Not only can you save your own vegetable seeds to grow the next year's crop, but sometimes you can even end up with an unexpected plant that surpasses your expectations. Of course, you can also end up with disappointments. The more care you take in the process of saving your vegetable seeds, the more control you will have over the results you'll get from the plants your seeds produce.

Start planning ahead of time

Decide what vegetables you want to grow as "parent" plants for your seed collecting. Annual vegetables (that grow, bloom and set seed all in one year) are the best choice. You can grow biennials (plants like carrots and cabbage) but you will have to wait for a second year before the plant will bloom to collect seeds. Some perennials (plants that grow year after year like artichokes and asparagus) will bloom in their first year but may take longer to produce enough fruits to make seed collecting worthwhile. Then you will have to wait again for the plant you grow from your collected seeds to mature.

Choose your parent plants carefully

Collect seeds from vegetables that are not hybrids. If you grow your vegetables from open-pollinated--sometimes called heirloom varieties--your seeds are likely to grow true from seed without unpleasant surprises. Many hybrid plants set sterile seed that won't grow at all.

How you grow your parent plants matters

Plant your vegetables in isolated groups if you want to control pollination. Otherwise wind, bees and other insects may cross-pollinate your vegetables with varieties that may introduce unwanted characteristics to the genetics of your seed. You can also prevent adding those unwanted genetics by making sure any other potential cross-pollinators will bloom before or after your chosen plants are flowering. Keep self-pollinating plants growing in a group at least 10 feet from other potential pollinators. Self-pollinating plants have both male and female parts in each flower or on the same plant. Corn, onions, Swiss chard, turnips, melons, spinach, cauliflower, radishes and squashes are some examples. Isolate and hand-pollinate your vegetable flowers under a tent of plastic or fine mesh if you want to be fully in control of the pollination process so you can be sure your plants will produce reliable or "true" seeds.

You can collect seed informally, too

Expect variable results if your plants are open to cross-pollination or if you are mixing varieties. If you just want to grow your vegetables informally in a mixed vegetable garden, chances are your seeds will produce highly variable plants. Many will likely produce good enough seed. You may also get a number of inferior plants, some sterile seed or even an occasional pleasant surprise.

Collecting and preserving your seed

Collect seed from your healthiest and most successful plants. This way you know at least one genetic contributor is exactly what you want to reproduce. Dry seeds indoors and keep them safe from humidity and pests. Over-winter your seeds in glass jars to keep them fresh. If you add a packet of silica gel it will keep the air in the jar dry, preventing rot, mold or early germination. You can also refrigerate seeds since most refrigerators stay at around 40 degrees F. Never freeze collected seed as most vegetable seed will die in freezing temperatures.

Source:

University o f Minnesota: Saving vegetable seeds

More Information:

Open-pollinated seeds