Our Speaker for January 5

Seed Saving and Storage

Rebecca Last

Learn the basics of saving seeds, plant genetics, collection techniques, storage and viability. You may even be able to breed your own varieties, adapted specifically to growing conditions in your garden! This presentation provides an introduction to seed saving, beginning from the premise that in today's concentrated market for seed producers, saving seeds is an act of quiet revolution. The differences between hybridized and open-pollinated plants are discussed. We revisit Gregor Mendel's 19th Century experiments with peas to get a better understanding of the dominant and recessive traits for some common vegetable seeds. We will also look at seed varieties that are suitable for beginner, intermediate and expert seed-savers. Timing and collection methods are discussed, along with information on seed sanitation and storage. Finally, we discuss long-term viability of seeds, and the presentation ends with a list of useful resources.