Northern Queensland Permaculture

Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share

Seed Saving

Save seed each year, enough to replant next year - and share surplus with friends.

Download printable template, keep the small label box facing you whilst folding.

General

This is a general notice on how to save seeds, for specifics, refer to each individual plants information sheet where specific seed saving methods for that species are documented, where available.

  • Open pollinated crops can cross pollinate and pollute or alter the variety of your crop. Maintain appropriate clearances between open pollinated crops of the same species.
  • Choose disease free specimens for saving to avoid contamination
  • Store in cool, dry and dark places
  • Storage in paper is preferable, to prevent mould growth if excess water is present
  • Beware of insects such as weevils that can eat stored seed and destroy your collection
  • Maintain your collection, year after year, to refresh the seeds and maintain viability
  • Share seeds with friends and neighbours to maintain local availability

Labelling

  • Month - Year
  • Common name
  • Variety
  • Comments

Storage

Storage should be in a cool, dry and dark place. Beware of some seeds that may harbour pests and insects that could eat the seeds, such as weevils. Best practice to prevent severe pest damage is to segregate collections of seeds, and maintain regular checks for pests.

Seed saving envelope

Envelope that can be made from scrap paper

CommentImage
Start off with a square
Start off with a square
Fold square in half
Fold half of the half
Fold half of the half
Turn corners over
Turn ends over
Turn ends over
Make a triangle
Make a triangle
Flatten
Tuck under
Print/export
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