Expanding your garden | SA Garden and Home

There is no need to be daunted by the prospect of growing plants from seed; it’s a lot easier than you think. From saving seeds to storing them. There is no greater sense of gardening satisfaction than growing your plant from seed. Saving, cleaning, and even storing your seeds is easier than you think.

Saving seeds

You must mature, ripen and store seeds correctly to ensure viability. Collect seeds once matured on the plant after the flower has waned. You need to wait until the seeds are completely dry before collecting them. Always collect seeds from the healthiest plants in your garden. Avoid collecting seeds from stressed, unhappy, diseased or pest-ridden plants. Once you have collected your seeds, let them dry before you separate them. You can separate either by hand or using a sieve to remove.

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Storing seeds

You need to store your seeds in clean paper or a paper bag. Maintaining a stable seed environment, with consistent temperature and low humidity, is essential. You could place them in a cupboard or room in your house where the temperature fluctuates the least throughout the day. Make sure to keep them away from appliances or heating vents. UV degrades seeds over time, and light encourages them to germinate, influencing the temperature. So it is best to store your seeds in a dark spot out of direct sunlight.

Sowing seeds

There are two main techniques for growing seeds. One is to sow the seeds directly into the soil. Another technique you could use is to start the seeds in a punnet before transplanting the seedlings into the soil. Store-bought seeds usually come with practical information that explains how and when to sow the seeds using the best methods.