Seeds are the essence of life on earth, providing the genetic information needed for every plant we currently use for growing food, harvesting for clothing, and creating homes and furniture with. For the everyday person they are vital for the creation of gardens and plant life, while for others they represent the future of the earth as in the case of the Doomsday Seed Vault in Norway which opened in March 2008 with the intention of housing more than 3 million seed samples from around the world. While you will never need to store three million seed samples, you may need to preserve a handful for next year's growing season.
This book was developed to help any individual who is seeking to start preserving their own seeds for future use and growing. You will learn everything you need to know to effectively grow and preserve seeds. Information covered includes, but is not limited to:
- The process of sowing seeds
- How to seed the plants until they bloom
- Which plants are the best for harvesting and saving seeds
- The optimal germination temperatures for plants
The process of collecting the seeds is outlined in detail with information about annual vegetables, biennial and perennial vegetables, annual flowers, and biennial and perennial flowers. Dozens of gardening experts from all walks of life have been interviewed and have provided their insights on how you can specially treat your plants for germination and what varieties are out there, including open pollinating plants. You will be provided a zone map to show you which plants are best for your region and additional resources in appendices for where to order materials and more information. For anyone who has ever wanted to grow and save their own seeds, this book is ideal for your situation.