Harvesting & Saving Seeds! 🌻👩‍🌾🌿// Garden Answer

[@HappyCats17]

I know this sounds incredibly corny, but seeds make me feel SO taken care of, and so aware of God's grace. Each seed has the potential to make another plant, filled with still more seeds, on in to infinity. When you see the unlimited potential in each little seed, you realize that there is no reason for the average person to ever be without beauty and nourishment; it's all right there for us to gather, with very little effort.

[@alisonlee4723]

Beautifully said Tammy, love it.

[@lisarmahan]

Soooooo True & Truly Beautiful Said

[@JM-bt1jq]

Thanks for sharing such a powerful thought about provision, God’s grace, and abundance. Makes me question the motivation of companies that engineer food or plants to not have seeds. Same for companies that restrict propagation of “their” trademarked plants. It’s contrary to the original design of nature.

[@HappyCats17]

@@JM-bt1jq I do my best to see all the good in everything! I believe part of producing plants that don't set seed has to do with extending bloom time, and fruit set., as well as keeping certain ornamentals from becoming invasive. And I think most large companies do not mind if the home grower propagates plants for their own use. The objection is when those propagated plants are grown by the thousands and resold by other companies. It does bother me that the prices have increased so much because of the plant patenting and royalties, though!

[@Bamboo4U2]

When I see seeds blowing from flowers, I think of stars going supernova and spreading all of the elements across the universe. Same concept. The science of it all is just so satisfying. Just like out in space, flowers on Earth spread their genetic material the same way.

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

If anyone is planning to use plastic baggies, you should make sure your seeds are completely dry. Any bit of moisture in them can lead to condensation and mold and ruin them. Paper bags are better.

[@Christina-Christina.056]

gayla gavin if they got slightly moldy, will they still grow?

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

@@Christina-Christina.056 I wouldn't count on it. I would start with different seeds. Of course, if they were special and difficult to replace, you could always try. :) good luck!

[@heatherd212]

I did that last year ☹️

[@anenlightenedmisfit6262]

Good tip. Thanks!

[@TheNaturalebeauty]

Thank you

[@trudymautz4388]

I do this every year, even at other peoples yards, lol There are seeds everywhere!!!!

[@Rystical1]

Guilty! Ive been know to pluck plants when I'm out walking, bringing them home to propagate

[@pamketron]

I love saving seeds. I have done this all my life. My Grandma taught me how when I was a little girl watching her save seeds. It a fun treasure hunt to see what all you can collect from your garden.

[@GardenMinistry.]

What!? How did I not know it was this easy to collect seeds!? So cool, thank you for teaching us Laura! Great job zeroing in on all the tiny details guys!

[@amandadiers5102]

You explained things so clearly. The money that can be saved for just saving a few from flowers would wonderful. Especially if it’s a flower you like.

[@kelzbelz313]

I love saving my cosmos seeds in particular because frequently the colors cross pollinate and I can end up with some really cool color variations the following years. I had a few this year that where mostly white with little purple streaks up the petal that looked painted on.

[@teenagers012]

I planted some candy stripe cosmos this year, I’m excited to see what I get next year! Didn’t think of the cross pollination!

[@09chadster]

I'm collecting cosmos seeds for the first time this year. Didn't think about the cross pollination possibilities. Now I REALLY can't wait to see what next year has to bring.

[@tulipmaniaexperience7285]

when i pick my cosmos, the colour were totally different, do u know how to pick the ones that are the variety u want?

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

I've been doing this for years with cosmos seeds, but I just take a couple of large paper envelopes and hold them under the seed heads as I run my thumb across them. The seeds just fall right in with not too much chaff. I keep the envelopes open in the house for awhile, just to make sure everything's dry, write down what they are and plant them after frost next spring! It's easy, not too much effort for the beauty, bees and butterflies!

[@soverycarrie8834]

I've been so inspired by seed gathering that I'm making my own pretty seed packets. It's a labor of love of course, but I like the results. Thanks for the tips for harvesting my next year's flowers.

