Today is Seedy Saturday!

[KeithBC]

Last year, I tried saving my own seed for the first time. I had way too much parsnip seed, so for the first time, I will have something to trade at Seedy Saturday.

[billowbeard]

Tell us about Seedy Saturday! And---I've not figured out how to save seed from root crops. Got any advice?

[KeithBC]

They had tables set up in the community hall where you could bring your seeds to trade with others. They did it as a straight trade: for each packet you donate, you can pick up one packet.

They also had regional organic heritage seed vendors selling their seeds.

The idea is to encourage gardening, seed saving, open pollinated varieties instead of hybrids, and preserve heritage seed varieties.

I am far from an expert on seed saving, but they had some workshops on it last year. It seems that most veggies - particularly root crops - are biennials, setting seed in their second year. Unfortunately, that rules out much of North America, because the plants won't survive a winter. However, in areas where plants can survive winter, you just leave some of your crop in the ground in the fall, to collect the seeds the following summer.

I simply left a bunch of parsnips in the ground. The second summer, they grew really tall - about 9 feet - and set seed in late summer. Once the seeds were dry, I cut off the seed heads and shook them into a paper bag to collect the seeds.

[billowbeard]

Maybe I should put some beets and carrots in a pot and bring them in in the fall.....It's worth a try! I hope they don't grow to 9' tall though! My ceilings are only 8.5'.

[rockguy]

Seems like most biennials do that, grow a low rosette of leaves the first year and shoot up a really tall flower stalk the second. i wonder why does it have to be so tall?

[billowbeard]

I've been doing some reading on saving seed from root crops and have read that after wintering over in pots in my house, I could replant them in the garden in the spring to continue their growing cycle. I think I will have to give this a try.

[KeithBC]

That sounds like it would work. They aren't likely to grow 9 feet tall during the winter, though you probably should keep them in a cool, dark area like a basement to make sure they stay dormant.

[KeithBC]

Originally Posted by rockguy

i wonder why does it have to be so tall?

They probably get better seed dispersal that way.

[rockguy]

I think that's right, the taller ones had better averages in propagating, so natural selection favors tall stalks. (I'd have probably thought of that in another hundred years, LOL)

[billowbeard]

Took the plunge and ordered Sugar Beets for my garden. I would like to make sugar syrup from them and save the seed for future gardens.... I sure hope they grow, and I hope I can manage to keep them alive over the winter so I can re-plant them next year!
http://www.grandpappy.info/rsugar.htm