 |
| I loved this mammoth, pure yellow sunflower. |
I have been busy attempting to fulfill one of my lifetime
horticultural goals: saving and propagating my own seeds. The process is
incredibly simple, and incredibly rewarding. First, I notice what plants thrive
exceptionally well in my garden. Then, I cut off some mature flower heads—or
let vegetables grow to seed maturity (i.e., past the point at which they would
be delicious to eat). I hang flower heads upside down to let the seed dry; I
rescue seeds from (almost rotting) vegetables, rinse clean, and place on a
paper towel to dry. I keep seeds in a cool, dry place (no worries there—the
back kitchen is roughly about forty degrees all winter) until spring planting
time.
 |
| Sunflower heads drying in the back kitchen all winter-- kept company by some oregano. |
Saving—and
replanting—our own seeds has myriad benefits. First of all, we can purposefully
select the plant varieties that grow particularly well for us. By saving and
replanting seeds from that same variety, we’re guaranteeing a successful crop.
Secondly, seeds we harvested ourselves are wonderfully free of pesticides,
chemicals, or other possible soil and plant contaminants. Thirdly, those plants
that were successful have most likely built immunities to local bugs or
pests—otherwise they wouldn’t have done so well—and so will be even less likely
to be affected by said threats in the future. Fourth and last, let’s not forget
that seed saving is FREE. For the amount of money I know I have spent on seed
in the spring, with no guaranteed result, I’m pretty excited about that last
part.
Additionally,
I find that seed saving really individualizes my garden. Plant success isn’t
necessarily a regional or zonal rule—for example, many plants that do well in
my local friends’ gardens do not do well in mine. Why? Well, many of those
other gardens are in a more urban area; they are thus more sheltered, sustain
warmer temperatures, and benefit from almost unlimited municipal water. Or, they are in areas with different
soil makeups and consistencies. On the other hand, I have great success with
plants that do not seem to do well anywhere else. When we seed save, our
gardens become unique: a visit to a friend’s garden becomes a trip to the
exotic, and vice-versa.
At
a farmers’ market in Rutland, Vermont last fall, I met a vendor who said she
had been part of a local seed saving community for years. The members of the community keep
careful track of their plants, preserve and label them meticulously, and meet
to discuss the plants’ merits. Then, they swap or buy as deemed appropriate. I
was really inspired by that. What a wonderful—and attainable—local goal.
 |
| I will have fields of sunflowers this spring! (At market prices, by the way, this is probably about $50 worth of seed.... well worth the work.) |
