Week 13 · Practice

Close the loop before autumn

Edible Landscapes

Seed saving works best from open-pollinated varieties you already know perform on your site — not hybrid supermarket leftovers that will not breed true. Late summer is selection time: mark the healthiest tomato vine, the bean row that handled drought, the coriander that bolted slowest.

Dry thoroughly before storage — mould in a jar destroys a year’s work. Label with variety, date, and location; humidity in Northland differs from Canterbury storage needs.

Seed saving basics

  1. Choose parent plants early

    Flag with ribbon — do not harvest everything from your best performers.

  2. Ferment tomato gel (optional)

    Removes inhibitors; rinse and dry on labelled paper plates indoors out of direct sun.

  3. Dry beans and peas on plant

    Pick when pods rattle; finish drying undercover before shelling.

  4. Store cool and dry

    Paper envelopes in airtight box with silica gel in humid districts; fridge if stable temperature.

Include year and notes — “wet summer, slow bolt” helps future selection.

Family activity: Children decorate envelopes and draw the parent plant. Discuss why hybrids from shop fruit may not grow true — gentle genetics lesson without jargon.

Isolation distances

Beans mostly self-pollinate; corn and squash cross freely — research isolation or hand pollination if purity matters.

Next edition

Autumn planting and storage editions pick up from here — garlic, preserves, and bed rest.