How to Save Seeds

International Seed Saving Institute
Seed Saving Tips
SF Bay Area Planting Times Chart-  a colorful reference to help you plant your garden and learn about seed saving requirements created by our sister library BASIL.
Seed Savers Forum - ask the experts! The Seed Savers Forum allows you to ask experts questions about seed saving. While your at it become a member of Seed Savers Exchange and get access to thousands of varieties of vegetables, including unusual and rare varieties.
Seed Saving Chart- easy reference chart of plants by cycles, type of pollination, length of seed viability

Visit our page on what type of seeds you should borrow based on your level of experience and commitment to learning.

Videos


Seed Saving with Bill Merrill - Part 1
Seed Saving with Bill Merrill - Part 2
Seed Saving with Bill Merrill - Part 3
Saving Peppers
Salt Springs Seed Saving and Cleaing videos - huge collection of free videos!
How to Save Beans and Peas

Free Seed Saving Booklets

  • Seeds Trust, a company that specializes in seeds for high altitude gardens and the Southwest, has a fabulous free downloadable seed saving book.  You can also purchase a hard copy for $3. Very worthwhile! They offer a seed school for a deeper learning opportunity.
  • Organic Seed Alliance has a free seed saving book that is downloadable.

Recommended Books

Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth - very comprehensive, reference book
Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener's and Farmer's Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving by Carol Deppe
The New Seed-Starters Handbook  by Nancy Bubel - great for beginners and more experienced gardeners
Saving Seeds As If Our Lives Depended On It by Dan Jason available at SaltSpringSeeds.com

History of Hybrids

Seeds of Life: Hybrids and the Emergence of Seed Monopolies
Seeds of Life: The Organic Seed Breeder