Save your own seeds

Masterclass on: seed saving

- ANNE SWITHINBANK

Q I’d like to save money by collecting seeds from my own plants to sow. What’s the best method? 

Mary Healey, High Wycombe, Bucks. 

A Looking around a well-stocked garden, you’ll notice many plants setting seeds in pods, capsules, cones and fruits. This will be happening all year, but tends to reach a peak in late summer and autumn. Noticing their shapes, patterns and dispersal methods helps us appreciate our plants even more. Collecting them means we can dry, store and sow our own fresh seeds.

Species such as the poker (Kniphofia caulescens) or maple (