SeedSavers.org.nz If you are saving seed for home use only, you will not really need an electric dehydrator, just put the seeds in the sun on the window sill or in the greenhouse until very dry. Nearly all plants produce seeds, the trick to knowing how to save them is watching to see when they are ripe. A plant often indicates its seeds are ready to harvest by producing pods, seed heads, fluffy tufts or the berries turn brown or begin to shrivel and die. There, your very own seed. Free shipping on purchases over $100. Watch out for weevils hatching out in jars of saved borlotti beans. (Don't bother with modern F1 hybrids as they are unlikely to come true from seed (be a genetic match of their parents.). The most important point is that you save ripe seed that has matured fully prior to harvesting from healthy, disease-free plants. Large seeds are easiest to save. Learn the basics of how to save seeds from your garden. The Seed Savers’ Network, since 1986. You can gather ripe seeds by rubbing them off the plants; by cutting dried stems of flowering annuals and herbs to hang and dry indoors; or by harvesting the pods to dry and shell out at a later date. Resilient, and big time special. Tui Performance Naturals Tomato & Vegetable Liquid Fertiliser. READ MORE: * Cash crops: money-saving edibles to grow * How to grow sweet peas - and why you should * Build raised garden beds for $10. We are pleased to be able to share some of our Garden to Table gardening, cooking and education resources to support families during this lockdown period. I am a horticultural hoarder who likes to grow a wide range of edible and ornamental plants, many of which are annuals that willingly set copious quantities of seed when they've done their dash. To clean big batches of seed, I wait for a windy-ish day then use a pair of old soil sieves to sort the seed from the chaff, literally tossing the seed (winnowing) from one sieve to the next until all the debris blows away. Basic seed saving requires little more than a friendly relationship with nature and plenty of paper bags. The hard-necked Spanish red variety pictured here is 'Aja Rojo', which I sourced from Mototara Farm Produce in Muriwai Valley, West Auckland. Shop now! Saving seeds is easy, cost-effective and rewarding. I've saved yellow mustard seeds to make my own Colman's hot English mustard, coriander seed for my spice jars, speckled Italian borlotti beans for winter stews and purple-podded heirloom 'Capucijner' peas for pea and ham soup. Purple-fleshed 'Blackboy' peaches sprout reliably and come true from seed (aka cracked pits). Leave seeds to air dry inside. My late Uncle John, a fine organic grower in Pukekohe, grew huge bulbs of purple-skinned garlic and shared his seed cloves with me. To save your own bean seeds, leave the old pods to dry fully on the vine, until the seeds rattle inside. I am by no means a professional seed saver. It will give you an abundance of seed that you can plant, swap, give and store for next year. Seed saving is one of the most important jobs we can be doing. The Gardener's Seed Saving Kit Seed saving is a smart and economical way to preserve your special plants for the next season and the next generation. Thoughts on saving your herb and plant seeds. Saving seeds is one of the more rewarding things you can do in your garden. Stake plants with tall seed spikes, such as silverbeet and brassicas, so they don't fall over, and keep them well watered even if they look past it, as drought-stressed plants are more vulnerable to pest and disease problems. The Seed Savers’ Handbook is a complete reference for growing, preparing and conserving 117 traditional varieties of food plants. If you are an experienced seed saver and keen to help keep some of our valuable heritage varieties going, please order some of our Guardian seeds. Welcome to the Kōanga Institute Home of New Zealand largest heritage food plant collection. We really are lucky here in NZ, there are a plethora of fantastic varieties to choose from. You’ll learn and practice the basic techniques for seed extraction and storage. “Nutrient-dense food is the key to our health. Collect your favourite flowers and mix them all up in a bag or envelope. But don't leave them too long or both the pods and the seeds are liable to get mouldy. Save loads of broad beans to sow as cover crops for winter soil protection. Most cheap dehydrators in NZ are on 70°C and they can not be turned down. We support Bart Acres & otepoti organics to teach people about seed saving in Dunedin . Place the envelopes in tins or containers to keep insects and mice away. Whether your style is fiddle leaf figs, or maidenhair ferns, creating your very own indoor oasis is the perfect finishing touch to your living spaces. Coriander always bolts to seed. Remember that while most saved seeds remain viable for many years, some – such as parsnips, corn and parsley – germinate best when fresh. Always clearly label what the seeds are, or else you may find when you come to sow in spring it’s a bit like a lottery seeing what germinates! Some seasons, I don't even bother with the paper bags and jars. Start while the nuts are still fresh. Saving seed is an easy way to generate a whole new harvest from season to season and without spending any money. Most of us who save seeds have far too much (it's easy to do when you consider that a single lettuce yields thousands of ripe seeds) so let's help each other get growing rather than stockpiling. Store seed in envelopes in a cool, dry, dark place. Seeds stored in airtight and dry conditions should last at least 12 months, maybe a little longer. The seeds are large and easy to collect. Pick and pop the ripe pods from swan plants. As a general rule, you can save seeds from any plant that produces them in sufficient quantity to collect. Only save cloves to resow from rust-free crops. • To plan a garden so seed will grow true to type. All seed has a shelf life. How to collect and save vegetable seeds: Beans, peas and corn: remove husks and allow seeds to dry out – this may take a couple of weeks, then remove casings and store. Do you have spare seeds? When it’s bone dry (in a week or two) store in a sterilised, labelled jar. This will help them dry thoroughly on all sides. Educational Resources during COVID-19. It … Some seeds are best sown directly into the garden, like peas, beans and carrots; whereas other seeds are best sown in seed raising trays. Thus you could say that my seed saving strategy relies on equal parts good luck, fair weather and lackadaisical management. Wash