LIFE HACK: Save your produce seeds!
I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. In Maine, our outdoor growing season window is much smaller than warmer climates. However, I usually grow a little container garden of tomatoes, herbs, odds and ends along my walkway. This summer I grew a handful of white onions and enough green onion/scallions to feed my family and some of my neighbors all summer so far— all from one bunch of green onion that I bought at the grocery store. First, we chopped and ate the green onion— but when chopping I left the little white end that has the roots attached and stuck them in a cup with a tiny bit of water. They grew SO QUICKLY that I even started using them while they were still on my countertop, snipping bits of green onion as needed. When the weather warmed enough to put them outside, I put them in a part of soil and we have grown the most ginormous green onions I have ever seen all summer! I have one that is about 3 feet tall, with a giant seed pod at the top! I’ll be drying that seed pod for next year. Additionally, I never realized that green onions if you let them grow long enough produce white onions.
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I had green onion all summer and still do, and when I’m ready, I now have a handful of white onions to harvest!
You can do similar things with the fresh herbs you purchased in the grocery store! I bought a pot of basil in soil at my local grocery this spring and replanted it at home. We have had basil all summer and now I’ve let it go to seed so I can keep the seed for next year! You can also purchase the fresh herb clippings and what you do not use immediately place in propagation containers and root them to plant them in soil.
I’ve taken it a step further in the last week or two by saving the seeds from any bell peppers and jalapeños we have purchased. I now have a small collection of seeds tucked away for planting season for myself and my best friends garden.
I could sit here all day and list the positives to this practice. Planting things is good for the environment, it’s good for you and your mental health, you’re saving money by turning one vegetable into many, you’re controlling where the food comes from that you feed your family. Times are tough for many right now, and we are moving from an age of consumerism into a time of consciousness. We vote with our dollars too, and I would prefer my dollars stay with me and not in the pockets of big corporations. The owners don’t need my money, but I certainly do! Gardening, even my tiny little urban container garden makes me so happy all spring, summer and fall. The winters here in Maine can be brutal. By the time planting season rolls around, I’m desperate for sunshine and to have my hands in the soil!
What other produce items do you think we could do this with? What are some other ways you like to live sustainably and thoughtfully? I really would love to read your comments so I can put some of your ideas into play in my life! Give these tips a try! It really works!
#sustainability #growyourfood #gardening #money #knowwhereyourfoodcomesfrom #lemon8challenge #groceryhaul #summerdiary #lemon8contest Old Town
You know, one of the biggest 'aha!' moments I had in my gardening journey was realizing just how easy it is to save seeds from the produce I already buy. My original post touched on green onions and basil, but let me tell you, saving bell pepper seeds has been a game-changer! It's incredibly satisfying, saves money, and connects you directly to where your food comes from. If you've ever wondered 'how to save bell pepper seeds for planting,' you're in the right place! Here's my super simple, tried-and-true method. First off, you need a good bell pepper. I usually pick one that's fully ripe – whether it's red, yellow, or orange. The riper it is, the more mature and viable the seeds will be. When I'm prepping dinner, and I've got a beautiful red bell pepper on my cutting board, I just carefully slice it in half. Instead of scraping the seeds straight into the compost, I gently scoop them out with my fingers or a small spoon. You'll want to separate the seeds from any stringy bits of membrane. Next, and this is a crucial step, you need to clean and air dry your bell pepper seeds thoroughly. I usually place them in a small mesh strainer and rinse them under cool water to remove any remaining pulp. This helps prevent mold during storage. After rinsing, I spread them out in a single layer on a paper towel or a non-stick surface like a ceramic plate. Find a warm, dry spot away from direct sunlight – a countertop or a windowsill works perfectly. It might take anywhere from a few days to a week for them to be completely dry. You'll know they're ready when they feel hard and snap easily, rather than bending. This drying process is key to preventing them from rotting in storage. Once your seeds are bone-dry, it's time for storage. This is where my little art project comes in! I love creating little handmade paper packets for my seeds. As you saw in my pictures, I label them clearly with the type of seed – like 'Red Bell Pepper' or 'Jalapeno' if I'm saving those too – and the year I saved them (e.g., '2024 Bell Pepper Mix'). This way, I never forget what's what! You can also use small envelopes or even a clean glass jar, just make sure it's airtight once the seeds are completely dry. The goal is to keep them cool, dark, and dry until planting season rolls around next spring. I store all my labeled seed packets together in a bigger container, often a ceramic pot, in a cupboard away from any humidity or temperature fluctuations. Now, a little tip: while you can absolutely save seeds from store-bought bell peppers, remember that many commercial varieties are hybrids. This means the seeds you save might not grow into plants identical to the parent pepper. However, in my experience, they still produce fantastic, edible peppers, and it's well worth the effort for the sheer joy and abundance you get. Don't let the 'hybrid' label deter you from trying this amazing sustainability hack! It's a fun experiment and a great way to save a few dollars. So, there you have it – my simple guide on how to save bell pepper seeds for planting. It's a small step that makes a huge difference in my gardening and my wallet. Give it a try this year, and you'll be amazed at the satisfaction of growing your own peppers from 'waste'!
Potatoes are easy to grow when they start sprouting "eyes" and they grow in cooler weather. Tomatoes grow well from their seeds too.