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| ints:seed_saving [2025/12/03 10:36] – dave | ints:seed_saving [2025/12/17 04:30] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| Seed saving is all about collecting and storing the seeds from your favourite fruit and veg, to grow them again in the future, or to swap them. Some seeds will be present in the fruit and veg themselves – tomatoes, pumpkins, beans etc, and some plants have to be left to 'go to seed'. | Seed saving is all about collecting and storing the seeds from your favourite fruit and veg, to grow them again in the future, or to swap them. Some seeds will be present in the fruit and veg themselves – tomatoes, pumpkins, beans etc, and some plants have to be left to 'go to seed'. |
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| In the 1960s, there were still lots of small seed companies, and each one offered a wide range of seeds – 30 different varieties of carrots, 20 of onions etc. But EU legislation standardised and restricted varieties in national lists, so that customers knew exactly what they were getting. Consumer protection might have been a noble aim, but in the process, a lot of diversity, interest, quirkiness and fun was lost. The seed industry was standardised and centralised, small companies went under, big companies got bigger, offering only a small range of seeds specially for large-scale growers, and culminating in the current attempts of the GM multinationals to control our food supply. | In the 1960s, there were still lots of small seed companies, and each one offered a wide range of seeds – 30 different varieties of carrots, 20 of onions etc. But EU legislation standardised and restricted varieties in national lists, so that customers knew exactly what they were getting. Consumer protection might have been a noble aim, but in the process, a lot of diversity, interest, quirkiness and fun was lost. The seed industry was standardised and centralised, small companies went under, big companies got bigger, offering only a small range of seeds specially for large-scale growers, and culminating in the current attempts of the GM multinationals to control our food supply. |
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| Some people continued to save their own seed however – because they knew they wouldn't be able to get them again if they were lost. Now, organisations like [Garden Organic](http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/) are calling on all gardeners to send them samples of seeds passed down through their family / local areas. They uncovered many thousands of old varieties, which have been named and added to the [Heritage Seed Library](http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl/). | Some people continued to save their own seed however – because they knew they wouldn't be able to get them again if they were lost. Now, organisations like [Garden Organic](http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/) are calling on all gardeners to send them samples of seeds passed down through their family / local areas. They uncovered many thousands of old varieties, which have been named and added to the [Heritage Seed Library](http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl/). |
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| - Once varieties are gone, they're gone – there will be a loss of diversity that is not only a great shame in terms of taste and interest, but will result in our food supply being more susceptible to pests or disease in future. Gene banks can preserve seeds, but there are not enough of them, and sometimes they are closed due to lack of funding. The only way to maintain diversity is to grow, save and swap seeds ourselves. | - Once varieties are gone, they're gone – there will be a loss of diversity that is not only a great shame in terms of taste and interest, but will result in our food supply being more susceptible to pests or disease in future. Gene banks can preserve seeds, but there are not enough of them, and sometimes they are closed due to lack of funding. The only way to maintain diversity is to grow, save and swap seeds ourselves. |
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| And finally, perhaps the greatest benefit of saved seeds is that they are not genetically modified (GM). Now this is a huge subject, but here's a quick summary. The GM industry is about standardisation _par excellence_ – the enemy of seed saving - as well as (of course) enriching the enormous and already extremely wealthy biotech companies. Their vision for food production is of vast fields of just one crop, the seeds of which are owned by just one company – a disaster in terms of diversity, food security, ecology and control of our food supply. Often you can't save the seed of GM crops at all – so-called 'terminator genes' have been spliced into them so that the seeds are not viable, and farmers have to go back to the GM companies to buy more. In Iraq, companies like Monsanto monopolised the supply of seeds after the war, and the US prevented Iraqis from using their own seeds. They can never get their seed heritage back – the longest seed heritage in the world – over 10,000 years, as Iraq is where agriculture began. Who knew this was happening? Well, it's happening everywhere – it's just that the Iraq war gave GM companies the opportunity to do it wholesale via the direct control of a country and its legal system. See [here](http://oilgeopolitics.net/GMO/Iraq_and_seeds_of_democracy/iraq_and_seeds_of_democracy.HTM), [here](http://www.grain.org/article/entries/150-iraq-s-new-patent-law-a-declaration-of-war-against-farmers) and [here](http://fooddemocracy.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/iraq-farmers-us-govt-gm-crops-monsanto-f-up-again/) for more information, or just search for Iraq/Monsanto. | And finally, perhaps the greatest benefit of saved seeds is that they are not genetically modified (GM). Now this is a huge subject, but here's a quick summary. The GM industry is about standardisation _par excellence_ – the enemy of seed saving - as well as (of course) enriching the enormous and already extremely wealthy biotech companies. Their vision for food production is of vast fields of just one crop, the seeds of which are owned by just one company – a disaster in terms of diversity, food security, ecology and control of our food supply. Often you can't save the seed of GM crops at all – so-called 'terminator genes' have been spliced into them so that the seeds are not viable, and farmers have to go back to the GM companies to buy more. In Iraq, companies like Monsanto monopolised the supply of seeds after the war, and the US prevented Iraqis from using their own seeds. They can never get their seed heritage back – the longest seed heritage in the world – over 10,000 years, as Iraq is where agriculture began. Who knew this was happening? Well, it's happening everywhere – it's just that the Iraq war gave GM companies the opportunity to do it wholesale via the direct control of a country and its legal system. See [here](http://oilgeopolitics.net/GMO/Iraq_and_seeds_of_democracy/iraq_and_seeds_of_democracy.HTM), [here](http://www.grain.org/article/entries/150-iraq-s-new-patent-law-a-declaration-of-war-against-farmers) and [here](http://fooddemocracy.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/iraq-farmers-us-govt-gm-crops-monsanto-f-up-again/) for more information, or just search for Iraq/Monsanto. |