[@ASH-kj9xt]

Thank you, Laura! Great information and demonstration! This is a great way to expand your garden without spending $$. Save those seeds and spend the money on something else you may need! 😂🌿🌸🙌

[@mosaicgirl4002]

Thankyou Laura! Your garden has been a dream this year - so wonderful to see it's progress! Looking forward to next year! Love & admiration from Australia🌻🌞😎

[@hollyhasegawa6095]

Thank you so much Laura, I remember when I was first gardening how I would harvest the seeds for the following year, it gave me such satisfaction to know that I could grow all these flowers again the following year and that they were from my own garden. Thank you again, have a great week and I will see you soon.

[@13dulcie]

I am new to gardening. I didn't realize you could do this. I can't wait to go outside and try and save some seeds...WOW!!!

[@GardenAddictz]

Exactly what I needed this morning.

[@OxfordComma47]

Just the information I wanted! Any more “batches” you harvest would also be good for me to learn from, and more videos are most welcome. This year I harvested single feverfew (its tiny daisies are good for pollinators, and so cute along pathways) and very tall hollyhocks. Thanks!

[@tozerov]

Hi Laura, I believe some of the varieties of seed you saved are hybrids so it’s worth noting they won’t come out true to the original plant next year. For this reason I normally only save seeds from heirloom/open pollinated plants. I’d love to see what you get when you plant them next year!

[@chortoncat]

Tatiana Djordjevic, I wondered about this too. I am thinking they must be heirloom.

[@Rystical1]

How do you know when a plant is an heirloom?

[@christileach4644]

Not only do I really enjoy your videos and seeing your garden, but I learn so much as well! Thank you so much for sharing! xo

[@leesaaugustine1444]

I need to start saving seeds again! I used to do it along with my mother in law! I will think about it & maybe get the seed saver kit! Thank you for the lesson on seed collecting! 😃🍂🍁🌿🌾👍🌿🌼🌻🌺🌿

[@diversegardener392]

Laura I think this was one of your most important videos because there's so many people that can't identify the seeds and want to harvest seeds. I've been doing this for years and I put them in plastic pill bottles because they're transparent and all I do is look at them and know what they are because I've done so long I do put a little bit of tissue paper in there to absorb the moisture so mold will not grow. Seeds that I don't recognize, I use a Sharpie pen on the outside. Thank you so much for this video I'm very happy you did this have a good day.

[@heathermelanson5492]

I love the seed saver kit. I like pretty things that are also useful... similar to the book press.

[@pamnapier-uhl1362]

Oh you saved me! I would have planted the chaff of my Denver Daisy! Lol 😂

[@anitahadley2871]

Pam Napier-Uhl do you have a problem with your Denver Daisy’s leaves wilting? I potted it and it now seems unhappy. I love them and keep trying but they don’t like me!

[@jonorton7475]

Yes, I think I just realized why I had so few zinnias this year from seed I saved last year!! Oops!! LOL

[@Rystical1]

Admittably, I carelessly will drop seeds and chaff in soil together. I'm not patient enough to separate. However, I've never really paid much attention to determine whether the flowers that grew were with or without chaff so I'm not sure if leaving the chaff would prevent blooms? Anybody know?

[@emilypinney]

I’m an accidental new gardener. I went online to figure out how to zero scape my yard and accidentally fell in love with it 🥰😹. I blame you in all the best ways. Thank you for talking about seeds! It’s all a mystery to me still and this helps. Can’t wait for spring to learn more from you about how to actually grow these puppies.

[@josieg7994]

Because of COVID I decided to plant flowers from seeds. It wasn’t easy but I managed a sunflower and Sweet Kisses flowers. I bought a few plants , Dahlia and purple eye Daisy. I was searching online how to save them for next year and fell upon your Chanel. Thank you so much for how helpful this was. I’m very excited to conserve the seeds and start them over in the spring. I also spotted a few flowers I was interested in when I would go for a walk so next time I’ll be picking up the dried ones and get them ready for next season. So excited on my new hobby. Thank you. 🌻

[@megb683]

I just started saving seeds and I can’t believe how easy AND fun it is!

