Save those seeds

It’s time to tuck into the fruits of your labours, but spare a thought – and some seeds – for future harvests, says Bob

- Bob Flowerdew

IN the middle of harvesting our crops, it makes sense to plan ahead and to put some aside to be our seed crops. The commercial seed companies’ packets of seeds are remarkably good value, reliable and consistent – but costs do mount up when you have so many to buy.

For the little effort that’s involved, it’s sensible to save your own seed whenever this is going to work. Tomatoes, peppers, melons and aubergines are good to start with. These come true (that is, they are just like their parents) most of the time, and drying seeds from ripe fruit is easy enough. Cucumbers, on the other hand, are too highly bred (as are most F1 sorts of anything) and so do not come true.

“It makes sense and saves money to plan ahead”