Queen Sophia Marigolds
Last year my friend Julie mentioned I should cut and dry the old blossoms to save the seeds. I had never really thought about doing that but if I could make it work then I’d never need to purchase seeds again! Just keep replenishing my supply. Sounds good, and it worked.
Now I have more seeds than I know what to do with.
Purchased seeds usually have an expiration date of 2 years or so. Not sure if seeds actually expire. I’d think seeds would keep longer if they’re properly stored.
Process: Clip the dying blooms off the stems (or just pinch and pop off the heads).
Throw them in the paper bag and allow to completely dry out. I left them in there for quite some time.
Just kept throwing them in throughout the season until they were all completely dried and shrunk down.
Then simply roll it lightly between fingers and the seeds will fall out easily.
Throw back in the bag and seal until planting season rolls around.
Time will tell if my seed saving process will work successfully. Meaning my seeds will grow into pungently gorgeous Marigolds! I intend to plant as many as I can fit in my garden and share the rest of the seeds with anyone who’d like to have some. Maybe I’ll package a few and send little seed baggies to family back home in Kansas. I’m sure my grandmothers on all sides would love that.
If any Kadena AB, Okinawa gardeners want to plant a few Queen Sophia’s – I’d be happy to share with you.
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- Sharing Seeds (armbgardenexperience.wordpress.com)
- 1840 Farm Seed Exchange – Extended One Week (1840farm.wordpress.com)
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Goldie's Garden 
March 22, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Saving seeds from our flower garden has worked well for us. As far as the expiration date of seeds is concerned, it is my understanding that the packets have expiration dates because the germination rate deteriorates over time. When we save our own seeds, we don’t mind if a few don’t grow-another great reason to save your own!
If you still have seeds, I would like to invite you to participate in the 1840 Farm Seed Exchange. For the cost of a stamp, you can share your seeds and receive some from another gardener. It should make the coming growing season even more fun for all of us.
http://1840farm.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/1840-farm-seed-exchange-extended-one-week/
March 25, 2012 at 10:05 am
Thank you, I’ll check out that link and definitely be interested. I have offered to share with others in Okinawa but I still have plenty of seeds left.
March 23, 2012 at 12:21 am
Great post, and great pics! I have saved my marigold seeds for years–they do keep for quite a while if you store them in a cool, dry, dark place–I have used vegetable seeds up to five years old with great success (some keep better than others). However, with marigolds I end up with so many that I really don’t need to keep them for more than a year. One plant will provide me with enough seeds for the entire next season. Morning glories are another one I harvest every year.
Confession: last fall, I clipped some dried blooms in a local park to dry and try out in a new bed (wildflowers, not the landscaping, but still not sure how legal it is?) We’ll see how that goes!
Looking forward to browsing the rest of your posts. 🙂
March 25, 2012 at 10:11 am
That’s funny! Surely clipping dried wildflowers isn’t illegal. They’re gonna fall off anyway. Plus you’re not letting them go to waste, you are actually helping the planet by planting them (even if taken from a park!)
My kids have yet to grasp the understanding of picking flowers for mom & how they need to stay outta others lawns and gardens. They must think “as long as we don’t picks mom’s flowers, we’re good”.
I should write a post about that!
May 1, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Seed saving is kind of addictive! I love it, and loving the great photos with this post 🙂
May 2, 2012 at 12:56 am
Thank you! Yes it is so addictive. Now I have a huge bag of seeds. I’m donating most of them, replanting some, & giving away the remainder. It looks like I’ll have a ton more by the end of this season:)