Susan La Fountaine
| Special to The News-Messenger
A closer look at life in the garden
A collection of visuals from the garden.
So you want to save money on buying your seeds next year. Here are five steps to follow:
Make sure the seeds are completely dry;store in a cool, dark and dry place;use airtight glass containers or paper envelopes;label with seed type, variety and date of collection; anduse the seeds within one to two years of collection.
We should be saving more of our own seeds; it is another step on the ladder of self-sufficiency and it saves on the cost of growing our own.
Prepare the seeds
Allow the seeds to fully dry. For moist seeds, spread them on a plate or paper towel to air dry for at least a day or two. Remove any remaining plant matter from the seeds. You want to start next season with clean, dry seeds.
Choose a storage container
Store the seeds in paper envelopes or bags to allow for some air circulation. For longer periods of time, store the envelopes in a tightly sealed airtight container, such as a glass jar. Glass or metal containers are preferable to plastic.
Store the seeds
Place the storage units in a cool, dark and dry location. A refrigerator is ideal (32°F to 41°F). A cool basement or closet will also work. Avoid storing seeds in areas with fluctuating temperatures or high humidity. For extra protection against moisture, place a desiccant like silica gel packet or a small amount of powered milk wrapped in cheesecloth inside the container.
Label your seeds
Clearly label each container with the type of seed, the specific variety and the date you save them. Include any other useful notes, such as where you collected them.
Use and maintain
Use the saved seeds within one to two years for best results, as germination can decrease with age. If stored in a refrigerator, allow the container to come to room temperature before opening it to prevent moisture buildup.
To test the germination, place five to 10 seeds in a damp paper towel and place inside a plastic bag. Keep the bag about 75°F to 80°F for a week and see how many germinate.
This will give you an idea of how many will be good for the next season.
Here is a list of eight easy seeds to save and plant next season. They include tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuce, peas, cucumbers, spinach and onions. Those are simple to save because they are self-pollinating and produce mature seeds in a single season, with straightforward processes for harvesting and drying.
Hints for saving seeds:
Beans: Pods should be completely dry on the vine until they turn leathery or brown.Harvest and shell the seeds.
Peas: Pods should be dry on the plant until they are brown and brittle. The seeds areready to harvest when they rattle inside the pod.
Lettuce: Designate a “seed patch” for lettuce that you don’t eat. Once the plants have gone to seed and the stalks are fluffy with seeds, cut them and dry them in a paper bag.
Tomatoes: Let them fully ripen on the vine, then scoop out the seeds and pulp. Ferment them in a jar of water for a few days to remove the gelatinous coating before drying them completely.
Cucumbers: Use only a few cucumbers to ripen fully when yellow on the vine. Scoop out the seeds, clean them, and then dry them thoroughly.
Peppers: Choose the ripest peppers (usually red, but depends on the variety) from the plant. Cut them open, remove the seeds and dry them completely before storing them.
Keep in mind that some unique plant varieties are illegal to save. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that living organisms and their genetic material could be patented. The ruling made it illegal to save seeds from patented plants. That law protects people who grow unique plant varieties. It prevents anyone from replicating patent plants.
You can save patent-free seeds or genetically modified seeds.
Benefits of seed saving
Seed saving has many benefits to the community. It preserves unique plant varieties, allowing families and communities to hold on to and continue sharing their culture.
Saving and replanting seeds is cheaper than buying commercial seeds from stores or markets. It has been found by having open-pollinated plant seeds rich in vitamins and fiber preserves plant nutrients. By selecting favorable plants and saving their seeds, you can grow plants better suited to your climate and region.
The Toledo Grows annual seed swap is scheduled for January or February 2026. It is held at Scott High School on Collingwood Avenue in Toledo from 12-3 p.m. Admission is free. You will receive five tickets for five seed packets. If you bring your own saved seeds from the previous year, you will be able to exchange for the same amount.
There is also gardening advice. More information can be found on Facebook or googling Toledo Grows.
Susan La Fountaine is Master Gardener Coordinator for the Ohio State University Extension Offices in Sandusky and Ottawa Counties.
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