News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cumberland County Master Gardener Fred Mullen said avoid the wives tales and misconceptions when saving seeds for next season.
Mullen said understanding genetics is the key to getting the produce or flower you want. He said saving heirloom seeds and avoiding hybrids is the route to getting the desired garden.
“It’s like a red headed child, just because one person is red headed that doesn’t mean that all their children are gonna be red headed because of the way the genes come out,” Mullen said. “A red head may show up four generations down the line and it’s the same way with plants.”
Mullen said the best seed saving process is taking an heirloom seed from the most desirable produce or flower. For example, Mullen said if a gardener tries to recreate the success of their hybrid tomatoes, they will be in for a surprise.
“There may be some yellow tomatoes, there may be some Tommy Toes, there may be something else in its heritage that’s gonna show up in the other plants,” Mullen said. “The problem with that is when you sow 50 seeds and start growing those tomato plants, you can’t tell which ones are going to be the ones you want.”
If it’s a fruit, get it when it’s good and ripe and then thoroughly sun dry the seeds and save them sealed in the freezer. Mullen said this is the most important part of successfully saving an heirloom seed.
“Make sure the seeds are completely dry because of what will happen,” Mullen said. If there’s any moisture in that seed of any kind and you put it in the freezer, the water content is gonna freeze and it’s gonna ruin the seed.”
Mullen said in order to keep track of what you’re saving, do not forget to label your seeds. He suggested drying on a paper towel and keeping the seed protected from the outside weather when sun drying.
