HOW TO STORE YOUR SEEDS
Got some left over? Here’s how you can save them for next year!
WITH the exception of hardy annuals and windowsill herbs, we are coming to the end of the seedsowing season. If you are left with several open packets of seeds, hold fire before throwing them out.
If stored correctly, they should still be viable to sow next year. This also applies to seeds you have collected from plants already growing in the garden. The advantages of this include saving money and bagging seeds to sow where you want them before they are spread around the garden willy-nilly by the parent plant.
Collect the seeds you want to keep on a dry, still day, choosing plants that are healthy and pest-free and that have ripe seed pods that are about to split open and release their bounty. Pods that are ready for harvesting often look dry and brown, and will rattle if you shake them gently.
Cut off the entire seedhead and place it in an envelope or paper bag. Alternatively, cut open the pods with a clean, sharp knife or simply shake their contents into an envelope or container.
Leave collected pods somewhere cool to finish ripening, checking them regularly. When most of the seeds have been released, empty them onto a flat surface and remove any bits of seedpod.
Seal the seeds in an envelope, labeled with their variety and date of storing. Keep this somewhere cool, dark and dry away from pests.
Commercial seeds in an opened packet can be stored in the same way. Reseal the packet, ensuring the seeds are pest and disease-free first.