LSU AgCenter horticulturist Denyse Cummins demonstrates how to separate seeds from chaff at the Louisiana Master Gardener convention April 30 in West Monroe, La. (Photo by Mary Ann Van Osdell. Click on photo for downloadable image.)

News Release Distributed 05/05/10

WEST MONROE, La. – Gardeners can save seeds to cut costs and maintain heirloom varieties, Denyse Cummins, LSU AgCenter horticulturist, told the Louisiana Master Gardener Convention here April 30.

Seeds of heirloom varieties may be difficult to obtain or need to be tracked down and ordered every year, Cummins said.

“We have a number of Louisiana varieties, like cow pumpkins, green eggplants and cowhorn okra, which are not available from seed companies,” she said “If we don’t save our own seed and share them with our fellow growers, we don’t get to grow them. Or worse, they may be lost forever.”

Cummins explained that plants are either self-pollinated – pollen falls from within the same flower – or open-pollinated – pollen is distributed by wind or insects from neighboring plants. Plants from open-pollinated parents may have slight variations, she explained.

Heirloom varieties have been open-pollinated for so long that traits of offspring are consistent with little variation, she said.

Cummins said gardeners who save seeds that are fleshy, such as from dogwood and magnolia, should clean them.

“Take a blender and replace the sharp blades with rubber tubing,” she said. “Add a little water and pulse.” Leave the heavier seeds in the bottom of the blender and repeat the process if necessary, then dry the seeds.

Tomato seeds also can be saved, Cummins instructed. Cut the tomato in half. Scoop out the seeds, place them in a container and cover them loosely. Let the seeds sit out for three days, scrape off any mold, rinse the seeds in a sieve and then dry and store them.

“If you are collecting seeds from a garden, wait until the seeds are completely dry and brown,” Cummins said. Rub them in your hands to separate the seeds from the chaff and store the seeds in the refrigerator in a labeled screw-top jar with a rubber ring. Sow them in the garden at their usual time.

The seeds will last several years, Cummins said.

Planting depth and watering are important, she said.

“Plant two times the diameter deep,” Cummins said, adding that very small seeds can be placed on the surface and left uncovered.

Hybrid seeds should not be saved, according to Cummins. Because they originate from two extremely different parents, seeds from hybrids may produce tremendous variations in the plants they produce.

Mary Ann Van Osdell