Using and Saving Heirloom Seeds

[Northmountain]

If you haven't used Heirloom seeds in your garden in the past, plant some this year. As noted in an earlier post (http://www.ldspreppers.com/showthread.php/3919-Garden-Planning-with-Non-Hybrid-Seeds), there are real reasons to include Heirloom seeds in your preparedness planning.

So what is the big deal about Heirloom's? We have used them for years and know how 'different' the produce tastes and looks from today's homogenized main stream varieties.

We've enjoyed seeds from the Baker Creek Seed Company (http://bakercreekheirloomseed.wordpress.com/) because they focus on Heirloom varieties. I've mentioned them for reference, not as an advertisement. One of the owners of the company has posted a very good background video that explains what Heirloom seeds are and how they are being gathered.




Where do you find Heirloom seeds?




The Cottage Gardener owner discusses Heirloom seed history, gathering and why we need to keep them around.




Now that you've grown Heirloom's, how do you save the seeds for your garden next year and to swap with other gardeners?




All About Tomatoes and How to Save Heirloom Tomatoes




Saving Heirloom Pepper Seeds




Storing Saved Heirloom Seeds




Seed Viability & Germination Testing

[ssprepper]

Thank you so much for the videos on all that stuff. I bought heirloom plants last year expecting that I would save the seeds for this year. Unfortunately I didn't learn how to save the seeds. I didn't give up though. I bought heirloom seeds this year, will plant them and now that I have some education as to how to preserve the seeds, I'll be doing that, too. Thanks again.

[AZ Prepper]

Thanks for all this information. Most people don't think about collecting seeds every year for the following season. But if you don't know how to do this when times get tough and there aren't any places to buy seeds, knowing how to plant a garden won't do much for you. You need to know how to plant a garden AND collect/preserve seeds!