Seed Swap taking shape

[Vicki]

Just wanted to tell those like me who showed interest I have gathered and can swap so far....

Chives
Calendula
Lupine
Angelica
Sunflower

I'll keep adding to this list as summer wears on.

Vicki

 

[TerriHaute]

My garden plants have started to set seeds now, so there will soon be plenty to swap. I have several heirloom tomatoes and heirloom beans that I am collecting seeds from as well as some herbs and flowers.

Tomatoes:
Cherokee Purple
Livingston's Beauty
Beefsteak
Large Dark Purple
Mule Team
Box Car Willie

Pole beans:
Hyacinth (ornamental lima from Monticello)
Amish Heirloom (from Amish neighbor of a friend)
Red Calico Lima (from Monticello)
Asparagus Bean (from Monticello)
Snowcap
Rattlesnake
Christmas Lima
Kentucky Wonder

Bush Beans:
Refugee
Black Turtle
Orca
Royal Burgundy
Arikara (brought back to Thomas Jefferson by Lewis & Clark, obtained from Monticello)
Mung Beans (for sprouting)

Herbs:
dill
basil

There will probably be more that I am not remembering off the top of my head. Anyone else collecting seeds yet?

Terri in Indiana

 

[Tundra Gypsy]

Terrihaute; can you tell me what you do after you gotten the seeds out of your tomatoes. Do you let them dry out in something? How do you store your seeds? I'd like to learn how to do some heirloom tomatoes, but don't have a clue how to start. Thanks!

 

[TerriHaute]

TG -

There are a lot of methods for saving tomato seeds, plenty on the web if you do some Googling. The way I have always done it and with good success, is to select tomatoes that are over-ripe from my best plants. I lay out 3 or four thicknesses of newspaper, write the variety of tomato in ink on the top layer in a spot near the edge, cut open the tomato and squirt out the seeds onto the newspaper. I spread the seeds out into a single layer, pulp and all, and put the whole thing in a spot where it can dry undisturbed. In the past I used to set them out to dry in the tool shed, which warmed up nicely during the day. This year, they are lying on shelves in the greenhouse and are drying in a day or two. Once the seeds are thoroughly dry, I either scrape them off the newspaper and put them in envelopes or sometimes I just roll them up into the sheet of newspaper they are drying on. I make a little packet out of the newspaper, seal it with a piece of tape, and write the tomato variety on the outside. I store my seeds in a plastic box with a lid in a dark place in the garage attached to my house. They stay cool and dry, it doesn't freeze there. The percentage of germination for seeds saved this way has been very good.

Tomatoes are one of the easiest plants that you can grow from seed, don't be afraid to try it!

Terri in Indiana

 

[booger]

Ah, shoot. I had some tomato seeds out fermenting on top of the old freezer a couple of weeks ago. I completely forgot about them. Betcha they're toast now. Guess I'd better go check on them.

Tundra Gypsy:

Here's what "Seed to Seed" has to say about saving tomato seeds:

Pick and wash fully rip tomatoes, and then cut the fruits across the middle, not through the stem and blossom ends. This exposes the large seed cavities and makes the seeds accessible without mashing the fruit. Now squeeze the seeds and surrounding gel into a bowl or bucket.

The same process can be used for cherry and currant tomatoes, however grinding the fruits is far easier. Place the clean, fully rip fruits in a blender or a food processor fitted with a metal blad. Process at low speed until all of the fruits are mashed and the mixture is very thick. The small, hard seeds will not be damaged. To aid in seed separation, add one cup of water to each cup of mashed fruit and stir.

*snip*

The container of tomato seeds and gel should be set aside to ferment for one to three days. Fermentation will proceed more quickly as the daytime temperatures increase.

During the period the container of seeds will begin to stink and will become covered with a layer of white or gray mold. Because of the thorrible smell, do not keep the bowl in the house or where it might be tipped over by animals or children. The fermentation process should be stopped when the layer of mold completely covers its surface. Be sure to monitor the process closely because, if allowed to continue too long, the seeds will begin to germinate in the mixture.

Add enough water to double the mixture and then stir it vigorously. The good seeds will settle to the bottom of the container, allowing the mold and debris and hollow seeds to be poured off. Add more water and repeat the process until only clean seeds remain.

Some growers prefer to pour the entire contents of the container into a strainer, without adding any water, and then wash under running water. Make a fist and use the fronts of your fingers to rub the mod and softened debris through the screen. Wipe the bottom of the strainer on a towel to remove as much moisture as possible and dump the seeds out on a glass or ceramic dish to dry. Do not attempt to dry the seeds on a soft paper or cloth or non-rigid plastic, as it is extremely difficult to remove the seeds from these surfaces. Coffee filters, which are inexpensive to purchase, reportedly work well and tend to wick the moisture away from the seeds during drying.

To ensure even drying and to prevent the seeds from bunching together, stir at least twice a day. Never dry seeds in direct sunlight or in an oven. Tomato seeds will begin to germinate if not dried quickly. In hot humid weather, a fan will help speed the drying process.

Here's a link to the book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-6669934-1420742?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

 

[nutkin]

Yep, I've been harvesting too. Glad you brought it up!

So far have collected:

Sweet Yellow Banana Peppers
Jalepeno
Tomato (Brain Fart - would have to look at my chart to see what variety)
Pickling Cukes

Chives
Mammoth Sunflower (still curing)
Sweet William
Calendula (marigolds)
Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)
Shasta Daisy
Dipper Gourds (just scooped out the middle of one harvested last year, finally dry)
Lilac
Columbine
Hollyhock
Hollyhock Mallow
German Chamomile

Am getting ready to or am in the process of drying/hanging....

Celosia - Giant Crested Variety
Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
Liatris (Gayfeather)
Gladiolus
Naked Ladies
Scarlet Salvia
Spearmint
Agastache (Mexican Mint)
Hosta
Lemon Balm
Black Diamond Watermelon
Cantelope (Forgotten Variety)
Basil

...and of course the Marigolds are an ongoing process. I swear the buggers are taking over. I've had to trim/rip out several wheelbarrows full so far.
--------------

On the Tomatoes.....

Looks like I've been doing it the hard way! I've methodically picked the little beggars out one by one and then placed on paper towels to dry. (smacking self on head)

 

[Vicki]

You ladies are doing great! I've harvested more this past weekend but can't even remember what I have now. Will do more this weekend and put up a list. I'll try to get a some different herbs for you that aren't quite as common.

Vicki

 

[lotsaloans]

I'll have several thousand Spaghetti Squash seeds ready in about a month if anyone is interested.