Seed Planting and Collecting Instructions

Transcription

1 Seed Planting and Collecting Instructions Basil Sweet Planting: Produces in 70 days from sowing. Direct plant seed in well drained, moderately rich soil when the soil warms in late spring or transplant after the danger of frost has passed. Water sparingly at first and thin to 8 12 apart. Top mature plants to increase the total yield. Harvest before the plants blossom. Seed Collection: Harvest the seed clusters when they are brown and spread them on a screen to dry. Place the clusters in a bowl, swirl the plant material around, and collect the small seeds that sink to the bottom. Beet Early Wonder Tall Top Planting: Produces in 48 days and is open pollinated. Sow when the ground can be worked and thin by harvesting greens with baby beets. The beets left to mature fully should be at least 3 apart. The plant is very hardy. Seed Collection: Beets must overwinter to produce seeds. Before the ground freezes pull the best looking roots (being careful not to damage them) and place them in a box filled with sand. Store in a cool dark place and replant in the spring. When the seed pellets are brown, remove the entire plant, place in a bag, and hang in a warm dry location for 2 3 weeks. Once dry, remove the seed pellets from the stalks and store in a dry location. Chard Bright Lights Planting: Produces in 56 days and is open pollinated. Space seeds according to intended use and can be closer together for baby leaf harvest. The young seedlings respond to cut and come again harvesting. The plants are hardy and can grow quite large if left untrimmed. Seed Collection: Chard needs to overwinter in order to produce seed. In the fall dig up the roots (being careful not to damage them), and remove the leaves. Store the roots in a box of moist sand stored in a cool dark location. Replant in the spring and do not remove any leaves. Harvest the seed stalks and separate the seeds from chaff. Chives Planting: Produces in 80 days and is a hardy perennial. Plant seeds in early spring/early summer 2 4 deep and apart in moist, well drained soil. Mature plant grows tall. Seed Collection: Harvest the seed heads once they are brown and before the seeds begin to shed. Dry on screens and rub to remove the seeds.

2 Green Bean Provider Bush Planting: Produces in 50 days and is open pollinated. Plant 3 4 seeds in rows apart. The plant produces concentrated sets of round 5 pods. Seed Collection: Harvest pods once they are brittle and dry. Spread out in a breezy dry location for 1 2 weeks. Another method is to pull the entire plant up and hang to dry. Once the pods are dry, shell them being careful not to break the seed coats. Jalapeño - WEAR GLOVES WHEN HANDLING SEEDS AND FRUIT Planting: Produces in days. Different types of peppers will cross pollinate so they must be separated by either caging or isolate by ½ mile. Sow indoors 8 weeks before last frost. Seeds will germinate in 14 days. Transplant outdoors apart in full sun. Seed Collection: Wear disposable gloves when handling seeds. They can irritate skin and eyes. Pick peppers which are fully ripe (turned red and about 3 weeks after the green fruit is harvested). Remove seeds and spread them on a screen to dry. Kale Lacinato Planting: Produces 62 days from transplanting outside. Start indoors 6 8 weeks before the last frost. The seeds will germinate in 3 10 days. Plant outdoors 24 apart in full sun. The plant produces bluegreen leaves that are 3 wide by long. Seed Collection: Kale requires overwintering to produce seeds. Generally, it will survive in the garden under heavy mulch. In the spring, uncover the plants and watch for a flower stalk. Once the seed pods have turned brown pull the entire plant and hang in a warm dry location. Place the pods in a pillow case and flail until the seeds come loose. Remove the chaff. Lettuce Bronze Arrowhead Planting: Produces in 46 days. The plant is very slow to bolt and may be started indoors in March or sowed outdoors as soon as the ground can be worked. Seed Collection: Only collect seeds from slow bolting plants. The seeds are ready to harvest when dry, about days after flowering. Rub the seeds from the stalk and remove the coarse plant material by gently rubbing the seeds along a screen.

3 Lettuce Buttercrunch Planting: Produces in 50 days and is open - pollinated. The mature plant has dark green outer leaves with creamy center heart. Slow to bolt, but can be prone to bottom rot. May be started indoors in March or sowed outdoors as soon as the ground can be worked. Seed Collection: See Lettuce Bronze Arrowhead Pea Dwarf Grey Sugar Planting: Produces pods in 60 days. The plant produces broad pale green 3 4 edible pod and purple bi colored blossoms. The vines grow and do not require any staking. Sow direct seed 2 3 apart and ½ to 1 deep. Rows should be apart. Plant seeds in full sun. Seed Collection: Harvest the seed pods when they are dry and brown. The seeds will rattle in the pod. Cure in a warm, dry location for 1 2 weeks and shell by hand. Pepper King of the North Planting: Avoid cross pollination with other peppers varieties. Produces 70 days from transplant outdoors. The plant produces blocky, uniform fruits with a great sweet flavor. Start indoors 8 weeks before the last frost. The seeds will germinate in 14 days. Plant outdoors apart in full sun. Seed Collection: See Jalapeño. Spinach American Planting: Produces in days, is slow growing and slow to bolt. Sow direct seed 1 apart and 1/2 deep. Seeds will germinate in 7 14 days. The plant grows 8 tall with thick, deep green, savoyed leaves and is heat and drought resistant. Seed Collection: Collect seeds from late bolting plants. The leaves will start to turn yellow when the seeds are ready. Pull the seeds from the plant from the base up the stalk. Allow to dry in the sun and winnow. Spinach Olympia Planting: Produces in 38 days and is an outstanding fall performer. Bolts quickly when planted in the spring and grows fast producing smooth leaves up to 5x6. Seed Collection: See Spinach American.

4 Tomatoes Amish Paste Planting: Produces 85 days from transplant outdoors. Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost. The seeds germinate in 7-14 days. Transplant outdoors apart and cage, stake, or trellis. The plant produces bright red 8 12 ounce fruits. Seed Collection: Harvest when fully ripe and squeeze the pulp and seeds from the fruit into a container. Add water and let ferment below 70 degrees for about 4 days stirring occasionally. Some seeds will float to the top and are not good for replanting. Throw these out. Drain the water and pulp collecting the seeds at the bottom. Spread in a single layer on a paper towel and let dry for 1 2 weeks. Tomatoes Glacier Planting: Determinate. Produces 55 days from transplant. Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost. The seeds germinate in 7-14 days. Transplant outdoors apart and cage, stake, or trellis. This very early tomato variety produces attractive orangey-red 2 inch tomatoes. Perfect for salads or fresh eating. Surprisingly sweet for an ultra-early type. About 2 1/2 feet tall, 3 1/2 feet across, and quite open. Seed Collection: See Tomatoes Amish Paste Tomatoes Mortgage Lifter Planting: Produces days from transplant. Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost. The seeds germinate in 7-14 days. Transplant outdoors apart and cage, stake, or trellis. The plants produce meaty and crack free fruits. Seed Collection: See Tomatoes Amish Paste

5 For More Information Websites Dane County Seed Library: Fedco Co-op: Organic Gardening: Seed Savers: Check out a book from your library The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds : 322 vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, trees, and shrubs by Robert E. Gough (2011) The Manual of Seed Saving : harvesting, storing, and sowing techniques for vegetables, herbs, and fruits by Andrea Heistinger (2013) Seed to Seed : seed saving and growing techniques for vegetable gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth (2002) Seed Sowing and Saving: step-by-step techniques for collecting and growing more than 100 vegetables, flowers and herbs by Carole B. Turner (1998)