[@jansmith9922]

Russel cruising his garden & making sure his garden staff is working hard. LOL. 🐈🌿🍁(Russell really did pick the best house in the neighborhood, full of love and with the most amazing garden!) 💛🍁

[@Bamboo4U2]

Russell's not a stray. He was adopted (I think) from a place near the Boise-area. Cheddar and No are strays.

[@Glitter221]

Thank you, your instructions are so easy to understand, how wonderful to gather seeds from our own gardens!🌷

[@sheilamuleadygirardi]

Oh, super helpful on how to harvest seeds from your plants. I had never seen anything so concise...thank you for sharing!

[@explaincauseidontgetit3294]

This is what I’m doing right now!! And then near the end of February it gets exciting again!

[@nataschabowers8258]

I grow sunflowers and feed them to my hens every year! My hens love them.

[@marysorganicgardenjournal8616]

I love this idea to pick the spent blooms and save the seed saving for another day! This is the perfect time to collect seeds.

[@KreatyveGardenista]

Awesome demonstration so informative! Makes me want to try seeds from my garden next yr💚💚💚

[@soniaspotts6406]

I knew saving seeds was possible but I was never sure when to collect them to ensure getting viable seeds for next year. Now, on my walks, I can't help eyeing my neighborhood's spent blooms. You've inspired me to see if my neighbors are interested in a seed exchange. Thanks for your great videos!

[@louisvillelady55]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. You can even put the month to replant on the envelope. Always helps me in the spring.

[@ebbrown8771]

Thank you Laura, such an inspiration. This season, for the very first time, I’ve grown a veggie garden, found one garden center that sold bio-tone (1 ha!) and harvested seeds xox Rhode Island

[@kinascribble]

Does anybody ever even fast forward on a Garden Answer video?? Not me! 😂😂

[@amorashby3116]

kinascribble me neither, might just miss some important info!

[@judyharbin6305]

Never.

[@jackiewolfe299]

Right?! Not me either! :)

[@Bamboo4U2]

And miss Russell photo-bombing the video? Pshaw!

[@Elisheba79]

kinascribble Never! Lol

[@GardeningSpirit]

Laura you are SO full of knowledge... it's wonderful that you share it!

[@GingerSnapVizsla]

Thanks for sharing your seed saving tips! The last two years I have tried saving a few seeds. I think it is helpful to see what the actual seed looks like.

[@SandyMergui]

I’ve been collecting seeds from my flowers for years. It’s so nice to be able to reseed from the flowers you grew. 💜

[@neldahargo29]

MIGardener has a real good vlog about why we should be saving seeds if anyone needs advice about vegetable seed saving

[@teenagers012]

Nelda Hargo was a good video, never thought about mass crop failure, and the seed vaults probably won’t grow crops to get seeds to give to private citizens

[@Seurnn]

Except half the time he's a bit of a mess.

[@Bamboo4U2]

@@Seurnn I think it's so funny that he's so tall, it's hard for him to shoot a video without part of his head getting cut out of the frame, lol.

[@christleannsilcox7665]

I love harvesting seeds. I too do this every year, everywhere. It seems more rewarding when I can grow from seeds I harvested myself versus purchasing. Thanks for the video.

[@heatherbright7214]

Love this video, I always mean to save seeds but never do. Some day.

[@natureluvr_d7186]

My Dad taught me to collect seeds ages ago because he got some Cypress Vine seeds from my Aunt. Back then I never seen them offered in packages and it was before personal computers. I see them now but not alot. We always collected seeds from his favorite flower-marigolds. I also propagate several plants like the sedum I bought in the early 80's because I want it for borders. It's pretty carefree, survives drought, heat and winter. I also divide my hosta plants until I had a nice border out front and under my trees. I have an old fashion petunia I get seeds from-my hummingbirds love it and I notice the hybrids (which are very pretty and I don't think you're supposed to propagate or collect seeds from if I'm correct) the hummingbirds and bees don't care for them. A lot of annuals will self sow like my mallow plant I got seeds from in the 80's from my ceramic teacher. I always think of her when they bloom. My Moss roses, alyssum and the old fashion petunia are prolific self sowers also. I let a lot of them self sow but I always collect them too in case I want to start a new flower bed somewhere and want them there.

