Tending an herb garden offers the herbalist a wealth of benefits. It offers a diverse selection of plants to work with and offers peace of mind of knowing our herbs are grown locally and with our love and attention. It also gives us the opportunity to explore and discover the life cycles of the plants in our care, which not only can deepen our relationship with our herbal allies, but also offers the opportunity to harvest and save their seeds.
Saving seeds creates myriad benefits for the gardener as well. It saves us money since we won’t need to purchase new seeds each spring and since plants are so quick and willing to adapt to their environment, the plants grown from our saved seeds will often perform noticeably better than plants grown from seeds grown elsewhere. For me, one of the greatest benefits of saving seeds from my garden is that it deepens the experience and enriches my relationship with the plants I cultivate. The herbs I grow will enhance the flavor of meals, they will become nourishing teas and some will be crafted in healing balms, lotions, and medicinal tinctures. If my goal is to create quality herbal products, that starts with using quality ingredients and tending my herbs from seed to seed ensures that I can do just that.
The first step in harvesting seeds is learning to identify when the seeds are mature and ready to be gathered. This is quite simple to do once you’ve begun your seed-saving journey. The seeds are produced after the flowers have bloomed, been pollinated, and then died back. This means that for the most part, your seeds are ready to harvest once the flowers have become brown, dried, and crispy. Of course, each plant species will signal its maturity in different ways; some will form pods to hold their seeds while others might send their seeds aloft, floating through the wind in search of a new home. It's important for the seed saver to get to know each plant in their care and learn how to identify when the time is right to gather the precious seeds - just as the gardener needs to understand the conditions each herb requires to thrive in their care.
One of the beautiful things about seed saving is that it doesn’t require much equipment. As we collect our seeds, we might need a small basket or bowl and seed pods or dried flower heads can be laid out on screen to finish drying. It important that our seeds are well-dried, so I recommend waiting until after the dew has dissipated before collecting them and allowing them several days to finish drying before processing them for storage.
After the seeds are dry, they often need to be cleaned or separated from the flowerhead. This can be as simple as gently crumbling the flowerhead to release the seeds, or turning the dried flower upside down and shaking the tiny seeds loose. The seeds can be sifted through a screen to separate the chaff before be packaged up and put away. Many herb seeds are very tiny, so work slowly and carefully to avoid accidently losing them during processing.
Once collected and cleaned, your seeds can be stored in coin envelopes or small jars. Sometimes, when the season is busy, I’ve even left whole flower heads in paper bags and processed the seeds during the winter or the following spring when I have more time. As long as your seeds are stored in a cool, dark location and remain dry, they will be fine. Seeds are resilient, patient, and forgiving. Don’t stress about the process. Remember, people have been saving seeds for thousands of years. Everyone can do it, and so can you.
I recommend choosing a few plants to get started and really get to know each herb, from seed to seed. Observe how they grow, watch the tiny flowers get pollinated and enjoy the process of life, death, and rebirth that is seeds.
We all have to start from somewhere, and the organic herb seeds offered at Mountain Rose Herbs are a great way to build up your collection.
You may also enjoy:
Garden Planning Through Companion Planting
The Importance of a Continuous Bloom Garden
Plant Diversity & Natural Pest Control
Topics: Sustainability, Green Living
Bevin Cohen is an author, herbalist, seed saver and owner of Small House Farm in Michigan. He offers workshops and lectures nationwide on the benefits of living closer to the land through seeds, herbs and locally-grown food. Bevin is a freelance writer and videographer whose work has appeared in numerous publications including Mother Earth News, Hobby Farms, Grit Magazine, and the Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation. He is the author of four books, including the best-selling Saving Our Seeds and The Artisan Herbalist. Bevin serves on the boards of the International Herb Association, and the Michigan Seed Library Network, and the advisory council for the Community Seed Network. You can learn more about Bevin’s work at www.smallhousefarm.com.
