Garden Seed Saving Guide The

Winner of the American Horticultural Society Award for Excellence In Garden Book Publishing Winner of the Silver Medal for Best Reference from the Garden Writer’s Association Filled with advice for the home gardener and the more seasoned horticulturist alike, The Seed Garden: The Art and Practice of Seed Saving provides straightforward instruction on collecting seed that is true-to-type and ready for sowing in next year’s garden. In this comprehensive book, Seed Savers Exchange, one of the foremost American authorities on the subject, and the Organic Seed Alliance bring together decades of knowledge to demystify the time-honored tradition of saving the seed of more than seventy-five coveted vegetable and herb crops—from heirloom tomatoes and long-favored varieties of beans, lettuces, and cabbages to centuries-old varieties of peppers and grains. With clear instructions, lush photographs, and easy-to-comprehend profiles on individual vegetable crops, this book not only teaches us how to go about conserving these important varieties for future generations and for planting out in next year’s garden, it also provides a deeper understanding of the importance of saving these genetically valuable varieties of vegetables that have evolved over the centuries through careful selection by farmers and home gardeners. Through simple lessons and master classes on crop selection, pollination, roguing, and the processes of harvesting and storing seeds, this book ensures that these time-honored traditions can continue. Many of these vegetable varieties are treasured for traits that are singular to their strain, whether that is a resistance to disease, an ability to grow well in a region for which that crop is not typically well suited, resistance to early bolting, or simply because it is a great-tasting variety. In an age of genetically modified crops and hybrid seed, a growing appreciation for saving seeds of these time-tested, open-pollinated cultivars has found a new audience from home vegetable gardeners and cooks to restaurant chefs and local farmers. Whether interested in simply saving seeds for home use or working to conserve rare varieties of beloved squashes and tomatoes, this book provides a deeper understanding of the art, the science, and the joy of saving seeds.

Enjoy your favorite varieties of garden plants year after year with this comprehensive guide to gathering, preparing, and planting seeds. Authors Robert Gough and Cheryl Moore-Gough provide simple instructions that clearly explain the whole process, from basic plant biology to proper seed storage and successful propagation. Gardeners of any experience level will find all the information they need to preserve genetic diversity, cut costs, and extend the life of their favorite plants to the next generation and beyond.

A complete seed-saving guide of 160 vegetables, including detailed info on each vegetable.

Mouthwatering heirlooms, exciting hybrids, sensational herbs, colorful flowers - you dream of a garden overflowing with vibrant, healthy plants. Turn your dream garden into reality with seeds you save and start yourself! With easy ideas on harvesting, storing, sowing and nurturing your seeds into flourishing plants, this helpful guide gives you a sure path from start to success. In it, you get: A look at seed and plant anatomy and how pollination works. Simple suggestions for identifying seeds to save, and for gathering and prepping seeds for next year's garden. Guidance on germinating seeds, indoors or out, using scarification or stratification. Tips for transplanting, thinning, hardening off, and protecting seedlings from weather, pests and disease. Easy ideas for cross-breeding plants and creating hybrids suited to your garden and climate. A comprehensive directory of botanical names and harvesting, germination, and sowing data for hundreds of plants. The Complete Idiot's Guide To Seed Saving And Starting is an essential resource to reap richer results with plants grown from your own seeds!

A Go-to Gardener's Guide To Saving Seeds Successfully In recent times, several gardeners have taken an interest in saving seeds from their plants; however, the process of saving seeds can be scary, but yet simple. Seed saving takes some time and effort, but it is well worth it for gardeners, irrespective of the level of experience. Once you've found a variety that suits you, saving seeds from it will enable you to repeat your success time after time. Why? Because plants are much more sensitive than you might think to the growing conditions distinct to each garden. What works well in your garden may not work in your neighbor's. There are other factors at play, including your specific microclimate, the microbiological health of your garden soil, and chemical or other harmful exposure. Other factors are the minimum distance between plants of similar species, which is important so that cross-pollination does not take place with another variety, as well as the minimum number of plants that need to be grown to conserve the innate genetic diversity. It's also important to identify the characteristics of the variety so that when grown, plants not breeding "true" are not picked. It is also important to adhere to effective seed storage procedures to keep the seed viable. We can go on and on about how well informed you need to be before you start saving seeds, but we can't; hence the reason why this book, Saving Seeds Handbook, was written, to provide you with virtually all you need to save seeds successfully. Here are a couple of what you will learn in this book; 1. In-depth details about seeds; definition, types, anatomy, seed formation, seed terminologies, etc. 2. Planning for Seed production; choosing seeds to save, seed lifecycle, planning the population size, isolation of varieties, hand pollination, etc. 3. Harvesting mature seeds; timing the harvest, processing seeds, drying seeds, storing seeds, testing seed quality, etc. 4. Common vegetable seeds you can save and a rundown of what you need to know and do 5. Common flower seeds you can save and a rundown of what you need to know and do 6. Seed saving mistakes to avoid And a whole lot more! So, what are you waiting for? Get a copy of this book RIGHT NOW to get started

"This book is sure to be a modern classic and is one of the most important books on gardening in the current century." —Jere Gettle, founder, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Heirloom Vegetable Gardening has always been a book for gardeners and cooks interested in unique flavors, colors, and history in their produce. This updated edition has been improved throughout with growing zones, advice, and new plant entries. Line art has been replaced with lush, full-color photography. Yet at the core, this book delivers on the same promise it made two decades ago: It’s a comprehensive guide based on meticulous first-person research to these 300+ plants, making it a book to come back to season after season.

"[Book title] is the definitive guide to plant breeding and seed saving for the serious home gardener and the small-scale farmer or commercial grower. Discover: how to breed for a wide range of different traits (flavor, size, shape, or color; cold or heat tolerance; pest and disease resistance; and regional adaptation); how to save seed and maintain varieties; how to conduct your own variety trials and other farm- or garden-based research; how to breed for performance under organic or sustainable growing methods."--Back cover.