Craft Your Personal Seed Bank for Gardening Success
Consider piecing together your unique garden treasure trove of seeds. While it’s tempting to opt for a ready-to-go seed pack, curating your own collection promises seeds tailored to your preferences and knowledge. This piece will guide you through the process, highlighting the advantages over store-bought packs.
Learning from Past Generations
In the tough times of the Great Depression, my dad’s rural family leaned on their resourcefulness and community support. After losing her husband, Grandma Johnson managed to procure broccoli seeds, a rarity then. She cultivated them with the same knowledge she had for cauliflower. Her expertise allowed her to sell the produce, supporting her family for months. The moral? Past gardening knowledge can be invaluable, especially when adapting to new challenges.
Kickstart with a Seed-Saving Guide
It’s essential to start with a reputable seed-saving book. Apart from setting you on the journey to self-reliance in food, it offers seed storage tips and ideal quantities for seed preservation. While “Seed To Seed” by Suzanne Ashworth is highly recommended, some might find it a tad theoretical. My go-to is “The Complete Guide To Saving Seeds” by Robert and Cheryl Gough, ideal for visual learners.
Crafting Your Seed Bank
Purchasing a ready-to-use seed bank isn’t the best choice. They usually come with a limited range and possibly aged seeds, which can impact your garden’s prosperity. Constructing your own seed bank guarantees a tailored seed assortment fresh for planting.
Picking the Perfect Container
The initial step is selecting the container size for your seeds. From canning jars to vacuum-sealed bags, the options are vast. I’d suggest at least a #10 can or a half-gallon jar. Large containers are great, but portability is a factor to consider. Many gardeners have two banks – a comprehensive one and a portable variant. Always remember, seeds have adversaries:
- Moisture
- Heat
- Light
- Oxygen
- Time
Managing these will extend your seed’s lifespan. Desiccants like color-indicating silica gel are effective moisture combatants. Glass or metal containers are optimal, with plastic being porous, which may require more frequent seed renewal. Growing and adapting your seeds to local conditions is beneficial.
Choosing the Right Seeds
Vegetables: When you think seeds, vegetables spring to mind first. Keep the following in mind:
- Variety in Maturity: Plant varieties that mature at different intervals. This ensures you still have produce even if one crop is damaged.
- Diverse Colors: Beyond common varieties, consider colorful beans and greens for their health benefits and taste variety.
- Uncommon Choices: Keep seeds for veggies you might not typically consume due to their potential benefits.
- Simple Storage: Explore vegetables that don’t need intricate storage processes.
Other Seeds Worth Considering:
- Grains: They’re nutritious and versatile. Start with familiar ones like wheat and expand from there.
- Fruits: Although fruit plants take time to bear, medicinal ones like elderberries are worth the wait.
- Medicinal Plants: Address specific health concerns by planting seeds like cranberries or licorice.
- Oil Sources: Plants like pumpkins and flax can be pressed for oil, a valuable resource.
- Natural Sweeteners: Plants like sorghum and stevia can be a substitute for commercial sugars.
- Fibers and Dyes: Consider cotton or flax for fabric and plants with dyeing properties.
Seeds for Practicality:
Consider seeds that lead to plants producing items like walking stick kale, loofah sponges, bayberries for candle wax, and non-invasive bamboo.
In Conclusion
Always abide by the principle of “Store what you eat and eat what you store”. Along with food storage, maintaining a homemade seed bank offers you unparalleled choices for now and the future. Do you partake in seed-saving? Share your insights!
