What Seeds are You Saving?

[Rhodie Ranch]

@Zeedman : this one out back was a volunteer! You were spot on!

 

[Zeedman]

I tried growing that once, unsuccessfully. It is a beautiful plant, SSE has it growing all over one of their display gardens. My best guess is that like Zebrina (and Martynia) it is best grown unintentionally.

About that Martynia... about 10 years ago, I tried to grow a Native American cultivar ("Paiute") offered by an SSE member, that was supposedly used for food, the young pods eaten like okra. The seeds were planted in peat pots w/ sterile mix - nothing. I assumed the seeds were dead. At the end of the season, I throw any left over peat pots & starting mix into the garden, and turn it under.

The next year, a bunch of strong, sunflower-like seedlings appeared in that garden. It turned out to be the Martynia! Nearly every one of the seeds that failed when first planted, emerged after spending a winter under the snow. It has volunteered every year since. I always let a plant or two grow, provided it is well off the path... the plant has an oily substance on all surfaces, and gives off a strong, unpleasant odor on hot days. I keep it in the "anti-social corner", next to Litchi tomato. Quite honestly, I'm surprised that a Southwest desert native has proven to be so well adapted to our cold Wisconsin winters.

Oh, and the taste of the okra-like pods... I would only eat it if it were a question of survival.

I've been meaning to try Love Lies Bleeding again, winter-sown... but then again, if in the vegetable garden, I would probably regret it. Success with self-sowing plants sometimes turns into "be careful what you wish for". Ground cherries & tomatillos fall in that category.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

I get the smell thing. Thanks to some ill advised seed throwing, Senna has become naturalized in many places of our yard. The seed lasts forever (thank goodness we live just a bit too far north for it to complete it's life cycle and make more mature seed.) Stinks to high heaven when we mow. And it doesn't do the one thing I hoped it might, keep down the squirrels and chipmunks (I though they might eat it and defecate themselves to death.)

 

[flowerbug]

I get the smell thing. Thanks to some ill advised seed throwing, Senna has become naturalized in many places of our yard. The seed lasts forever (thank goodness we live just a bit too far north for it to complete it's life cycle and make more mature seed.) Stinks to high heaven when we mow. And it doesn't do the one thing I hoped it might, keep down the squirrels and chipmunks (I though they might eat it and defecate themselves to death.)

that doesn't sound like a good way to "Go" but i certainly understand the frustration those creatures can cause a gardener...

 

[Pulsegleaner]

Well, at least the lawn gets fertilized.....

 

[Zeedman]

Well, at least the lawn gets fertilized.....

Sounds like someone is instigating a constitutional crisis...

 

[Ridgerunner]

Well, at least the lawn gets fertilized.....

The native Americans used to fertilize corn by burying a fish next to where it was planted. Rodents work really well also, it doesn't have to be a fish.

 

[Carol Dee]

Dh is saving seed from two tomatoes. An unknown!!!! paste tomato a friend grows and an Oxheart.
Oh and LOTS of seed from the different wild flowers we want to SPREAD.

 

[flowerbug]

cosmos and beans today. the yellow/orange/reddish ones i've been growing for a long time. the red/white/pink ones which are frondier and growing out front i haven't checked yet. in the past those of that variety have not set as many seeds so we tend to not pick them off the plants or even remember to, but i should check them anyways.

Mom saved some zinnia and marigold seeds the other day. beautiful colors.

 

[Cosmo spring garden]

I'm a seed hoarder. I cant help myself! I save seeds from everything! And not just a small amount but like jars full! I need help.......