Saving Seeds

Saving flower seeds is a great way to get more plants with almost no investment. It's easy to do. Here's how to save seeds from some of your favorite annuals as the growing season winds down.

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To start, let blooms fade without deadheading. Young seeds are usually green and need to ripen before harvesting. This can take several days or weeks, depending on the plant. You'll know the seeds are ready to collect when they feel hard and turn dark brown or black. The seed pod may be yellow, brown or just a paler green.

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Gather seeds with your hands or tap them into a plastic container or paper bag. Remove as much debris as you can and set your seeds out on a paper towel to dry for about a week. Then pour them into an envelope and label it with the plant name and date gathered.

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