#seedsaver

[chokrihizem]

Welcome to the world of gardening, where every seed holds the promise of fresh, crisp romaine lettuce right from your backyard! If you've ever savored a salad made with homegrown greens, you know the joy that comes from nurturing plants to life. But did you know that you can extend that joy beyond a single growing season?

In this complete guide, we’ll dive into the art of harvesting and storing romaine lettuce seeds? Whether you're a seasoned gardener looking to save your favorite varieties or a curious beginner eager to learn more about sustainable practices, this guide is designed for you. We’ll walk you through each step of the process—from recognizing when your lettuce is ready to bolt, to collecting and storing those precious seeds for future planting.

Want to Read More:

The Complete Guide to Harvesting and Storing Romaine Lettuce Seeds

[startedwithaseed]

Peas!

Pea plants are amazing. They're a plant that feels to me like they are desperately keen to grow

An escaped seed must have sprouted, having dropped from the sheet holding a bunch of drying pea pods above it.

They're really beautiful plants, with delicate flowers and tendrils that grip and wind onto any support they can find, and they taste bloody great, especially the first pick of sugar snaps right at the start of the season. They are early cropping, and apparently the flowers cannot be fertilised (and therefore won't produce peas) above 30 degrees.

Being legumes, they fix nitrogen and so do not require lots of added inputs to the soil. The soil should be well draining though, to prevent root rot. They can be eaten at any stage - eat the shoots if you're fancy, or dry them and make pease porrige like the did in the middle ages! In fact, when they were introduced in the 1600s in Britain as the fresh vegetable (and not just a dried more like a bean) they were said to cause such a stir that people become manically addicted...

So they can be dried for storage for eating, but also of course for saving the seed. Drying and shelling peas for seed was my introduction into the world of seed saving. A perfect intro - they make it so easy for us! Simply leaving a few of the forgotten pods on the plant as long as possible, to swell up and dry, and you'll have your seed supply for next years sowing.

Dried wrinkly peas from a sugar snap variety. They are said to be properly dry when you could bite into one and not leave tooth marks.

On a larger scale, marking off a section to not harvest from at all works best, although tricky to resist the plumper pods in the forbidden section. If there are any particularly unhealthy plants, they can be removed (a process called rouging) at any point to try and avoid passing on these trait.

Peas are mostly self fertile, having "perfect" flowers (which just mean the flowers contain both the pistil and the stamen, allowing them to fertilize themselves). This means they are unlikely to cross, although the advice if you are growing more than one variety of pea to try and grow them 15 meters apart, but this can be less if they are separated by a barrier such as a hedge. Pollinators can be lazy sometimes! But, again the chance of crossing is low so it shouldn't be a big concern. Side note, thing like chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) and sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are in the same family Fabaceae but not the same species so will not cross with the traditional garden peas (Pisum sativum).

Within this species there are 3 main categories -

English/podding peas. These are grown for the pea and the pod is generally too tough and fiberous to be eaten

Magetout/ snow peas. These are eaten before the peas develop and are eaten whole

Sugar snap peas. These peas were developed more recently to be the best of both worlds, the pea is eaten whole with the peas developed inside, meaning the crop is sweeter.

Within these categories, you will sometimes hear peas be refereed to as "wrinkled" or "round" seeded. This refers to how the seed looks dry, as sugar snap peas have more wrinkled seed. This is something to do with the higher sucrose content, but what it exactly does I couldn't pretend to know. There is also massive height range with different varieties of peas, and the dwarf varieties are well worth considering if you don't want to worry so much about the sturdiness of your support, or having to find something to climb on when it comes to harvesting the peas higher up.

Peas and calendula

Sitting around shelling peas can be really social and also feels satisfyingly like a kind of ancient practice, I don't know what it is about podding and shelling vegetables that appeals so much but I highly recommend it as a meditative process!

For more info, Hodmedods UK sell all sorts of dried legumes on their site, but also write articles and blogs about traditional varieties of UK grown legumes like the Carlin pea and how to cook with them.

[plantgoodseed]

hibiscus seed will be back later this fall. never get tired of these plants. harvested some calyxes for making teas and coolers. sign up here to know when our seeds are back in stock! https://www.plantgoodseed.com/products/hibiscus-sabdariffa-seeds

[farmobileo3]

Harvesting gourd seeds.

[mimosaarthouse]

#seeds #gardening #growyourown #organic #chiaseeds #vegan #seedsaving #growyourownfood #pumpki

[cedarsoflebanon]

A Victory Garden

a vault of free food.

