Give your garden a head start by saving easy-to-collect seeds from your autumn favourites. From seasonal squashes to culinary herbs, this is a clever (and free) way to increase your seed supply for next year.
‘Seed gathering promotes biodiversity and allows gardeners to adapt their plants to local conditions,’ says gardening expert Fiona Jenkins at MyJobQuote.co.uk.
‘By repeatedly planting seeds gathered from successful crops, you create a garden ecosystem that is tailored to your specific climate and soil. The process is simple but requires careful attention and timing, and understanding the proper methods will greatly increase your garden’s chances of future success.’
Once you have gathered your seeds, ensure you keep them clean and dry. ‘To completely dry them, place them on a tissue or paper towel in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight. Proper drying will help to prevent mould and increase seed viability,’ adds Fiona.
On that note, take a look at the seeds below:
Sunflowers
Sunflowers have large, easy-to-harvest seeds that can be eaten or planted. Before collecting yours, ensure that you gather your seeds on a dry, sunny day to avoid moisture, which can lead to mould or rot.
Store your sunflower seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place until ready for planting next year.
Beans and peas
According to Fiona, pods dry right on the plant and can be split open when ready. Spread the beans on a tray to fully dry them in a cool area for a few weeks before storing in a sealed container.
Top tip: Avoid picking pods after the rain and always harvest the last of your crop before the first frost.
Peonies
October is an excellent time to save your beautiful dahlia seeds for next year.
‘When the seed pods of the old flower heads begin to pop open in autumn, look for the brown seeds and discard the yellow ones. You can either store them, or, importantly, get busy planting them now in autumn,’ says Neil Miller, head gardener at Hever Castle & Gardens.
Tomatoes
A summer salad staple, tomato seeds are easy to extract and ferment for replanting. Select a ripe tomato and cut it in half. Then, scoop out the seeds and place into a shallow jar of water.
Put the jar aside for around five days before putting the seeds into a sieve. Finally, arrange the seeds on a piece of kitchen roll to dry them out. Store in a dark place until spring next year.
Natural grasses
‘I cut half a dozen heads, tie these together, put them inside a paper bag and allow the seeds to naturally fall from the spent heads,’ says Neil.
‘It’s an obvious thing to say, but all seed envelopes must be labelled properly. If you’re anything like me and find it hard to remember what you were up to six months ago, then labelling will save you from getting yourself in a pickle come spring.’
Marigolds
‘These classic flowers reseed readily with minimal effort,’ says Fiona. ‘Wait for the flowers to fade and the seed heads to develop. Once they are dried, you can gently break apart the seed heads and collect the seeds.’
Let them air dry before storing over winter. Plant again next year for blooming summer borders.
