Seed Saving Info | WFPLibrary

WFPL SEED LIBRARY

Helping our community grow, one seed at a time

Why save seeds?

Fresh produce is linked to better health, and gardening is a way to save money.
You can get fresh produce not only this year but also in the years to come.
It helps to ensure genetic biodiversity of crops, which allows for crops to become more resilient over time and more likely to adapt to environmental stressors.
It helps to preserve the horticultural traditions and heritage of your region.
By continuing to grow and save seeds from native plants, we ensure the survival of crops that work well in our climate and support our local food chain and pollinators.

Is it hard to save seeds?

The difficulty of saving seeds varies by plant, and some seed shouldn’t be saved. We use the symbols below on our seed packets to indicate the difficulty of saving different varieties of seeds we offer. Seeds are categorized by difficulty of seed saving, not difficulty of growing the plant itself.

SUPER EASY

Super easy plants take just one growing season to complete a full reproductive cycle, and they generally self-pollinate, so you don’t have to worry about cross-pollination from your own garden or other gardens.

EASY

Easy plants take just one growing season to complete a full reproductive cycle, but they can sometimes be pollinated by insects and can sometimes cross-pollinate.

ADVANCED

Advanced plants may take two years to complete a full reproductive cycle, or they may cross-pollinate very easily. They require special care to ensure pure seed, such as hand-pollinating or caging.

HYBRID- DON’T SAVE

Hybrid seeds will produce this year, but the seeds in this harvest are not viable or will not produce the correct plants. Do not save these seeds, and do not donate saved seeds from hybrids back to the seed library.