Dry Your Own Seeds

It’s fall here in New York and I am surrounded by colorful changing leaves and an abundance of apples, squash and gourds.  I recently roasted some delicious Buttercup Squash and decided that I would save some of the seeds to plant and enjoy in my garden next season.

Did you know you can dry your own seeds?

You can actually grow a wide variety of your favorite vegetables from seeds that you are probably just tossing out in the trash. Why purchase the packets in the store? Use the seeds from the produce that you know tastes amazing.

It’s really quite a simple concept, and so easy to do – save and dry the seeds of your favorite vegetables now to plant them for next season’s garden.

Not a gardener? Save some of your favorite seeds to give as a gift to someone who does!

How Easy is it to Dry Your Own Seeds You Ask?

It is very easy you might just be surprised, follow our 4 simple steps below and you can start drying and collecting your own seeds soon.

 

Four Simple Steps to Dry Your Own Seeds:

1. Extract and spread the seeds of your favorite vegetable on a paper plate, removing most of the matter that is stuck to it.

2. Let the seeds air dry on the paper plate at room temperature for 2-3 days. In the summer months this might only take a day or two.

3. Remove any dried debris that is still attached to the seeds by rubbing them with a paper towel.

4. Place the clean and dried seeds into a labeled envelope and seal.* These seeds will be ready to plant in next season’s garden.

*I like to date them by the month and year and sometimes the location if I purchased the squash at a Farmer’s Market in another region nearby just for future reference.

 

Today’s example was a lovely Buttercup Squash purchased at a local Farmer’s Market that was grown in Vermont. Excited to try planting this beautiful variety next season.

A Side Note: All of my tomatoes this year were grown from seeds that I dried on paper plates and planted myself. I was blown away by the flavor and taste of the heirloom tomatoes. I had 8 plants this year producing from the seeds of just one heirloom tomato I purchased from a local farm! Talk about getting your money’s worth.

This year as I gathered them to make salsa and sauces, you better believe I reserved some seeds on paper plates for next years planting season!

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