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| You can get warmed up by attending seed swap events that are held all over the country, and in fact, all over the world (search for seed swap and the name of your town). They're not just for people who have seeds already – you can still take part by making a donation to a relevant charity. You'll be able to meet and get advice from lots of keen gardeners. At the big ones – like the one in [Brighton](http://www.seedysunday.org.uk/), for example – you'll be able to listen to specially-invited speakers too. These events are important because it's now illegal to sell unusual seeds that are not on official national lists, and this is a way of guaranteeing their survival. | You can get warmed up by attending seed swap events that are held all over the country, and in fact, all over the world (search for seed swap and the name of your town). They're not just for people who have seeds already – you can still take part by making a donation to a relevant charity. You'll be able to meet and get advice from lots of keen gardeners. At the big ones – like the one in [Brighton](http://www.seedysunday.org.uk/), for example – you'll be able to listen to specially-invited speakers too. These events are important because it's now illegal to sell unusual seeds that are not on official national lists, and this is a way of guaranteeing their survival. |
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| [Wakehurst Place](http://www.kew.org/visit-wakehurst/) in Sussex is well worth a visit too. It is the home of the [Millennium Seed Bank](http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/collections/millennium-seed-bank), containing the seeds of around a fifth of all the world's plants, including trees. | [Wakehurst Place](http://www.kew.org/visit-wakehurst/) in Sussex is well worth a visit too. It is the home of the [Millennium Seed Bank](http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/collections/millennium-seed-bank), containing the seeds of around a fifth of all the world's plants, including trees. |
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| Then, well, just have a go. If you make mistakes, it's not a disaster, and you'll learn as you go. Each plant will be different in terms of harvesting, extracting, drying, storing and planting seeds. For example, some plants are self-pollinating (peas, tomatoes, French beans), whilst others can be easily cross-pollinated by insects with other varieties (onions, beetroot, spinach), so your seed may not be exactly what you're expecting. Also, some vegetables are biennial, producing flowers and seed in their second year of growth (carrots, chard, beetroot). For details of specific plants you'll need a book (see resources), or check out [Garden Organic's seed saving guidelines](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/seed-saving-guidelines.pdf) for most common vegetables, or [DIY Seeds videos](https://www.diyseeds.org/en/films/), or you can attend a [course](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/directory/categories/seed-saving-courses) for some practical seed saving experience. | Then, well, just have a go. If you make mistakes, it's not a disaster, and you'll learn as you go. Each plant will be different in terms of harvesting, extracting, drying, storing and planting seeds. For example, some plants are self-pollinating (peas, tomatoes, French beans), whilst others can be easily cross-pollinated by insects with other varieties (onions, beetroot, spinach), so your seed may not be exactly what you're expecting. Also, some vegetables are biennial, producing flowers and seed in their second year of growth (carrots, chard, beetroot). For details of specific plants you'll need a book (see resources), or check out [Garden Organic's seed saving guidelines](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/seed-saving-guidelines.pdf) for most common vegetables, or [DIY Seeds videos](https://www.diyseeds.org/en/films/), or you can attend a [course](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/directory/categories/seed-saving-courses) for some practical seed saving experience. |
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| Growing for seed is different from growing for food. You could leave the end plant on every row to go to seed, but make sure they're strong-looking specimens. When it comes to collecting, it's not always obvious what's the seed and what's the chaff. Once you've worked it out, after harvesting, shelling (if necessary) and drying, label the seeds and put into cold storage. This makes the seed go into dormancy – nature's way of stopping the seed germinating until the next season. Some families of seed can be stored for longer than others. Parsnips, for example, can only really be stored for one season – so it's best to grow your own to make sure that they're viable. At the other extreme, seeds of the cabbage family will store for 7 years – and everything else is between these two. | Growing for seed is different from growing for food. You could leave the end plant on every row to go to seed, but make sure they're strong-looking specimens. When it comes to collecting, it's not always obvious what's the seed and what's the chaff. Once you've worked it out, after harvesting, shelling (if necessary) and drying, label the seeds and put into cold storage. This makes the seed go into dormancy – nature's way of stopping the seed germinating until the next season. Some families of seed can be stored for longer than others. Parsnips, for example, can only really be stored for one season – so it's best to grow your own to make sure that they're viable. At the other extreme, seeds of the cabbage family will store for 7 years – and everything else is between these two. |
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| _Extraction, wet-processing, drying and sorting of seeds - [DIY Seeds](https://www.diyseeds.org)._ | _Extraction, wet-processing, drying and sorting of seeds - [DIY Seeds](https://www.diyseeds.org)._ |
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| For big seeds like peas and beans, pick around October when the pods are papery and dry, and you can maybe hear the beans rattling inside. Bring indoors, spread on trays or plates and leave them on a cool, dry shelf (not in direct sunlight) for about two months, turning them every few days. Big seeds have a lot of moisture, which takes a long time to come down. A good way of telling if they're really dry is if they make a 'ping' instead of a 'thud' when you drop them on a plate. | For big seeds like peas and beans, pick around October when the pods are papery and dry, and you can maybe hear the beans rattling inside. Bring indoors, spread on trays or plates and leave them on a cool, dry shelf (not in direct sunlight) for about two months, turning them every few days. Big seeds have a lot of moisture, which takes a long time to come down. A good way of telling if they're really dry is if they make a 'ping' instead of a 'thud' when you drop them on a plate. |
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