Save Seeds!

Seeds Photo by Debbie Roland

By Sara Moran, AgriLife Extension Agent for Midland and Ector Counties

Fall is the perfect season to gather and store seeds for future planting.

Choose your healthiest plants: Save seeds from strong, disease-free specimens, which helps preserve desirable traits.

Harvest when mature: Pods, seed heads, and fruits should be fully dry or ripe before collection. For example, beans and peas should rattle in their pods, while sunflower heads should brown before cutting. Zinnia seed tips here! https://nmsudesertblooms.blogspot.com/2018/12/zinnias.html

Clean and dry thoroughly: Remove any pulp or chaff, then spread seeds out to dry for several days to prevent mold. Do not dry them on a paper towel, as wet seeds might stick to the paper, making it difficult to remove them.

Store properly: Once seeds are completely dry, place them in paper envelopes or glass jars, labeled with the variety and date. Keep seeds in a cool, dark, and dry place. Properly stored seeds can last a long time and still germinate.

Share and swap: Extra seeds can be exchanged with friends or through community seed swaps, spreading biodiversity and local adaptation. You can also donate them to our Extension office (Midland or Odessa), and we will make them available to the public at our seed libraries, located at Centennial Library in Midland and the Ector County Library.

If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 498-4071 or in Midland at 686-4700.   Additional information, and our blog for access to past articles, is available at westtexasgardening.org.  Click on “Resources.”