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ORGANIC FEDBK
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suchasclimateandsoil.Themoreinformationwehavethebetter.SAVING SEEDS
I just read an older copy of Organic Gardner (No. 102
July/August 2018) about saving seeds but it didn’t say
when to collect them. Be it when they are still green
or wait till brown. Sorry if I am a dumb bunny!
Thelma, via emailHi Thelma,
I’m glad you found the article on heirloom seeds and seed
saving (‘Seeds of Discontent’, Issue 102) interesting. The
answer to your question is not simple because the way
you save seed varies from plant to plant. In that article,
Simon Webster discussed how to save seed from peas
(allow pods to dry on the vine before harvesting the seed),
tomatoes (harvest ripe fruit and scoop out seed onto a
saucer to dry) and broccoli (allow at least one floret to
develop into flowers and form seed, harvest seed pods
as they turn from green to brown). Also, every issue in
our ‘Action’ section we include instructions on saving
seed from at least one plant.
As a general rule, plants in the Apiaceae family: dill,
celery, carrots, fennel, parsley, parsnip, etc, form seeds in
big umbrella like seed heads. You wait for the seed to start
to turn from green to brown, then cut the whole heads off
and put them in a paper bag. Wait for the seeds to drop
into the bottom of the bag and then store.
Plants in the Solanaceae family: tomatoes, eggplants,
capsicum, chilli, etc – wait until the fruit is ripe, harvest
and cut open, remove the seed and leave to dry on a plate.
For the bean and pea families, as well as sweetcorn,
leave the pods/seeds to dry completely on the plant and
then harvest and store.
If you are really interested, look for a good gardening
book with seed saving details, or try The Seed Savers’
Handbook by Jude and Michel Fanton.
Penny WoodwardPEST REPELLERS
I bought my first issue of Organic Gardener today.
Penny Woodward’s article ‘Scent to repel’ (OG 112) was
interesting. The number of items on her list of pest
repellent plants that I have on my balcony might
explain the comparative freedom from attack that most
of my plants enjoy. However, I think it’s worthwhile
emphasising the place of garlic. That is my first line of
defence against anything which eats my plants. I was
also interested to learn that pigface is edible. Since
developing arthritis I’ve taken up eating the leaves of
celery, which are often cut off at the greengrocer’s
shop. In fact, they are just another leafy green
vegetable. It all helps to keep the pain at bay.
Finally, I feel that Penny’s prescription for aloe
vera (in same issue) is a bit restrictive. My aloe plants
seem happiest in the laundry, which only gets the
smallest amount of direct suninsummer, butgets
diffused light from a texturd l window ll r
Rosemary Sharples, PenshHi Rosemary
I agree totally with you abo
all the time (and in fact hav
about garlic) but find it’s th
that helps to repel pests, ra
just growing it in my garden
seed is also good for arthri
chew on it or include it in yo
As for aloe vera, I have n
grown it inside but will give
go. I find if grown outside it
only adversely affected by
hottest afternoon sun in
summer, but otherwise doe
pretty well as long as it
doesn’t get too wet and col
in winter.
Penny WoodwardPHOTO & ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK