Marigolds From Home Saved Seeds. 8.17.2021

Last fall I saved seeds from a marigold plant that grew volunteer in my kitchen garden. I imagine it descended from marigolds that I grew a year or two previously. These grew nicely, look uniform and look like their parent. Very nice plant and flowers. I will save seeds to grow lots more next year.

Climbing Rose From A Dormant Cutting. 8.17.2021

Late winter, I stuck climbing rose prunings into the ends of rows in my onion raised bed, as row markers. Almost all of them took. I was surprised to see this one bloom. This was too easy for words. I didn't do anything special. Just stick the prunings into the ground, then any other care was what the onions got. I'm surprised it bloomed. This rose plant will need a few years to reach much size, but it's off to a good start.

More Peaches :-) 8.17.2021

Here are more peaches from the chicken yard peach tree. I can ed four jars from the last batch. I'l like to can twice that, and make a pie. There are still more on the tree, so it's possible.

Volunteer Four O'Clocks. 8.17.2021

 Multiple Four O'Clocks came up in the pathways between raised beds.  I didn't have the heart to pull them out.  I'm glad I didn't.

These were raised a few years ago from saved seeds, then self seeded again. I think I'll choose my favorites and save seeds to start in a different location next year.

Saving Tomato Seeds. 8.17.2021

 As the tomato season peaks, I want to be sure to save seeds from the varieties that I like.  I don't need a lot.  So far, I'm saving Extreme Bush, BrandyFred, Volunteer Yellow Cherry F3 generation, Golden King of Siberia, Classic Beefsteak, and Ukraine Purple.

After slicing the tomato, I use a spoon or butter knife to pick a dozen or so seeds from the flesh.  Then I place them into a labeled glass gar with about 1/2 cup of water, cover with a paper towel held in place by a rubber band.  Then I eat the tomato.

Then I let them ferment for two or three days. The fermentation reduces disease and germination inhibitors in the seed coat.

Then I rinse the seeds in a seive and place them onto a labeled paper coffee filter to dry.

After a few days to dry, I'll place these into envelopes and store in the pantry until time to plant them next Spring.