Did you grow a cutting garden this year? Or do you have perennials that you love and would like to spread? Are you enjoying the flavorful herbs that you’re growing? If so, then you need to think about saving some of your seeds for next year. Saving seeds is easy to do and it will save you money when you go to plant your garden next spring. And if you found a flower that you really like, this is a great way to keep it coming back year after year.

You don’t need a lot of supplies or fancy equipment to save flower seeds. You just need to be aware of your garden plants so that you can grab the seeds when they’re ready. Here are some reasons why you should save flower seeds from your garden.

Benefits of Saving Flower Seeds…

• Reduces the cost of growing your flowers and herbs year after year.
• The amount of seeds you’ll have is greater compared to what is sold in seed packets.
• Your seed quality will be better because you control the conditions.
• You will have backup seeds in case you have plants that don’t survive.
• If the seed company stops producing your favorite plants you don’t have to worry
• You can make homemade seed packets to give as gifts to your favorite gardeners.
• You can share seeds with friends and neighbors.
• Creates a tradition that you can pass on to your children and grandchildren.

I have created some lovely seed packets that you can use to store your seeds in. Sign up below to get the seed packet templates and get started saving seeds from your garden today!

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Yes, Please

Seed saving is not very complicated and it really is enjoyable to be able to save your favorite flowers and herbs from year to year. So follow these simple steps to start saving seeds this year.

How to Save Flower Seeds…

Step 1

You’ll need to start by allowing the flower heads to die and the seeds to ripen. If you want your flowers to bloom all season it’s good to deadhead the flowers. This keeps the plant focused on producing new blooms. But toward the end of summer, you’ll want to leave some of the blooms on the plant to start to form seeds. Look for dried flower heads or seed pods to harvest and give them plenty of time to mature.

Step 2

You’ll want to wait until the dew has dried from the plant first. Then cut the flower head or seed pod off of the plant.

Step 3

Place your pods and flower heads in lunch-sized paper bags until you are ready to process them. Be sure to label the bags so you know what you are saving. Although you can skip this step and separate the seeds immediately, I find that this makes the process easier. Many of the seeds will naturally drop off the flower head and make separating easier. And usually, you are still in harvest mode when you begin to collect seeds and so you can quickly store the seeds this way.  Then during the winter months when gardening has slowed down, you will have more time to go back and process the seeds. Store your paper bags in a dry location that gets plenty of air circulation.

Step 4

Shake the flower heads (or bag) onto a piece of waxed paper. Weed out the dead stalks and leaf matter. Some flower heads and pods might need to be manually separated. Then store your fully dried seeds in seed packets or jars. Be sure to label your seed packets so you don’t have to guess next spring what the seeds are.

Tips for Saving Flower Seeds…

1. Keep an eye on your plants and flowers to determine specimens that you want to save. For example, you might be growing zinnias and you will save a variety of seeds. But maybe there is one special color that you loved and you want to make sure that you have it for next year. Tie a piece of twine or ribbon on the flower stalk so that you know to save that particular flower.
2. Gather seeds from healthy plants. A plant that is sick or damaged might not have the highest quality seeds.
3. When separating seeds, work with one type at a time so that you don’t get them mixed up together.
4. Seeds should be stored long-term in a cool, dry area. Excess heat and moisture are not a good mix for your seeds. A pantry or bedroom closet is a good place to keep your seeds. You also might consider storing your seed packets in a jar or plastic container to keep out the bugs.

Seed saving is an economical way to keep your flowers growing year after year. And it’s a great way to share them with others. If you need a gift for a gardener, adding in homemade seed packets is a fun way to share your love of gardening.  There are so many reasons to give seed saving a try.