Seed Saving Packets

Saving your seeds for next years garden is a great way to save money, and share your garden with friends. I planted zinnias this year from seeds that I had purchased from Bontanical Interest. They did great in the hot humid weather we had this summer. Some of the flowers remained while others had dried and needed to be deadheaded. Instead of pitching them in the compost pile, I decided to save some for next year to plant in the spring. I picked a bouquet for the kitchen table before I have to clean the bed out soon for my fall garden.

In my perennial garden, I have a lot of purple coneflowers. Even though they look untidy, I left a few dried ones for the birds to enjoy. The rest I allowed to dry and removed the seeds. I have an area at the back of my yard where I want to “hide” the chain link fence of my chicken yard. I’ll scatter these after I loosen the soil up a bit and let them come up next spring.

Tips for Harvesting Flower Seeds

Timing is Everything:
- Wait for maturity: Allow flowers to fully develop and dry out before harvesting seeds.
- Watch for signs: Look for changes in color, texture, and the appearance of seed pods.
Harvest Method:
- Direct harvesting: Carefully remove seeds from dried flower heads or seed pods.
- Indirect harvesting: Place dried flowers or seed pods in paper bags and allow seeds to fall naturally.
Cleaning and Drying:
- Remove debris: Separate seeds from any unwanted material, such as chaff or stems.
- Dry thoroughly: Spread seeds on a paper towel or screen in a warm, dry place.

Storing Flower Seeds

Choose the Right Container:
- Paper envelopes: These are ideal for storing small quantities of seeds.
- Glass jars: For larger amounts, glass jars can be used, but make sure they are clean and dry.
Labeling:
- Include important information: Write the flower variety, date of harvest, and any specific notes on the container.
Storage Location:
- Cool, dry place: Store seeds in a location away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture.
- Refrigeration: For long-term storage, consider refrigerating seeds.

Best Flower Seeds to Save

Annuals: Zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, marigolds
Perennials: Coneflowers, poppies, rudbeckia
Biennials: Foxgloves, sweet alyssum, forget-me-nots

To make seed saving and sharing even easier, I created a printable seed packet template that you can use to store and label your seeds, and then pass them along to friends and family.

Instructions:

Click on the link to pull up the template. The template will open as a PDF in a separate page.
Print off the PDF. Be sure your printer is set to “actual size”
A heavier weight copy paper will make a stronger seed packet
Fold sides over and glue.
Fold up the bottom and glue
After you place your seeds in envelope, tape the top.
Label with the name of the plant, and when collected.
Collect more seeds and repeat!

SeedSavingPacketTemplate_Final

Use this pretty packet to keep your seeds to save.

Happy Gardening!

Karen

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