Save seeds for next year's vegetable garden

The curtain is falling on another growing season. As the bounty of vegetables from our gardens declines, save some of their seeds to ensure a repeat performance next year.

There are many reasons for a home gardener to save seeds. Protecting a beloved heirloom, securing a favored characteristic, saving money and learning more about plants are just a few of them. If saving an heirloom tomato is the goal, save seeds from a fruit that is true to the plant's type. Save seeds from particularly large fruits on a pepper plant and you may grow larger fruits on all your plants next year. Instead of eating all the peas, save some seeds and eliminate the need to purchase new seeds next season.

Tomatoes, peppers, peas and beans are good choices for first attempts at seed saving. These plants have flowers that are mainly self-pollinating, so their seeds will grow plants very similar to their parents. They also need little or no special treatment for storage.

Peppers

The seeds of peppers may be the easiest plants to harvest and store. Seeds are ready to harvest after peppers have changed colors and begun to wrinkle, indicating they are fully ripe.

Cut peppers open and scrape the seeds from the center onto a glass plate or a screen. Spread seeds out evenly and let them dry in a shaded spot. Test them from time to time until seeds snap instead of bend.

If there is a threat of frost before peppers have fully matured, dig up the whole plant. Hang it in a cool, dry place where the peppers will finish ripening.

Beans and peas

Give the pods extra time - a month or more - to ripen on the vine until they turn brown and the seeds rattle inside.

Small quantities can be opened by hand. It may be necessary to thrash larger amounts before separating out the seeds. If seeds are not completely dry, allow them to finish drying indoors. Some have reported success with leaving seeds in the pods until they are ready to plant in spring.

If frost is forecast, dig the vines. Hang them upside down until pods are ready to harvest.

Tomatoes

Saving tomato seeds is easy, too, but it takes a little more time. Their seeds are covered with a gel coating that needs to be removed before they can be stored.

Let tomatoes ripen fully on vines. Cut them in half and either scoop out seeds with a spoon or squeeze the jellylike substance and seeds into a bowl. Add water. Cover the bowl loosely and keep in a warm place for three to five days, stirring the mixture once or twice a day. Keep an eye on the fermentation process - it is smelly as the mixture will become covered with white, bubbly mold. The viable seeds will sink to the bottom. Unusable seeds will rise to the top.

Pour off mold and bad seeds and repeat the process several times until only viable seeds remain. Drain off all liquid, pat seeds with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible, and spread remaining seeds on newspaper, a glass plate or a screen. Put them in a warm location until the seeds are completely dry.

Storing seeds

To make sure seeds are completely dry before storage, some people combine seeds with salt in a jar and let it sit for about a half an hour, giving the salt an opportunity to absorb excess moisture. Once seeds are dried, they are ready for storage.

Keep varieties separate in envelopes. Don't trust your memory. Label all seeds with their name and the date they were harvested.

Store seeds in tightly-sealed containers. Glass containers are best - they prevent moisture from entering. Plastic bags and paper envelops can also be utilized. To ensure seeds remain dry, include a silica gel packet. Instant powdered milk can also be used in a homemade desiccant. Make a paper towel pocket, fill it with the powder and seal the top. Regardless of the vessel chosen, store seeds in the refrigerator.

Saved seeds will germinate best next year. Some will remain viable for many years; others just a year or two. Plant types and storage conditions affect the length of time seeds will retain good germination rates.

Whether you want to begin a new family tradition, select characteristics for an improved crop next year, or just crave a new botanical adventure, saving seeds will make it a little easier to say goodbye to the summer garden.

• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.