[spicesparklesessential]

HISTORY OF SPICES

The McCormick Science Institute (MSI) provides valuable insights into the historical and modern uses of herbs and spices, especially about health and culinary applications. Humans have co-evolved with plants for millions of years, discovering the flavorful and medicinal properties of herbs and spices. Initially, these natural ingredients were used to enhance the taste of food, mask undesirable flavors, and preserve perishable items. Spices have been valued throughout history for their various uses, from religious rituals to medicinal purposes. During biblical times, spices like cinnamon and saffron were highly regarded. In Ancient Egypt, garlic and onion were notable choices for both medical and culinary purposes, and the Ebers Papyrus from 1500 BC documented the use of various herbs. Early Chinese culture also recognized the power of herbs and spices, with the Classic Herbal, likely written around 2700 BC, containing information about medicinal plants, including cassia, which is similar to cinnamon. Ginger was also grown in pots and used to prevent scurvy during sea voyages. Ancient Mesopotamia, particularly Babylonia, had a rich tradition of spice and spices used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. King Ashurbanipal's records included various aromatic plants, while King Merodach-Baladan II grew numerous species of plants and herbs in his royal garden. India has a rich history of using spices such as black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, and cardamom for culinary and health purposes. Ancient surgeons like Sushruta incorporated aromatic plants into medical practices. In ancient times, Greece and Rome imported and utilized a variety of Eastern spices. Hippocrates and Theophrastus contributed to the understanding of spices and herbs in medical science, while Dioscorides wrote "De Materia Medica," a comprehensive text on spices and herbs. The Arab and Muslim world played a significant role in the spice trade, using spices for both trading and scientific purposes. Arab physicians developed techniques to extract flower scents and essential oils from aromatic plants. During the Middle Ages, spices in Europe were highly prized and often used as currency. The Crusades opened up trade routes, making Asian spices more accessible. European apothecaries integrated spices and herbs into their remedies, often based on Arabian medical knowledge. Spices and herbs have played a significant role in human history, from early civilizations to the modern world. For instance, the Age of Exploration, including Marco Polo's accounts, contributed to the expansion of the spice trade. As a result, spices from the New World, such as capsaicin (red pepper) and allspice, were introduced to European cuisine. Moreover, American history saw early settlers incorporating indigenous spices and herbs into their diets. During the colonial and revolutionary periods, spices became an important part of American cuisine. In the present day, the usage of spices is diverse and widespread. They are commonly used in global cuisine, including astronaut food. Additionally, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the health benefits of spices. Scientific evidence supports their potential positive effects on heart health, cognition, and diet quality. To conclude, spices and herbs have been used for culinary enhancement as well as medicinal applications throughout history. Their continued exploration promises further health benefits. The McCormick Science Institute is a valuable resource for understanding the science behind the use of spices and herbs.

[bijitdutta]

Know Your Seed: #13

Sonajuli Bau: Deep water, Red Rice.

The sixteenth century Assamese poet Ram Saraswati mentions red rice in his poem "Bhim Charit" entitled "Shiva's Agriculture"

Red rice is rich in magnesium, which is good for your bone. Red rice is rich in antioxidants such as anthocyanin. 

Red rice helps in regulating and maintaining insulin levels. It reduces stress levels and fatigue. Cook like a regular rice. Soaking is not required.

Red rice, has a low glycemic index. It keeps the glucose in the blood at minimal.

Rich in Antioxidants, Dietary Fibre, Vitamin B1, B2, B6 and many nutrients.

[just-pure-gardening]

Can You Plant Pumpkin Seeds Straight From The Pumpkin?

Can You Plant Pumpkin Seeds Straight From The Pumpkin?

Ready to dive into the world of pumpkin growing?

Discover the secrets behind planting pumpkin seeds straight from the pumpkin itself!

Learn how to nurture your own pumpkin patch and watch those vibrant vines flourish.

Who knew gardening could be this rewarding?

[rjalker]

[ID: A video in portrait mode showing a large plot of canna lilies with dried seed pods.

The narrator says, "I normally don't do Short videos, but this is actually a short video, so…" The narrator pauses while holding the camera up to one of the canna lily stems, before it continues, "Here's how to harvest canna lily seeds and save seeds from canna. Wait for them to dry -- the seed pods -- to dry out, they look like…"

The narrator walks with the phone, moving to another section of the bed and showing one of the plants that still has yellow flowers on it.

