In the Garden: Collect and save some heirloom vegetable seeds

Be a part of history and save money when planting next year’s garden. Collect and save the seeds from your favorite heirloom tomatoes, peppers, beans and peas this fall.

Seeds of heirloom plants have been collected and passed along for generations, producing offspring identical to the parent plant. Hybrids, on the other hand, involve crossing different plants to create a unique or improved variety. Saved seeds from hybrid plants do not grow into plants with all the same characteristics as the parent plant.

Heirloom peas and beans are generally self-pollinated, so they form seeds that will grow into plants like the parent plant. Allow the peas and beans you plan on saving to dry on the plant. Once the pods turn brown and the seeds rattle inside, they are ready to harvest. This is about six weeks after you harvest snap beans for eating and about four weeks after the normal picking stage for peas.

Protect plants from frost or pull them out of the ground and hang them in a cool dry location, so the pods can finish drying if needed. Remove the pods from the plants, spread them out and allow them to further dry indoors for about two weeks.

Remove the seeds from the dried pods, store in an airtight opaque container in a cool dark location. You may want to store different varieties separately in paper packets and all the packets in one large airtight container. Label the seeds with the varietal name and date they were collected. Store in a cool location.

Saving seeds from tomatoes requires a bit different preparation. Once the fruit is fully ripe, scoop out the gelatinous center. Place this in a container of water set in a warm location to ferment. Swirl or stir the contents twice a day. After about a week the good seeds will sink to the bottom of the container.

Remove and compost the layer of fermented tomato waste and the inferior seeds floating on the surface. Pour the remaining water and the good seeds sitting on the bottom of the container through a fine mesh strainer. Rinse the seeds, removing any of the gelatinous material that may remain. Spread the seeds on a piece of paper to dry.

Once dry, place the seeds in an envelope labeled with the date and variety and set in a sealed jar or plastic container. Store in the refrigerator or other consistently cool location until it’s time to start them for next season.

Use your saved seeds the following year for the best results. Then repeat each season.

Start with these and then consider trying other open-pollinated vegetables, flowers and even tree and shrub seeds. You’ll find helpful information in books, online and on the Seed Savers Exchange website. Saving your own seeds can help you save money while preserving and planting a bit of gardening history.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine, and her website is MelindaMyers.com, which features gardening videos, free webinars, monthly gardening tips, and more.