Garden · Reference · Basic
Save Seeds for Next Year
Collect, dry and store seeds so you never need a store again.
This is for educational purposes only. Not professional medical, electrical, or safety advice.
- 01
Easy first
Beans, peas, lettuce and tomatoes self-pollinate and are easiest to save.
- 02
Let them mature
Leave beans/peas on the vine until pods rattle. Pick tomatoes fully ripe.
- 03
Ferment wet seeds
Scoop tomato seeds into a jar with water for 3 days, rinse, and dry on a plate.
- 04
Dry fully
Seeds should snap, not bend. Dry 1–2 weeks out of direct sun.
- 05
Store cold & dry
Sealed jar with a desiccant, in a cool dark place. Most seeds keep 3–5 years.