Seed Saving 101

Love this photo. I grabbed a clump of carrot tops last fall and came up with these beauties. Variety: St. Valery

I recently sat down with Donna Balzer for a conversation about saving seeds, the difference between hybrid and open-pollinated tomatoes, my journey into seed farming, and so much more. We get into best varieties to grow for the home gardener, and why seed saving is so important in these troubled times.

I haven’t done a lot of podcasts (only two), but I really like to listen to them while I am working. Often, while I am filling seed orders or starting seeds I put on a podcast and the work seems to go easier. I will admit that it was kind of weird to listen to my own voice for a change! I hope that this conversation makes whatever you’re doing hum along.. Check it out. https://donnabalzer.com/s2-episode-5-save-seeds-they-will-adapt/

On another note, if you haven’t already started your onions and leeks, now is the time. Onions start to make their bulbs when the summer solstice happens, regardless of their size and leeks take their own damn time to size up, growing slowly but surely through the season. So an earlier start is better for them. If you are motivated and you have the indoor space you can start lettuce, chard, kale, mustard greens, celery, and some others I’ve probably forgotten. It’s almost time to get your peppers and tomatoes going too; at least, if you have indoor lighting and a greenhouse to transplant them into. You will be eating your first tomatoes by late June then. Yum!

Happy planting folks,

Sal Dominelli

Sweet Rock Farm