How to Save Seeds From a Fruit Garden
Have you ever thought about saving fruit seeds and growing your own fruit? It is true, you can save old peach pits, apple cores, cherry seeds and several other types of fruit seeds, harvest them and plant them. Using a few simple steps, you can learn how to save seed from a fruit garden and enjoy planting seeds to grow your own fruit.
Collect ripened fruit. If you already have a fruit garden, collect ripe mature fruit for seed harvesting. You can use ripened fruit that has already fallen to the ground off your own fruit trees or just pick fruit off the tree or bush for harvesting. Another option is to purchase your favorite fruit from the grocery store or fruit market. Leave it out on a counter at room temperature and let it fully ripen. Fully ripened fruit helps to assure you that seeds you are extracting are mature and can produce healthy seedlings.
Harvest the fruit seed for planting. Use a large metal spoon or a knife to remove the pulp containing the seeds from the ripened fruit.
Clean the seeds. A colander or strainer with very fine holes, or a wire mesh screen works very well for rinsing the pulp off of the seeds. Place the fruit seeds in the colander or on the mesh screen and gently move them around under running water in the sink. This will remove the mucilage film and pulp attached to the seeds.
Dry the fruit seeds. Place the clean fruit seeds on a soft cloth or a paper towel to dry. Make sure you do not put the seeds in direct sun you want them to air dry naturally. After the tops appear to be dry, turn the seeds over one at a time and let the backside dry as well.
Store the harvested seeds. When the seeds are fully dried, place them in an envelope or a paper bag and seal it shut. Label the package with a date and place them in a cool dry location such as the refrigerator.
- Plant harvested seeds in the next available growing season. Fruit seeds are viable for about two or three years or perhaps a little longer. It is best to prepare the soil and sow your seeds while they are still good and will grow seedlings.