Tending an herb garden offers the herbalist a wealth of benefits. It offers a diverse selection of plants to work with and offers peace of mind of knowing our herbs are grown locally and with our love and attention. It also gives us the opportunity to explore and discover the life cycles of the plants in our care, which not only can deepen our relationship with our herbal allies, but also offers the opportunity to harvest and save their seeds.
Saving seeds creates myriad benefits for the gardener as well. It saves us money since we won’t need to purchase new seeds each spring and since plants are so quick and willing to adapt to their environment, the plants grown from our saved seeds will often perform noticeably better than plants grown from seeds grown elsewhere. For me, one of the greatest benefits of saving seeds from my garden is that it deepens the experience and enriches my relationship with the plants I cultivate. The herbs I grow will enhance the flavor of meals, they will become nourishing teas and some will be crafted in healing balms, lotions, and medicinal tinctures. If my goal is to create quality herbal products, that starts with using quality ingredients and tending my herbs from seed to seed ensures that I can do just that.
The first step in harvesting seeds is learning to identify when the seeds are mature and ready to be gathered. This is quite simple to do once you’ve begun your seed-saving journey. The seeds are produced after the flowers have bloomed, been pollinated, and then died back. This means that for the most part, your seeds are ready to harvest once the flowers have become brown, dried, and crispy. Of course, each plant species will signal its maturity in different ways; some will form pods to hold their seeds while others might send their seeds aloft, floating through the wind in search of a new home. It's important for the seed saver to get to know each plant in their care and learn how to identify when the time is right to gather the precious seeds - just as the gardener needs to understand the conditions each herb requires to thrive in their care.
One of the beautiful things about seed saving is that it doesn’t require much equipment. As we collect our seeds, we might need a small basket or bowl and seed pods or dried flower heads can be laid out on screen to finish drying. It important that our seeds are well-dried, so I recommend waiting until after the dew has dissipated before collecting them and allowing them several days to finish drying before processing them for storage.
After the seeds are dry, they often need to be cleaned or separated from the flowerhead. This can be as simple as gently crumbling the flowerhead to release the seeds, or turning the dried flower upside down and shaking the tiny seeds loose. The seeds can be sifted through a screen to separate the chaff before be packaged up and put away. Many herb seeds are very tiny, so work slowly and carefully to avoid accidently losing them during processing.
Once collected and cleaned, your seeds can be stored in coin envelopes or small jars. Sometimes, when the season is busy, I’ve even left whole flower heads in paper bags and processed the seeds during the winter or the following spring when I have more time. As long as your seeds are stored in a cool, dark location and remain dry, they will be fine. Seeds are resilient, patient, and forgiving. Don’t stress about the process. Remember, people have been saving seeds for thousands of years. Everyone can do it, and so can you.
I recommend choosing a few plants to get started and really get to know each herb, from seed to seed. Observe how they grow, watch the tiny flowers get pollinated and enjoy the process of life, death, and rebirth that is seeds.
We all have to start from somewhere, and the organic herb seeds offered at Mountain Rose Herbs are a great way to build up your collection.
You may also enjoy:
Garden Planning Through Companion Planting
The Importance of a Continuous Bloom Garden
Plant Diversity & Natural Pest Control
Topics: Sustainability, Green Living
Bevin Cohen is an author, herbalist, seed saver and owner of Small House Farm in Michigan. He offers workshops and lectures nationwide on the benefits of living closer to the land through seeds, herbs and locally-grown food. Bevin is a freelance writer and videographer whose work has appeared in numerous publications including Mother Earth News, Hobby Farms, Grit Magazine, and the Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation. He is the author of four books, including the best-selling Saving Our Seeds and The Artisan Herbalist. Bevin serves on the boards of the International Herb Association, and the Michigan Seed Library Network, and the advisory council for the Community Seed Network. You can learn more about Bevin’s work at www.smallhousefarm.com.