"Here's flowers, here's seed pods, here's dried seed pods." While saying each, the camera moves to what is being described. The flowers are yellow and thin. The immature seed pods are green and spiky. The dried see pods are dark brown and papery.

The narrator walks back to where the video began, and continues, "So wait for them to dry out until they look like this on the plant, and then…" The narrator trails off as the camera unfocuses, then refocuses, while it says, "if I can get the camera to focus…just pick it up…"

A white hand reaches out and grabs one of the seed pods, pulling it down, then twisting it off the stem for a few moments.

The narrator says, "Alright, that one didn't come off as easy, but," The camera focuses on the seed pod which is papery with dark hair-like structures falling off onto the narrator's hand as it continues, "You literally just snap it off, and then you're good. Then you just open this and pour the seeds out."

The camera turns to the plant again, and the narrator continues, "Lets try it again and get it to come off nicely this time, so, just--"

The hand reaches out, and grips the seed pods in the thumb and forefinger, with the thumb on the top middle of the pod, and the forefinger under it next to the stem.

With a quick snap downward, the seed pod comes off the stem in one motion, rattling as it does so.

"Yeah." The narrator says, "There we go. Literally just snaps right off." It holds up its hand with the two seed pods, shaking its hand up and down to cause the seed pods to rattle like a maraca, saying, "And then, you can hear, these are filled with seeds, so then you literally just have to like, squish them out into a bowl or something."

It holds up one of its hands to the camera, showing a few of the dark brown hair-like things that came off the seed pods, saying, "These ones have some little hairs on them, but they're not stabby."

To demonstrate, it shakes its hand to remove the hairs, then continues, "So just use like an old plastic colander or something. And that's it. Alright, the video's over now, so bye-bye, because Shorts are obnoxious."

It lifts a hand and waves bye to the camera, and the video ends.

End ID.]

Just the audio transcript:

"I normally don't do Short videos, but this is actually a short video, so…Here's how to harvest canna lily seeds and save seeds from canna. Wait for them to dry -- the seed pods -- to dry out, they look like…here's flowers, here's seed pods, here's dried seed pods.

So wait for them to dry out until they look like this on the plant, and then…if I can get the camera to focus…just pick it up… Alright, that one didn't come off as easy, but you literally just snap it off, and then you're good. Then you just open this and pour the seeds out. Lets try it again and get it to come off nicely this time, so, just-- Yeah. There we go. Literally just snaps right off. And then, you can hear, these are filled with seeds, so then you literally just have to like, squish them out into a bowl or something. These ones have some little hairs on them, but they're not stabby. So just use like an old plastic colander or something. And that's it. Alright, the video's over now, so bye-bye, because Shorts are obnoxious."

TERFs and tradwives if you touch this post I will eat your lungs

[chokrihizem]

Because of their magnificent, towering blooms, hollyhocks are adored for lending a touch of cottage garden charm to any scene. It is imperative that you learn how to collect and store hollyhock seeds if you have planted them and want to maintain their beauty in your garden. To ensure you can enjoy these vivid flowers every year, I will lead you through the best techniques for harvesting and storing hollyhock seeds in this tutorial!

[yardenercom]

Need tips about seeds?

Here are some steps to get started with growing your seeds and have fun in the process:

1. Check the planting information on each seed packet you have.

2. Gather the necessary tools and materials for planting such as water, a spoon or trowel, a warm and sunny spot of soil, and your seeds.

3. Before planting outside, find out the last frost date in your area by searching online or consulting a Master Gardener volunteer. You may also consider starting your seeds indoors first.

[plantgoodseed]

It's still possible to pick up seeds for holiday gifts or get a head start on next year’s gardening seasons! Take 15% off any seed order from plantgoodseed.com when checking out with discount code HOLIDAYSEEDS! Note: the cutoff for USPS Priority Mail and UPS Ground is December 18th. We offer both these options for shipping for checkout and any order $100 or over ships by USPS Priority Mail for free!

Also, we have been diligently working on getting our new releases for 2024 in order and we will start rolling some of these out before the end of the year!

[theappalachianhomestead]

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure yall. . . . . . . . . . #seedstarting #seeds #seedsaving #startyourownseeds #greenhouse #greenhouseacademy #greenhousegrown #gardening #gardenlife #gardeninglife #gardeningforbeginners #gardenadvice #gardenhaul #garden #gardening #gardenlife #woodedgarden #millennialswhogarden #gardenpride #gardeninspiration #gardenlove #gardeningisfun #gardeninglife #growfoodnotlawns #growfood https://www.instagram.com/p/CoAvvgcucQm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=