Which seeds can you save?
Not all seeds can actually be saved and it is essential that you know what can be saved and what can’t. Self pollinated plants, the so called open pollinated plants or Heirloom are the only plant varieties which truly grow from seeds. This means that their seedlings are usually exactly the same like their parents and such seeds are worth saving. When it comes to hybridized seeds, these ones tend to grow into a large variety of plants that depict characteristics of either of the parents or both of them at times. Most of the plants being sold today are actually hybrids. Hybridizing helps in creating plants that have desirable traits and this can really give the seed company some job security.
For hybrids, seed saving isn’t really an option as such unless if you are a researcher and are interested in discovering something new. In addition, wind or insect pollinated plants might be cross pollinated with other plants when growing and this means that saved seeds might not grow true. If you really need to save seeds of such plants, you will need to do it a little carefully to ensure that you get the best results. Self pollinated plants like tomatoes, lettuce, beans, endive, chicory and peas are the easiest types of plants to save. Seeds of most heirloom flowers can also be saved such as cleome, hollyhock, foxgloves, sweet pea, zinnia and nasturtium.