[@truthbetold2611]

Big thanks Laura!! I've been looking through videos on how to distinguish seeds from chaff. Your demo solves the mystery : )

[@leocarrera2235]

You made me want to learn how to plant. I am actually harvesting seeds and I am going to plant them instead of spending hundreds of dollars every summer. You showed it is actually fun. Thanks. Clearly, short and fun, plus beautiful blue eyes. Thanks for doing this video, I am sharing it to all my friends.

[@miriamgrutz2132]

Thank you Laura! Great lesson 👍 I appreciated. You are my favorite Gardener 🤗

[@AngelsGrove]

This was super helpful! I was looking for a zinnia seed video last year and never found one that was as clear as yours! Thanks

[@Bamboo4U2]

Depends on how long your growing season is. She's in zone 5 which has a smaller growing season that those of us in zones 6 and up.

[@Rystical1]

I started collecting my seeds a few years ago. I don't even wait for the flower to dry up. I pluck them whenever and set them out in a tray to dry a day or two and the put them in brown paper bags.

[@lynnannemiller4824]

I never fast forward and I save almost everything. Planting or harvesting from seed -well I never gave it a thought until I watched this video. Amazing.

[@debrahackney6912]

Thank you so much for sharing these tidbits of information. I love it! You inspire us to preserve what we love to do and that’s gardening. 🌻🍂🍁🌾

[@josiecruz9047]

Love this video. Please keep doing more videos about seeds.

[@laurieanne9712]

Just what we needed! A step by step seed saving walk through! Thank you both!

[@Donna_G]

This year, I saved seeds from tomatoes and cucumbers. I grow sunflowers every year; but, they tend to reseed themselves; so, I don't bother harvesting them. I let the birds have them. I also will be saving the sunflower stalks because they will make good poles for beans or peas to climb on which is something that I'm considering growing next year. I did learn something from this video about the other flower seeds. My mom used to grow snapdragons; but, she didn't save the seeds. Now, I see that she could have done so very easily.

[@lcostantino7931]

Amasing... No one should go hungry or with out beauty.....

[@nataliedodson1637]

Hi Laura I honestly would not have had a clue without your fantastic video. Gosh gardening does not need to cost a fortune at all. We have a saying in England (not sure about America) where we say "you have to sort the wheat from the chaf". Now I know where the saying comes from 😂. Thank you for another brilliant video. Natalie from England x

[@sadfasdf742]

Oh Laura I enjoy your videos so much, they just give me such a happy and wholesome feeling! One day I want to have garden, you inspired me to have one!

[@paulag.panzermd8239]

Thank you SOO much - this was incredibly informative and helpful. The abundance from flowers is amazing - and worth remembering.

[@autumnroberts3086]

Yes!!! Just harvested last season seeds from my sunflowers, zinnias and cosmos, this years they’re ALREADY blooming and beautiful but I’m zone 9 ugh May 29th and we have had TRIPLE DIGITS ALREADY! 🥵🥵🥵

[@barbmcginnis7271]

Your videos are so informative and you explain things so well, it makes gardening so much easier. I love zinnias so from this day forward I will be saving seeds....thank you so much ❤

[@robinrummel1359]

This was so helpful especially for rudbeckia. I've been saving chaff and wondering why there wasn't a good germination rate! ❤️🤔😝😂❤️

[@JenniferChernecki]

I'm processing seeds while watching this. Three kinds of poppies, sweet peas, a wild pea, columbine and snapdragons. I'm going to go out and look for a sunflower now. Love your channel!

[@cathybeauchump7636]

Way cool. I always wonder about how to do those. Exceptionally the sunflowers and didn’t know you could get seeds from a cosmo. Loved it. Thank you Laura.

