How to Collect Pepper Seeds (Never Buy Seeds Again)

It's easy to save pepper seeds, but there are some important things to know. Gardener Scott discusses and demonstrates how to collect and save pepper (chilli) seeds for the most successful pepper seed saving. (Video #305)
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[@gwendyrose8905]

I discovered that coffee filters are a GREAT way to dry wet seeds. The seeds don't typically get stuck as easily as they do to a paper towel and they tend to dry a bit faster. Great video as always. 😊🌱👍

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

Another thing to point out when harvesting seeds. Really make sure the peppers are dry or dehydrated as you might accidently get pepper juice in your eyes, especially if harvesting from store bought peppers in a chance of them not being sterile like preserved tobacco peppers. Store bought peppers for me is a 50/50 on if it would work or not

[@Mr_Grimm13]

A wooden tongue depressor can work as a seed scraper. Especially on those hotter peppers without risking a torn glove.

[@busker153]

It seems like hanging the peppers to fully dry accommodates long term storage and seed saving! And I love the way those pepper strings look hanging up all around Tucson, AZ where I live.

[@Jeff-rd6hb]

I harvest whatever seeds I want to save, then dehydrate the remains & grind them into pepper flakes. I just did this with habaneros yesterday, and holy crap they were hot. Definitely got my gloves on for those, lol.

[@GreenLove1]

Great video. One thing I learned is that if you let the peppers dry completely after harvesting, it becomes very easy to shake out the seeds. I do make a slit in the larger peppers before drying them, or fungus might develop on the inside. The teeny tiny peppers are much easier to harvest when completely dry. Great video, Gardener Scott

[@ravish05]

Thank you for a very timely video. I had been buying seedlings the past few years but wanted to try from seeds next year. Will try to save some shishito seeds and see if they come up next year. Thanks Scott for your service.

[@striperswiper1]

Was busy doing this about 2 hours before this video. Looks like got it right.

[@carolburnett8372]

when you saved the Anaheim seeds, you did not take the seeds in the lower part......because you had enough seeds.......but I remember you said (I think it was you) that the seeds in the lower part is where you get the hottest pepper......in my area it is real hard to get real hot Anaheims........or even any at all...........thanks for your reply

[@johnjude2685]

Love my Cubannel peppers are my favorites and I have about 8 kinds

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

This year I ended up with a cross between a lunchbox pepper and a bell pepper. I called it a lunchbell. They look like mini orange bell peppers. (did a video on it) I collect some seeds from several of the largest peppers. Trying to get genetic diversity and hopefully bigger peppers. :)

[@GardenerScott]

Good plan. I like that idea. I'll check out the video.

[@CharliePFoogo]

Always a joy to watch a Gardener Scott video. Thank you.

[@teshayazzie3095]

I love peppers!

[@dwaynewladyka577]

Thanks for sharing this. Great information. Cheers, Scott! ✌️

[@grovermartin6874]

This is a great class on saving pepper seeds! Thanks for making it available to us!

[@leahness3588]

EXCELLENT INFO THANK YOU!!

[@heidiclark6612]

Thank You for a very informative video on collecting pepper seeds.

[@lorindav5549]

I use a permanent marker to write each variety on the paper towel/plate/coffee filter because I will not remember and I'm not the only person (or mammal) in the house.

[@susanjordan2130]

Thank you.

[@C3Voyage]

Very thorough. Enjoyed the video. However, one question that is never answered is: If you pull a pepper after it first turns color, or even full color but still firm, will the pepper continue to mature the seed off the plant as it ripens or ages indoors? I'm a tomato breeder and I know that a tomato will have mature seeds as early as mature green, but definitely at first blush. So, I've answered this question for tomato. I was hoping someone who presents pepper seed-saving would answer this question. If you know this answer, I'd love to know your experience on it. Thanks Scott.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks! While peppers can change color after picking early, not all of the seeds will mature further. Like tomatoes, some of the seeds will reach maturity when the fruit begins changing color on the plant (blush), but overall viability may still be low with the pepper. I've had as low as zero germination from green peppers to about 50% with a blushing fruit and 100% when fully ripened on the plant.

[@stephenhope7319]

9B Sacramento here, peppers still in full production though evenings cooling below 58F. I did well with most peppers this season except my habanero's. I only show one fruit at this time for the entire season. Today is 93F but cooling coming. Not sure why my habanero's did not produce?

[@GardenerScott]

It could be blossom drop due to heat. The timing may have been better for the other peppers.

