the date collected.

11. Place packets of seeds into a large container.

12. Add a small amount of silica gel to the container to absorb moisture and help keep the seeds dry.

13. Store seeds in the refrigerator to keep them at the proper temperature for preserving.

Tips & Warnings

• Silica gel can be bought from craft stores.

• Different types of seeds can be kept together in the storage container with a lid.

• Use care when slicing vegetables.

References

• How do I Preserve Seed from my Garden Vegetable.
• Preserving Seeds is Easy