[@MissuhsipEgirl]

Can you save your deadheaded flowers and allow them to dry to collect the seeds? I LOVE your videos, you’re so full of information. This is my first year flower gardening and because of you I have multiply plants I LOVE like pink profusion, punster, & red hot poker. Thank you for the time you take to teach us!!!!

[@postr7602]

It’s so satisfying to watch you collect seeds!

[@johnjude2685]

Thank you for the teaching Lady and lots of information

[@clairec298]

Will you do a video on your hollyhocks and foxgloves? I planted hollyhock seeds and bought foxglove plants this year and want to keep them going in my garden without buying plants or seeds every year. Any tips or tricks to keep them going? Thanks!! Love your videos! They're the perfect start to my day 🌞

[@cathybranly1839]

Very helpful! I am planning to plant a lot more from seeds next year. I have a beautiful moonflower vine that I will be harvesting. Of course, I will still have Proven Winners annuals in my budget too!

[@CatherinesGardenHomeLWS]

I am happy to see this video because I was not going to save my zinnia seeds this year. However, when I start my cleaning up my urban cottage garden I will look for seeds that I love. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@pambonesteel3775]

I always cut my spent blooms (Zinnia, Marigolds, Sunflowers, Cosmos) then dry them on an old screen. I place the dried seed heads in paper bags for further drying so there won’t be any molding, then during the winter, I separate the seeds and put them in waxed paper bags. This process has always worked for me, and guess what I will be doing today? We’ve had a fairly warm fall here in Upstate New York (only one very cold night so far-light frost, no freeze), and I haven’t begun the process of clearing out my gardens and removing my annuals because they’re still going strong!

[@BramptonGardener]

Such a great video, I've watched it several times. It's great to double check you're doing it right.

[@gailbarruga504]

Easy Peasy...what a great project for little hands to "help" find the seeds.

[@healthygirl3021]

Thanks Laura, great video on seed saving! 🌸

[@carolbeatty2468]

Coffee with Laura and the nuts and bolts of seed gathering which is nice to watch. You did have me worried for a minute though Laura as I thought you were going to gather all the flower heads at once and I was wondering how you were going to know what seed you had LOL Should have known you had a better plan. I am going to grab my seeds from a couple of our columbine plants and save those for next year so thanks for the information. :)

[@Yohina1989]

Thank you for the informative video! We just got a house with a yard this year and I'm excited to work on it next year! Now I just satisfiy my garden obsession with your videos!

[@sandyg8794]

Hi Laura! Another very good presentation on collecting seeds and very helpful! Collecting the seeds from Columbines are similar to the snapdragons, there are thousands of them, and I like that you can get enough without even touching the seed head! I try collecting seeds from the plants I know for sure I want next year. I have Hyacinth Seed Vines, Four O'clock, California Poppy, Osteospurmum, and am trying the Lantana. I've probably planted a lot of the chafe from other flowers, not knowing for sure what to save. Thank you for sharing!

[@Sunshinelady]

This is SO helpful!!!! I’ve never harvested seeds before, but looking forward to doing this. Thanks for your ever so informative teachings🌻

[@jujui98]

You always inspire me to do new things! I’ve always wanted to try seeds but somehow it always intimidated me... seeing you have success with yours was the push I needed apparently 😍🥰

[@Bamboo4U2]

Well, it's one thing to collect the seeds. You've also got to make sure they're dried and kept in the right conditions and then you've got to try your hand at planting from seed, weeding out the weaker ones and so on. It's a long way from putting a mature plant into the ground but the process seems fun to me.

[@jujui98]

@@Bamboo4U2 exactly! It's quite a bit of work...but that's probably what makes it feel so rewarding 😍 I've seen Laura's process this year and I got so excited when I saw the first blooms ❤

[@sallyhenry1716]

THIS IS MY HAPPY PLACE!!! 😃 ...thanks Laura this was so helpful!

