How do I harvest and save seeds from my plants?
Harvesting seeds from plants is not difficult, but certain varieties require special approaches. Some of the easiest plants to harvest seeds from are tomatoes, beans, peas, and lettuce.
Once you’ve tackled harvesting seeds from the easiest plant types, try the intermediate and advanced ones! Soon you will be teaching others how to grow and harvest seeds from their gardens, too.
Check out all the videos in our Easy Seed Saving series to learn how to save a variety of seeds of varying difficulty. For more video tutorials like these subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Some plants do not grow easily from seed. These types often reproduce better from other parts of the plant, like branch cuttings or divisions of its bulbs, corms, or rhizomes.
Other plants are more difficult, like hybrid varieties that will not reproduce “true to type” after a few generations. Some plants easily cross-pollinate with plants from related families, like squashes, cucumbers, and melons.
Also be sure to check out Seed Savers Exchange’s complete set of guidelines so you can learn how to harvest seeds from many other plant types not covered here.
How do I store the seeds I’ve harvested?
Storing seeds properly is just as important as harvesting them. If seeds are not stored correctly, they can become overheated, crushed or broken, damaged or eaten by insects and rodents, or succumb to mold. Any of this will result in seeds that don’t sprout.
Viable seeds can sprout with ease and in numbers that allow you to grow not just one but many healthy plants to maturity. Good seed storage requires dark and dry storage spaces, cool (or even cold) temperatures, and careful packaging in sealed containers to protect seeds from humidity, heat, sunlight, and pests.
Cilantro harvest
Young gardeners always find the most efficient and fun way to separate seeds from stalks!
Learn our guidelines for seed storage at the annexes in our short video called "3 Secrets to Seed Keeping.” Learn how to store seeds for home use by following guidelines from Seed Savers Exchange’s short video webinar or on their page showing “How to Store Seeds.”
