So you want to save your seeds. By saving seeds from one years’ crop means that you will not have to purchase those seeds for many years. Aka: saving money. Some seeds I save not just to replant, but also to eat. Dill, fennel and cilantro, all have tasty seeds for use in cooking and baking.
For a no-fail make-yourself-proud kinda year start by planting Dill. Dill grows so easily whether in pots or sowed directly and it is a self seeder too! Being a self seeding plant means that if left alone to live out its life, dill will spawn babies by dropping seeds.
Dill will start as little fluffy plants and then sprout tall central flowers that pop like fireworks. Allow these fireworks to bloom and then turn brown. At which point, the seeds will form on the end of the now drying flower. Collect these seeds by clipping the flower head and shaking seeds into a bag or bowl. Replant or eat these seeds.
Another easy plant to try is the common Marigold. Sprinkle seeds outside in warm climates or easily start in pots. These babies transfer well and are pretty hardy. My little tiny sprouts grew into tire width bushes this year. The bushes bloom an amazing array from deep red to orangey golds to bright yellow. The common marigold is a pest preventer companion plant and the petals can be used as a food coloring.
As the weather turns cold and the blossoms die off, collect the dying buds. All of the seeds are contained in the dying bud or husk of the flower. One husk will contain enough seeds to start a serious garden.
One more plant to collect seeds from is the Pumpkin. When scooping out your jack-o-lantern, rinse and save the seeds. Roast and eat the seeds or allow them to dry in a cool place and save for next year.
Happy Seed Saving!
Nancy Warner 