This guide is for gardeners committed to food sovereignty, biodiversity, and resilient local food systems
This guide accompanies your year-round growing guide, providing practical advice for saving, storing, and managing seeds throughout the year.
1️⃣ Why Save Seeds?
· Local adaptation: Seeds saved locally adapt to your climate and soil over generations.
· Biodiversity: Maintains diverse plant varieties and protects heirloom strains.
· Resilience: Reduces dependence on imported seeds and commercial suppliers.
· Cost-effective: Saves money over the long term.
· Knowledge preservation: Keeps traditional and community knowledge alive.
2️⃣ Choosing Seeds to Save
· Open-pollinated / heirloom varieties (not hybrids)
· Healthy plants: Only save seeds from vigorous, disease-free plants
· Multiple plants: Collect from several individuals to maintain genetic diversity
Tips by crop type: - Leafy greens: Lettuce, spinach, chard (save seeds late in season)
- Brassicas: Kale, cabbage, broccoli (allow some plants to flower and set seed)
- Roots: Carrots, beetroot, parsnip (biennial seeds, overwinter roots first year)
- Legumes: Peas, beans (allow pods to fully mature and dry on the plant)
- Herbs & flowers: Parsley, coriander, dill, nasturtium, calendula (collect when fully ripe)
3️⃣ Harvesting Seeds
· Timing: Wait until seeds are fully mature and dry on the plant (pods brown, flowers faded)
· Method: Gently collect, avoiding contamination or immature seeds
· Cleaning: Remove chaff, stems, and pulp before storage
Special tips: - Beans and peas: dry pods completely before shelling
- Carrots and parsnips: lift roots, store over winter, harvest seeds following spring flowering
- Lettuce, kale, herbs: allow plants to bolt, then collect seeds when dry
4️⃣ Drying Seeds
· Spread seeds on a clean paper plate, mesh tray, or cloth in a warm, dry, ventilated area
· Avoid direct sunlight or damp conditions (can cause mold or premature germination)
· Allow 1–3 weeks depending on seed size and moisture content
5️⃣ Storing Seeds
· Containers: Paper envelopes, glass jars, or airtight tins (label with variety and date)
· Environment: Cool, dark, and dry (avoid temperature fluctuations)
· Moisture control: Add a small desiccant (dry rice, silica gel) to prevent mold
· Duration: Most seeds remain viable 1–5 years; some (onions, parsnips) shorter, others (peas, beans) longer
Labeling example: - Crop: Lettuce, Variety: ‘Winter Gem’, Year Collected: 2026
6️⃣ Testing Germination
Before sowing stored seeds, test germination: 1. Place 10–20 seeds on a damp paper towel 2. Fold and place in a plastic bag or container 3. Keep warm, check daily for sprouting over 7–14 days 4. Calculate germination % (number sprouted ÷ number tested × 100)
Use this to adjust sowing rates for older seeds.
7️⃣ Tips for Successful Seed-Saving
· Always label seeds clearly
· Maintain genetic diversity by saving from multiple plants
· Avoid cross-pollination (space or hand-pollinate if needed)
· Keep records: year, variety, germination, performance notes
· Share seeds within your community to support local resilience
8️⃣ Seed Sovereignty & Community
· Saving seeds empowers gardeners, families, and communities
· Promotes biodiversity and local food independence
· Strengthens knowledge-sharing networks
· Reduces reliance on industrial seed companies and fragile supply chains
Every seed saved is an act of care, autonomy, and future nourishment.
Wishing you a thriving year of seed-saving, planting, and resilient gardening 🌱