[@lynnelliot7256]

I put the seeds I collect onto a paper towel the dry, the wrap them up in it and store

[@beckypeterson7522]

I like to use a teaspoon to scrape the seeds out....

[@organicgardenmamavictoriab2768]

I love that t shirt.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. I have it at my merch store: gardener-scotts-store.creator-spring.com

[@Octoschizare]

When I try to leave my peppers to get fully ripe they get decimated by little beige worms that eat them from the inside. It's a struggle to get to my peppers before they do. I still try.

[@elainemeehan9284]

Hi; for the lid on the jar. Is there any air holes?

[@GardenerScott]

No need for holes if the seeds are dry.

[@katiewinn5468]

Where do you store your seeds? Do temperature fluctuations effect them? Is freezing them a good idea if they are kept dry?

[@GardenerScott]

I store in containers in a cool room. Minor fluctuations are fine. Freezing is okay but not necessary for most home gardeners.

[@joelmesh9127]

A couple of additional cents added to Scott's excellent video. Freezing is more of a longest term possible means of storage and can rupture the seeds if they are not thoroughly dry. Also if freezing is needed you want to slowly thaw them for future use, as in freezer to fridge, then to room temp over the course of a few days as to not subject the seeds to an abrupt temperature change. Ideal storage for 1-5 years is cool , dry, and dark (45 -75 degrees F.) but pep. seeds are pretty forgiving for several years regardless-- providing they were highly viable and saved from fully ripe and mature fruit. A person can run into problems by leaving certain types on the vine for too long past fully ripe in humid environments which can mold the seeds.... In my experience of growing peppers for seed they do cross rather easily which can be remedied by covering / bagging blossom buds or entire plant(s) or distancing them from each other. Another thing that helps with spacing distance is to keep blossom times staggered ( basically an early bell will blossom 4-6 weeks before a "superhot" variety and will lesson the amount of time possible for a cross pollination to occur. Over the years i have come to the conclusion that the "superhots" (C. Chinense) are generally the most flirting and will screw/cross with most of the other varieties quite freely and will be the dominate cross when those seeds are grown out the following year or in the future. Take care and happy saving and growing.

[@grovermartin6874]

@@joelmesh9127 What kind of bag? Mesh? Plastic? Is the idea to keep out insects that might cross pollinate that pepper, or to keep out breezes/air flow that might carry another plants pollen?

[@anniecochrane3359]

Thank you!!! So do open pollinated peppers not cross pollinate? A seed of such a plant stays true?

[@GardenerScott]

As I mention in the video, they can cross pollinate but they are more likely to pollinate themselves.

[@anniecochrane3359]

@@GardenerScott Sorry, I missed that. Must have been when my phone went. Thanks for getting back to me.

[@stacythompson4211]

Where can I get the little jars at?

[@GardenerScott]

Here's where I got mine: amzn.to/3w5zz2K

[@user-ew1gf5pj1d]

👍👍응원합니다 👍👍🇰🇷

[@davepoulton7530]

Can i use the oven to dry the seeds?

[@GardenerScott]

On its lowest setting and then turned off it can be used in humid areas, but it usually isn't necessary.

[@kmiller6002]

Gardener Scott... I froze a bunch of pepper seeds are they good for planting, or was it a waste of time? Thank You 😊😊.. Kendra

[@GardenerScott]

If it was a ripe pepper, the seeds should be good.

[@kmiller6002]

@@GardenerScott it was store bought???

[@GardenerScott]

Green in the store means it wasn't ripe when picked.

[@reedofurantia606]

If the peppers don't get to turn red before frost ... are the seeds [if dried out,] viable?

[@lettucesalad3560]

Most of the seeds probably won't be viable.. you can usually tell if pepper seeds will work after you dry them a couple days. Light gold - they're probably good, dark and thin - probably not.

[@GardenerScott]

Probably not. You can try saving and doing germination tests for viability.

[@haroldwhittingtonjr8730]

What about the green bell peppers

[@GardenerScott]

If you want to save the seeds they need to stay on the plant until they turn purple, red, yellow, or orange.

[@user-et9id2eo2c]

What name is peper

[@GardenerScott]

I grew, Shishito, jalapeno, and cayenne peppers.

[@Rainman97x]

How important is genetic diversity for seed saving in a home garden?

[@GardenerScott]

I think it's important. I'm trying to save as many different seeds as possible and plant as many different varieties as I can. It can be easy to focus on a few plants and only grow those year after year. Too many of those plants are the same ones everyone else is growing and we lose diversity.