Seed saving by crop (annual, biennial, hybrid)

Seed saving is the practice of harvesting and storing seed from garden plants for use in future seasons. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, it is among the oldest agricultural practices, and for certain crops -- particularly open-pollinated varieties and heirlooms -- it is straightforward to do at.

Seed saving is the practice of harvesting and storing seed from garden plants for use in future seasons. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, it is among the oldest agricultural practices, and for certain crops — particularly open-pollinated varieties and heirlooms — it is straightforward to do at home. For others, it requires isolation distances, careful timing, and an understanding of plant reproductive biology.

Annuals vs. biennials: a critical distinction

Annual crops complete their lifecycle (germinate, flower, set seed) in a single growing season. Saving seed is straightforward: let the plant flower and go to seed in the same year.

Biennial crops require two growing seasons to produce seed: they grow vegetatively in year 1, overwinter, then flower and set seed in year 2. Per Seed Savers Exchange, biennials must be overwintered (in the ground or in storage) before they will produce seed.

Examples:

• Annuals: Tomato, bean, pea, squash, cucumber, pepper, lettuce, basil
• Biennials: Carrot, beet, parsley, onion, leek, Swiss chard, kale (some), celery