1011: Getting Viable Seeds: How to Harvest, Save, and Grow Your Own

With Seed Expert Bill McDorman

Join us for our monthly live Seed Chat at SeedChat.org

What makes a seed viable, and how do you know when it's ready to grow? In this episode of Seed Chat, Greg Peterson of the Urban Farm Podcast joins seed expert Bill McDorman to explore the art and science of harvesting mature, viable seeds from vegetables, fruits, and wild plants. They share practical techniques for saving seeds from cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuce, and more, explaining when to harvest, how to dry and process seeds, and why nature's built-in diversity matters. The conversation also explores the importance of seed saving, locally adapted varieties, and community seed networks in building a more resilient food system. Their message is simple: when in doubt, save the seeds and see what happens.

Key Topics & Entities

• Seed viability and germination testing
• Seed maturity and harvesting techniques
• Saving cucumber and winter squash seeds
• Harvesting seeds from grocery-store produce
• Seed saving from tomatoes, peppers, melons, and apples
• Wet seed processing and fermentation
• Harvesting and storing beans, peas, and cowpeas
• Lettuce flowering, seed collection, and winnowing
• Natural reseeding and letting plants self-propagate
• Genetic diversity and locally adapted seeds
• Native Seeds/SEARCH and traditional seed varieties
• Masanobu Fukuoka and The One-Straw Revolution
• Going to Seed and its seed-sharing program
• Community seed libraries and regional seed networks

Key Questions Answered

What makes a seed viable?

A viable seed is mature enough to germinate and grow into a plant, and it has remained healthy enough to survive conditions such as extreme heat, excessive moisture, and seed-borne pathogens. Seeds don't all become viable at the same moment; there is natural variation within a plant's seed production.

How do you know when cucumbers are ready for seed saving?

Choose a healthy, desirable cucumber and mark it on the vine. Leave it to mature well beyond the eating stage until it becomes large and often turns orange. The seeds should fill out rather than remain flat and immature.

Should winter squash be cured before saving its seeds?

Yes. Leaving winter squash in the field for several days after harvest maturity, particularly during warm weather, allows the seeds to finish maturing before the squash is opened. Summer squash should also be left on the plant well beyond the usual eating stage.

Can you save viable seeds from grocery-store produce?

Often, yes. Tomatoes are frequently suitable for seed saving, and bell pepper seeds may be more mature if the fruit is allowed to turn red before processing. Melons and squash may also provide useful seeds. However, seeds from hybrid or seedless varieties can produce unpredictable results.

Will seeds from an apple grow into the same kind of apple?

Usually not. Apple flowers can receive pollen from different trees, creating new genetic combinations. Growing an apple tree from seed can take three to ten years to evaluate, and the resulting fruit may be better, worse, or simply different from the original.

Is fermenting seeds necessary when saving tomatoes and cucumbers?

No. Seeds can germinate successfully without fermentation. However, wet processing and fermentation can help reduce certain seed-borne disease problems and may improve storage and handling, particularly when processing larger quantities.

How should you harvest and store bean and pea seeds?

Allow the pods to dry on the vine until they begin to open. If weather conditions make that impractical, pull the vines and hang them indoors until the pods dry completely. This helps the seeds mature and prepares them for storage.

What is the best way to harvest lettuce seeds?

Let lettuce flower and d