Seed Saving, Production and Availability

Seed Saving, Production and Availability

The 2013 Educational Program Committee is pleased to share conference educational materials with you under the condition that they are used without alteration for educational and non-commercial use only. All materials are protected by copyright law. The authors kindly request their work is properly cited, including the date of publication. For more information on Small Farms, visit our website at: http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/ or contact your local County Extension Agent. For inquiries about this topic, please contact: Danielle Treadwell, Educational Program Chair. Phone: (352) 273-4775 Email: ddtreadw@ufl.edu Suggested Citation: Author Full Name. Title of Presentation or Handout. 2013 University of Florida-IFAS and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University-CAFS Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference. August 2-4, Kissimmee, FL.

Onfarm Seed Saving Tommy Simmons Bellevue Gardens Organic Farm Archer, Alachua County, FL

The Beginnings at Bellevue Gardens Farm

Reasons to Start Seed Saving On Your Farm

Reasons for Seed Saving Local acclimation of established crop varieties Developing new crops and varieties Saving heirloom varieties and genetic diversity Add a seed production enterprise for income Concerns of genetically modified (GM) foods & seeds Loss of regional, small seed company sources

How to Save Seeds? 101 Basics for Saving Seed Self-pollinating types Perfect flowers = self-pollinating. Their flowers have both male & female parts which allows them to make seeds without insects, bees or wind. Since these kinds of plants do not usually crosspollinate, this allows seed savers to grow a diversity of self-pollinating varieties w/o great fear of crossing. You will need to watch for rare crossings and thin these out to maintain uniformity. With heirloom or endangered varieties you will want to play it safe and plant them apart from the same plant by 200 ft.

How to Save Seeds? 101 Basics for Saving Seed Cross-pollinating types This group which is most other common garden plants will readily cross within their own group so: Practice isolation - keep them safe distance from each other. This will depend on the plant but 50 to 200 minimum. Plant just one variety of each group for best results of seed saving just grow one variety of each type to maintain purity or Sequential planting where appropriate stagger your planting dates of the different varieties so that they do not flower at the same time With plants that the seeds are not a part of the eaten portions, just clip flower heads to prevent cross pollinating and to save time.

How to Save Seeds? 101 Basics for Saving Seed Harvesting Seeds Generally you want to wait until the seed pods are dry and brittle but before they shatter. With some seed heads you may need to pick slightly early and let finish drying or you may want to tie a bag around the seed heads loss before dry.

How to Save Seeds? 101 Basics for Saving Seed Drying and Cleaning Seeds Seeds should be finished drying or curing prior to storage. This can be done on screens in the shade for a day or two weather permitting. Dry Cleaning most seeds after drying can be cleaned by hand or by sifting through different gauge screens and carefully poured in front of a fan on low speed. The seed will drop down and the chaff will blow out.

How to Save Seeds? 101 Basics for Saving Seed Drying and Cleaning Seeds (continued) Wet Cleaning seeds of tomatoes, winter squash, melons, cukes and some others are better cleaned by first soaking seeds & remaining pulp slightly watered down for 24-96 hours. This accomplishes 2 things: Fertile seeds drop to the bottom and the infertile or hollow seeds & pulp will float. This slight fermentation actually helps eliminate seed borne viruses. The seeds can then be rinsed and dried.

How to Save Seeds? 101 Basics for Saving Seed Storing Seeds After Seeds Are Dry store them in paper inside glass jars in a cool dry place. They may also be place in the freezer this also kills insect eggs. Most seeds need to be very dry. This can be accomplished by food dehydrators w/ thermostat or silica gel, if needed, to get very dry. Temperature for every 10 o below 70 o F you double your seed life. Optimum storage temperature = 40-45 o F One month in refrigerator = 1,000 chilling hours Humidity control is primary! Low humidity can double the life of your seed & increase germination rate.

How to Save Seeds? 101 Basics for Saving Seed General Tips Don t save the seeds from just the best plants or just one plant. Don t plant all of your seed at once. Don t save seeds from diseased or sick plants. Very dry means that the seeds break and not bend, ant that the seeds crack when hit with hammer instead of smashing.

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