Seed saving, growing next year’s crop from seed saved from a previous harvest, is as old as agriculture. It’s the future too.
Passing Peak Oil in 2006 (see 2008-02_EWG_Oil_Report.) means that industrial agriculture’ petrochemical-dependent hybrids and GM creations will become less and less viable as oil prices rise. Seed saved from the best performing plants in local crops is the simplest way of adapting those crops as the climate changes
Hybrids never adapt – or come true from saved seed. That’s the whole point of them.
Seed are often just as fascinating, as beautiful or as striking as adult plants. Enjoy the future.
Eucalyptus preissiana
Eucalyptus pyriformis
Eucalyptus synandra
Eucalyptus torquata
Fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum
Forest Red Gum E tereticornis
Hakea baxteri
Hakea laurina
Hibiscus coccineus
Home grown peanut, Arachis hypogea
Honeydew melon
Ipomoea carnea (syn. Ipomoea fistula) a shrub-like species of Morning Glory
Jatropha multifida Coral Plant
Kale Brassica oleracea acephala Russian Red
Koelreuteria paniculata
Kurrajong Brachychiton populneus dusted with sulphur
Lagarostrobus franklinii
Leaf Amaranth Amaranthus cruentus
Leek Blue Solaize
Leptospermum sp WA
Lettuce seed Lactuca sativa ‘First Fleet’
Luffa cylindrica
Mangelwurzel Beta vulgaris Crassa Group
Markhamia zanzibarica
Mibuna Brassica rapa Japonica group
Mustard, Brassica juncea ‘Osaka Purple’
Nettle, Urtica dioica
Nymphaea capensis
Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus Clemson
Painted Lady runner bean
Parsley Curled Petroselenium crispum
Parsnip seed
Pea Dutch Purple Podded
Pea Pisum sativum Spanish Skyscraper
Pea Spanish Skyscraper
Pea, Pisum sativum Telephone
Physic Nut, Jatropha podagrica
Protea aurea ssp potbergensis
Protea eximia
Protea lepidocarpodendron
Raphia hookeri
Rauvolfia sp
Rocket Eruca sativa
Sabal palmetto seed.JPG
Shungiku Chrysanthemum coronarium
Snake bean, Vigna unguiculata
Sonchus sp Canary Islands
Sophora toromiro flowers – 1
Sophora toromiro flowers – 2
Sophora toromiro
Sunflower, Helianthus annuus
Sweetcorn, Golden Bantam
Sword bean seed, Canavalia gladiata
Sword bean seed, Canavalia gladiata
Tabebuia aurea
Tabebuia dubia
Tecoma stans
Teosinte, Zea mays ssp mexicana
Tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum
Watermelon, cultivar unknown
Xylomelum angustifolium
Zamia furfuracea cleaned
Zamia furfuracea uncleaned
Zinnia Paignton Rock
zucchini Cocozelle
Basil, Ocimum americanum ‘Lime’
Basil, Ocimum americanum ‘Thai’
Basil, Ocimum basilicum ‘Cinnamon’
Bean, Phaseolus lunatus ‘Madagascar’
Chinese spinach, Amaranthus tricolor ‘Mekong Red’
Corn, Zea mays ‘Bicolor’
Corn, Zea mays ‘Manning Pride’
Corn, Zea mays ‘Red Aztec’
Cucumber, Cucumis sativus ‘Gympie Gold’
Eggplant, Solanum melongena ‘Casper’
Eggplant, Solanum melongena ‘Mini Violet Ruby’
Eggplant, Solanum melongena ‘Rosa Bianca’
Eggplant, Solanum melongena ‘Udumalapet’
New Guinea bean, Lagenaria siceraria ‘Cucuzzi’
New Guinea bean, Lagenaria siceraria
Popcorn, Zea mays ‘Blue Mini’
Popcorn, Zea mays ‘Popcorn’
Rosella, Hibiscus sabdariffa ‘Red Drops’
Sacred basil (Kraphao), Ocimum sanctum
Shiso, Perilla frutescens ‘Red’
Sweetcorn, Zea mays ‘Legacy’
Acacia melanoxylon Tasmanian Blackwood
Acacia caffra
Acacia iteaphylla
Acacia karroo
Allocasuarina distyla
Argemone mexicana
balsa seed Ochroma pyramidale Bombacaceae
Banksia candolleana
Banksia ericifolia dusted with sulphur
Beetroot McGregor’s Favourite
Black Mustard Brassica nigra
Broad Bean Early Long Pod
Cabbage Woman Meet & Gossip
Casuarina pinaster Compass Bush
Casuarina pinaster II
Catsear pure white form
Chilli Rocotillo
Chilli Tabasco
Chinese celery Apium graveolens
Choi Sum Brassica rapa var chinensis
Clemoe spinosa purple-flowered
Colvillea racemosa
Convolvulus alba, Moonflower
Cosmos bipinnatus – white and pink form
Cosmos sulphureus
Cotton
Dai Gai Choi seed, Brassica juncea var. foliosa
Delonix regia
Dill Anethum graveolens
Dryandra sp unknown
Erica longifolia
Erica mammosa
Erica mauritanica
Erythrina berteroana
Erythrina unknown Bidwill cross
Eucalyptus eremophila
Eucalyptus erythrocorys
Eucalyptus lehmannii
Eucalyptus leucoxylon v rosea
Eucalyptus macrocarpa
Jerry Coleby-Williams 
Hi Jerry, Can you tell me where I might be able to find some Eucalyptus Synandra seeds?
Hi, I was given some First Fleet lettuce seed a few years ago but due to the flooding here never got to save any seed do you know where I can buy some please.
Judi,
First Fleet lettuce is not available commercially. To get some you must first join the Seed Savers Network – we share our genetic resources free, it’s a member benefit.
Jerry
How did you save the Basil seeds? And am I correct in thinking that you can only save seeds from Red & Yellow capsicums?
Thank you
Kasia
Dear Kasia,
Yes, you can save seed of all capsicum and chilli – as long as they have been pollinated and produce seed, that is. If you forget to save their seed and fruit fall to the ground, often they will germinate where they land.
Basil develops seed quite quickly following flowering. You can harvest whole seed heads when they start dropping seed. If you use pantyhose to enclose heads the mesh will gather every seed. Thoroughly dry seed, place in an airtight container, then keep in a fridge. Seed can remain viable for 3 – 5 years.
Jerry
Jerry, Is there any special way to grow mouse melons. I have been asked to grow some, but no success yet?
there is no secret, they are dead easy
Hi Jerry. I am having trouble germinating winged beans. Any advice> Cheers
Treat as you would any large seed. Soak in water overnight, then sow. Easy 🙂
Jerry, r there any special needs for spaghetti squash? I have one plant, and I am hand pollinating, and organic, my first two went rotton, I am growing them up a trellis then onto a post as I have little room, I have given them more minerals, cut back on water? Waiting 2 c what the next 2 little ones do?? Any further suggestions?
Dear Anonymous Gardener
Squash is grown exactly the same way as zucchini, and there’s heaps of information out there on the internet to help guide you. My advice is to sprinkle half a handful of dolomite per square metre, rake it in two weeks before sowing or planting. This avoids blossom end rot, a common complaint.
Jerry