Horticulture & Specialty Crops
Seed Saving for Horticulture Crops
A guide to saving seed from horticultural crops. It helps gardeners choose plants, harvest seed, clean and dry it, and keep good records. Print a copy for each season and keep the filled pages with your farm records.
GuideHorticulture & Specialty CropsFree PDF
The steps on this page
- Choose healthy parent plants
- Check for crossing risk
- Let seed mature on the plant
- Harvest at the right stage
- Clean and dry seed fully
- Label with crop and year
- Store cool and dry
- Test germination later
How to use this guide
Pin it up in the shop or barn. The numbered steps are a short reminder, and the notes lines are for details specific to your operation.
Where to check the details
This sheet is a general template, so confirm specifics with your own manuals, labels and local rules. For current official guidance, start with eXtension and USDA.
For more in this area, see the planting dates and harvest timing. Between chores, farm.FM has farm humor, including Researchers Study Paying Farmers for Their Crops, and farming farm stories.