Harnett County Center
THE MAGIC OF SEEDS8/14/98
It's truly amazing, isn't it. A single tomato seed will grow into a plant that produces a dozen or more tomatoes (well, maybe not this year). The hundred year oak tree got its start as a tiny acorn. It's an undeniable demonstration of the miracle of life.
As a gardener, you want to get the most out of the seed you buy and use. Since most of the seed you plant will be purchased from a store, it's important to know what to look for.
BUYING SEED
A good first step is to do some research on varieties. Whether you are planting tomatoes or tall fescue, certain varieities are better suited to our area. Also, with some plants certain varieities will have resistance to common pest problems. Consult your County Extension Agent, garden center personnel, or your favorite garden book for suggestions.
Read the package carefully before purchasing. With vegetable and flower seeds, look for the season for which it was produced. Seed becomes less viable as it ages, so bargain seed may not be such a great deal if it's old. The seed package should contain a lot of other information as well, such as when to plant, how deep, and how far apart.
When purchasing larger quantities of seed, such as grass seed, look for the seed tag. This may be an actual tag attached to the bag, or it could simply be printed on the package. It contains information such as variety, percent germination and date tested, and how much weed seed it contains. Be sure to check for "Noxious Weed Seed". These are specific weeds that are very difficult to control. Higher quality seed will generally contain NO noxious weed seed.
STORING SEED
We are often left with some extra seed after planting. As mentioned above, seed becomes less viable over time. If you would like to store it for future use, take care to store it under the best possible conditions.
Seed should be stored in a cool, dry location. An outdoor storage shed would probably be too warm, while the refrigerator is a little on the cool side. A cool, dry basement would probably be ideal, but just do the best you can. It is also wise to plan carefully and purchase just what you need, so you won't be left with a storage problem. And besides, purchasing new seed each year is part of the fun of gardening!
SAVING SEED
In recent years there has been renewed interest in saving seed. After all, this is what our ancestors did for hundreds of years before hybrids were developed.
Some vegetable seeds which can be saved fairly easily include lettuce, beans, peas, and tomatoes (self-pollinated crops). You might also try saving your favorite flower seeds to plant next year, or to share with your neighbors.
For best results, allow the seed to dry on the plant (though don't wait too long or they will fall to the ground). Seed that comes from a fleshy fruit should be allowed to air dry thoroughly. Don't try oven drying, or all you'll have is toasted seed. Then simply store as indicated above.
Keep in mind that hybrid varieties are created by cross- pollinating two different parent plants. So the seed harvested from a hybrid will not produce exactly the same plant next season. There may also be patent restrictions on saving seed from certain varieties.
If you would like more information on selecting, storing, and saving seed, be sure to give me a call.
Back to Plant Talk Index
