Seed saving is an agricultural method for preserving unique cultures and plant varieties. Many farmers preserve unique plants and crops — like flavorful and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables — by saving, replanting and exchanging their seeds. This process of seed saving is very intricate. When done correctly, it can yield numerous benefits for farmers, families and communities.
Here’s what you need to know about seed saving and saving seeds on your farm.
Is Seed Saving Illegal?
Various rules and policies govern seed-saving practices. During the 1800s, governments passed laws that discouraged people from saving their own seeds. Then, in 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that living organisms and their genetic material could be patented. This ruling made it illegal to save seeds from patented plants.
Patent laws protect people who grow unique plant varieties. The laws legally prevent anyone from replicating patent plants by saving and sharing patent plant seeds.
What Seeds Can You Save?
You can save patent-free seeds. However, you cannot save patented seeds or genetically modified seeds.
All genetically modified organism (GMO) seeds are patented. When you purchase GMO seeds, you enter into binding contract agreements that prevent you from saving and replicating GMO seeds the following year. Instead, you’ll agree to repurchase the seeds.
Seed companies patent their plants to preserve and protect their unique plant varieties. While it’s technically possible to save and replant GMO seeds, doing so can lead to breeding inconsistent crops, thus affecting commercial crop quality and sales.
It’s essential to only save patent-free seeds, as you can face legal penalties for replicating patented plant varieties.
Why Do People Save Seeds?
Seed saving began as a way to preserve cultures. Many indigenous people preserved their heritage by saving and exchanging seeds from plants, fruits and vegetables grown on their land. Seed saving was also a way to ensure food security and sustainability for future generations. Various plants and fruit and vegetable varieties like tomatoes, potatoes and melons exist today because of generations of seed saving. Seeds and plants symbolize multiple cultures sharing their unique histories and stories.
People save seeds to preserve unique and rich plant characteristics. For example, true-to-type, open-pollinated plant varieties like heirloom plants are rich in flavor and history. People grow heirloom plant seeds to preserve their unique appearance and flavors. Saving heirloom plant seeds allows people to pass on unique plants, fruits and vegetables for generations.
Benefits of Seed Saving
Aside from preserving rich plant flavors, seed saving can benefit you and your community in various ways. Here are some benefits of seed saving:
- Preserves unique plant varieties: Seed saving can preserve various indigenous and unique plant varieties for many generations, allowing families and communities to hold on to and continue sharing their culture.
- Can be affordable: Saving and replanting seeds can be cheaper than buying commercial seeds from stores and markets, making farming more cost-effective.
- Preserves plant nutrients: Open-pollinated plant seeds are grown to maintain their flavor and nutrients. Seed saving can help you grow plants rich in vitamins and fiber.
- Adaptable plant varieties: By selecting favorable plants and saving their seeds, you can grow plants better suited to your climate and region each year. Traditional seed varieties can also adapt better to various environments because they have been passed on for generations and can evolve in multiple temperatures.
Challenges of Seed Saving
While seed saving is widespread for many reasons, some farmers may find saving seeds challenging. Here are some challenges of seed saving:
- Inconsistent plant breeds: You may run the risk of growing less uniform crops if hybrid seed varieties breed with each other. Crossing hybrid seed varieties can affect the type of crops you grow the following year. Some seeds lose or yield less unique traits, producing inconsistent plants.
- Costly equipment requirements: You must clean your seeds before planting them the following year, which requires special equipment.
- Seed treatment: Unlike pre-treated commercial seeds, you must treat your seeds and crops against diseases and pests, which can be time-consuming and costly.
- Less seed planting options: Planting the same seeds yearly may give you few opportunities to change or diversify crops.
- Contract agreement process: You cannot save GMO seeds and must sign contracts and apply with patent seed and plant laws. Signing contracts can be lengthy, and you can face penalties if you save patented GMO seeds.
Tips for Seed Saving
Seed saving is an intricate process. You want to ensure that you harvest and store your seeds correctly to get the most out of your saved seeds. Here are some seed-saving tips to help you get started.
1. Harvest Your Seeds at the Right Time
It’s essential to start harvesting your seeds at the right time of year, depending on the plant type. Plants, vegetables and fruit crops can ripen during various seasons of the year, and it’s best to harvest seeds when the plants are mature and perfect for eating. You want to gather your seed when your crop’s flowers bloom or fruit and vegetables ripen. Ripe seeds can yield better nutrients for germination and healthy growth.
2. Follow Seed Harvesting Methods
You may have to remove the seeds differently for various fruit and vegetables. Using suitable methods can help you harvest your seeds correctly. Separating wet-seed crops like melon and tomato from dry-seeded crops like beans, onions and peas is an excellent place to start when removing your seeds.
You can remove your wet seeds from the fruit or vegetable crop and wash away any residue — some wet-seeded crop seeds, like tomatoes and cucumbers, may require a few days of seed fermentation. You can leave the seeds in their juice for a few days to separate the pulp from the seed.
You can remove the brown or brittle seeds from dry-seeded crops by picking them straight from the pods and letting them rest on any dry material. You can also use a small fan to help dry the seeds out.
3. Store Your Seeds Correctly
You can store your seeds in a dry and cool location to help preserve them and extend their life span. Placing your seeds in an airtight mason jar and keeping them in a cool and dark place can help prevent moisture from seeping into your seeds, causing them to sprout prematurely. You can also label your jars so that you keep them distinct.
Bring your seed jars to room temperature before planting them the following year, and remember to plant them when the weather conditions are right.
Start Seed Saving With Agricultural Equipment From CropCare®
Whether you need seed cleaning, harvesting or pesticide spraying equipment, CropCare® offers high-quality agricultural equipment for all seed farming requirements. We manufacture quality farming equipment that helps you in every step of your seed-saving process.
Our equipment can help make your farming processes convenient and successful. We also offer one- to two-year limited warranties on products.
To get started with CropCare®, find a dealer near you or contact us today!