vegetable seeds of any excess flesh and spread onto newspaper to dry. You can save seeds from any plant that produces them in sufficient quantity to collect. Both philosophies work because seedy plants are no fools. Single-flowered dahlias are a magnet for bees, and produce plenty of seed to save and resow. How to be a save seeds with environmental educator Robina McCurdy. Because I'm never in any rush to tidy up my garden at the end of the season, much of this seed matures in pods on the plants, and all I have to do is collect, dry, clean and store it. We are here to inspire and support your ‘journey’ in regenerative living. Some will germinate, and some won't, and the best way to find that out is to give it a go. Do the right thing and learn how to save your seeds! Allow to hang somewhere dry and warm for a week or so. It looks like this NZ food bill will pave the way to reduce the plant diversity and small owner operations in New Zealand, for example by way of controlling the legality of seed saving and trading/barter/giving away; all will be potentially illegal. You will learn about the basics of seed saving including how; • A variety of plants are pollinated. If we select strong healthy plants to save seed from, we are also producing plants that will thrive in our own environment. Sow under heat in spring for lots of monarch caterpillar fodder. Want to raise a walnut seedling? Please take time to share seed from both ordinarily well known plants and any special varieties of herbs with superior flavour or scent, or rare herbs that we would all love to have especially those from other countries that you have had success with. Save seeds from herb flowers or reserve from vegetables. Thoughts on Seed Saving. Or perhaps you're on the hunt for heirloom or hard-to-find seed varieties? Watch out for insects in stored seed. Even seedheads that feel crackly and crispy will still need a few more days in an airy warm, room (or garden shed). Millions of products all with free shipping New Zealand wide. Instead of collecting, storing and resowing my own seeds, I simply stand back and let one generation of plants propagate the next. It's easy to collect, clean and save. When saving vege seeds, consider allocating a separate bed in your vege patch for this job, as plants grown for seed can take 6-12 months longer to ripen than plants grown for the plate. Seed Saving In New Zealand Meet the seed-saving couple living entirely off the land (except for salt) Tessa Chrisp. tubers) from vegetables, grain, herbs, and flowers for use from year to year for annuals and nuts, tree fruits, and berries for perennials and trees. Dry seeds thoroughly prior to storing in jars, or they'll sweat under glass and start to rot. We are interested in seed saving, are you? Premium Ingredients & DIY. It means saving money as we don’t have to keep buying seeds. We built a movement, not a seed company. To save your own bean seeds, leave the old pods to dry fully on the vine, until the seeds rattle inside. Take a look around our website for 100% organic, regenerative and NZ grown seeds, trees, perennials, workshops, Guided Tours or check out our publications, and apprenticeship opportunities. Living in Northland and wanting to grow her own fruit, Kay Baxter looked around to see which fruit trees were doing well in the area, but noticed that few people were growing their own and that those sold at the garden centres did not fare well. Seed with a short shelf life should be sown fresh each season including Alliums, Parsnip, Lettuce, Peppers/Chillies (shelf life 1 to 2 years). We’ll delve into the different plant families, how to identify and select for the best genetic traits. STORED SEED. Save ripe seed that has matured fully prior to harvesting, from healthy and disease-free plants. But don't leave them too long or both the pods and the seeds are liable to get mouldy. Save seeds 101 - with Dave . NZ Gardener is driving a Great April Seed Swap on Neighbourly. A few years ago, having been gifted a handful of pretty crimson-flowered broad bean seeds, I grew back-to-back crops purely to bulk up my supply. Be sure to make a note of the seeds you are drying, as many varieties appear similar. Problem insects include Weevils, Moths, Mites and Trogoderma which are microscopic. Seed Savers Aotearoa New Zealand (SSANZ) facilitates the sharing of information and resources between regional seed saving groups. I also save giant sunflower and plump pumpkin seeds (the latter to roast, rather than to resow, because pumpkins are promiscuous hussies so you never quite know what you're going to end up with). Seed saving at Koanga Gardens. Much of the agricultural diversity that has taken 10,000 years to create is under threat due to industrialised agriculture. This results in a very untidy shambles of an autumn garden followed by a wonderful lolly scramble of free seedlings in spring. CHB Seed Library recommends that when getting started with seed saving you try to save seeds from easy plants first. Lay on a plate (still with the label if you are saving more than one variety) and whenever you walk past shuffle the seed about to stop it sticking together. All bean seeds are edible, so eat any you're not intending to sow. Saving seeds is a good way to practice sustainable gardening. Buckwheat is great as an insect habitat and a cover crop. […] The collection and distribution of seed, can only continue, if you support it by saving seed and sending it to Anne Hurly. They know what their life purpose is, and they'll get on with the job with or without your intervention. Lowest prices guaranteed. Seed Saving. Shop with Afterpay. Seed Saving New Zealand Books from Fishpond.co.nz online store. Saving seeds can be a little addictive, and there are many different ways to save them – this humorous excerpt from A Home Companion discusses how to successfully save tomato seeds. Once all of the pumpkin seeds are clean, place them on the lined cookie sheet in a single layer. If you have seed to swap and share, or want seed of a particular type, register as a member (if you aren't already) to join your local NZ Gardener group and connect to gardeners near you. • To collect, process and store seed. It all started with fruit trees. Harvest in the afternoon on a warm day, after the dew has dried. Includes: US recycled steel case (5.25" x … Label them with a special note and give them as gifts, loves grows where you plant it. Join us and our mate Dave from Ecoseeds for this seed saver workshop 🌱. 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