How do I harvest seeds from my garden?

Question

I am new to gardening and this was the first year I ever grew anything. I had a lot of pepper plants and I would like to save some of the seeds to grow for next year's harvest. How do I do this? do I need to dry the seeds first? What is the best way to save my seeds?

any tips/advice appreciated.

thanks!

Answer 1

Some of the peppers  that remain on the ground may self -seed for next year.  Otherwise, drying seeds leaves them open to mold, bacteria,etc.  For me, best way is to buy fresh seeds/plants in the spring that come from source that is reliable-not saying that you not-the small increase in price is not worth the hassle.

Congrats with the gardening-home grown produce is so much better because you can control pesticides, etc. Also, you know it is truly fresh. Don't get discouraged, gardening is fun; we all have hits and misses.

Chat with neighbors to see what has been successful for them. Usually gardeners are pleased to share their secrets. I am.

Answer 2

yes, dry the seeds on a paper towel and store in a paper bag

Answer 3

I grow peppers from seeds as well.

Take those little round seeds and dry them out for a few days on a napkin.  Then place them in an envelope and mark the envelope with the kind of pepper it came from.  Most pepper seeds look identical and if you grow a large variety, may confuse yourself.

Then plant after last frost in spring.  Peppers are slow growers and take a few months to bare fruit.  If you are growing them from hybrid peppers they may take even longer to grow.

Watch out for the hornworm...they are caterpillars from the Spinx moth, look like hummingbirds when they fly and lay their eggs around any nightshade family plant.  Tomatoes and peppers are from the same family and the hornworm loves them all.  The hornworm is a long, green caterpillar with white diagonal stripes on its side with a red stinger-looking thing by its rear.  I only warn you because we seem to have an infestation of them here in the Southwest.  They will eat the plants CLEAN!!!

Answer 4

Various veggies can be left on the plant to mature into 'white.' That means that the seeds are maturing to the point that they will serve for planting next year. I do this with beans, zucchini, flower heads, etc.