Storing Seeds

[Woody]

I posted earlier that the plant I thought was going to be red hot peppers turned out to be some sort of cross between a bell pepper and hot pepper. Those two plants are producing some really big peppers right now and I thought that I would like to try and grow them again next year.

How many seeds do I need? Just everything from inside one plant? I really just want to grow one or two of them?

What is the proper way to store them?


Thanks!

[janedoe]

According to my book Seed to Seed, there are two ways to harvest pepper seeds. Both require the pepper to be fully mature. One is to just scrape them out. The other is to put the pepper in a blender, add some water and puree. Let sit for a minute and the good seeds will float to the top. Skim those off and do it again.

Either way, rinse the seeds you select into a strainer and rinse. Dry the seeds on a non-stick surface (definitely not paper) and place in a warm dry place in your house such as the top of the fridge. The seeds are dry when they break if folded, not bend.

There is a 50% viability for pepper seeds for the first three years if stored in an airtight container (I use those tiny resealable bags) either in a cool, dark place or you can put them in the freezer.

I always start mine indoors and do about twice as many as I think I'll want. It's taken me years to be willing to get rid of a plant just because I have too many but I've raised too many weak plants or not had them come up so now I'm not shy.

What do they taste like?

[Woody]

Thanks! I posted a photo earlier of one but they are growing much bigger right now. I will take some more later this weekend.

They taste and smell like a green pepper but somewhat have the shape of the cherry stuffer.

Thanks for the info I will give the seeds a shot and see what happens.

I am going to try some green beans as well, that is if I have any more come in over the next couple of weeks.

[POPTOP]

I've taken seeds from mature veggies, mainly peppers and tomatoes. Rinse good and blot between paper towels. Spread out on something like newsprint or packing paper until very dry. I done many flower seeds this way too. Sometimes they get set out of the way and I forget them for weeks. No harm. Then I zip baggie.