[@wendydillman6664]

I look forward to your videos every morning! How long can the seeds be stored before using them?

[@amorashby3116]

This has been so interesting, thank you. Will be saving my seeds for sure

[@ES-pc8kf]

Fold the paper you collect the seeds on and the crease helps funnel the seeds into your packets.

[@melanierust7129]

I love watching your videos over. Few mo tys ago it was qbout Sunflowers then I watched again fir some other examples I'm dling now. Thank you dear.

[@BeccaSue890]

So informative, thank you!! Could you possibly do a video about harvesting/storing different vegetable seeds?

[@melissabrandt2076]

I've been saving milkweed seeds to help out the monarchs 🦋 Plant them close to zinnias and you'll get lots of monarchs

[@rebeccamorris1032]

Thank you so much Laura!

[@susanmitchell2687]

great gift ideas! from the garden with love.

[@debihediger4760]

I save seeds too, but I fold the paper under my seeds so it’s easier to put them in a bag or envelope. They slide right in, and I have less problem getting them where I want them.

[@emkn1479]

Such a helpful video, thank you for the constant stream of garden knowledge 🌿 I’m going to try pre-planting my wildflower garden from collected seeds this fall. In the wild they’d fall and overwinter so I figured, why not? 🤷‍♀️

[@oishd6077]

i guess the zinnias wont come true to their varieties next year since they were planted fairly close and pollinators must have cross pollinated them.....i think you will get your own hybrids next year cool!

[@half.acre.homemaker]

Oh my gosh, this was so helpful! I will be seed harvesting from now on in my garden! Thanks Laura for this video!!❤🤩

[@wendytonial885]

I have a question. Can you plant these seeds right into the ground in the spring or do you have to start them inside first?

[@Max-hq2jm]

Direct sow in late winter or early spring. I find direct sown seeds grow stronger than transplants and it's easier! Timing depends on your climate. Sharing with friends is the best part of saving seeds...creating greater biodiversity in your garden.

[@carisaglesby7192]

Would love to see you do another video on harvesting other seeds from your garden.

[@carolynimboden3382]

Are some of the newer varieties of coneflower sterile? Thanks so much for this lesson. It is super helpful. I will admit that when I was not as familiar with seed identification, I planted the chaff too just in case I was wrong about the ID. FYI, I am starting to use some of your phrasing in my very, southern speech pattern.

[@09chadster]

I once read that the hybrid coneflowers will come back as the "original" purple coneflower so one year I did a test with about 3 or 4 varieties. I got a lot of purple coneflower color, one rather pretty white and yellow mix (may have been from White Mist). However, I was surprised that Hot Papaya came back pretty much as its original color and form.

[@dianegreiner4054]

@@09chadster any coneflower is a good coneflower in my opinion. 😊

[@jimoviegirl]

Thank you for the video. Also it's funny seeing you in a winter coat, while i'm sitting here in short sleeves and all our windows and doors are open as the weather is sooooo warm. South West France not far from Bordeaux. Xx

[@ineedmickey5170]

Joanne Lateef - life goals......thank you for the visual❤️

[@mikehendrix6558]

I'm a Fan and I'm Subscribed to your Channel now. You're the best on you tube. You explain better than others and You're American. Lol. 2 thumbs up

[@jessicawilkins7139]

Have you noticed the stem of a snap dragon when dried looks like tiny little skulls!! So cool

[@marymccarthy6974]

Thank you for sharing your examples of seed gathering!!!

[@nokesvillehaunt915]

Thank you. I harvested some this year, but I didn’t wait long enough for them to dry. I hope it works if not I know now what I did wrong. Thanks for this video

[@danam927]

I bought this seed saver kit and love it, thank you Laura!

[@jan6293]

Who knew? Thanks Laura!💕🌻🌸🌾🌻

[@JSwygertBradwell]

Can the zinnia heads also be pulled early and let dry? Like the sunflower? 🌻

[@conniethingstad1070]

my zinnias are still blooming even after a light frost. i was wondering this as well.

[@naturegrowsitself155]

No