Anyone used seedsavers.org? I ordered a free catalog, but it seems like a pretty good group for sharing non-hybrid heirloom seeds.

Anyone have any experiences? I think I'll probably pick up some seeds there this spring, but just curious in advance.

Yup, got a catalog on the coffee table right now. First year we'll be using them as well.

I know a number of people (online) who swear by this group. BTW, I am also hearing that a few heirloom seed companies are already out of stock. I wouldn't put off ordering much longer.

I was told that the Alaskan seed companies don't do the hybrid stuff that prevents them from producing seed. I am not exactly joe gardener and not been able to save my own seed yet. Some plnts produce seed but others don't before it gets cold and then there are the moose that roll through every year in the fall that mow down whats left of my garden fast.

There are darned few open pollinated (or heirloom) seeds that we can use from year to year here. The most common is likely tomato seeds.

The real trick is finding varieties of veggies with less than 90 day lengths, and starting those early enough that you have a good shot at actually ending up with viable seeds come frost.

I saved what I think are seed pods from broccoli last year, I am planning to see if I can get them to sprout in the next few weeks. Cabbages basically needs two entire seasons, did you know that?

I tried saving seeds last year, but didn't really know what I was doing, so don't really expect my tomatoes to grow from the seeds I have. i didn't learn until after that you're supposed to let them sit in tomato mash, in order to preserve. Finally decided to go for a book, since there's way too much I don't know

Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners

But still have to get my new batch and hoping seedsavers.org will work out. From what I've heard though I'm behind the curve time wise :9

I carefully nurtured my one heirloom plant that actually produced last year; when it was time to pick the few tomatoes that grew I carefully searched, and looked some more, and..?? no seeds! No seeds? It didn't say seedless on there anywhere, it was OP so I thought I'd get some seeds to try saving...but not a one.
I really want to try the seed-saving, and I have the book you mentioned Prag. I also found a new site:
http://www.growveg.com/login.aspx?Retur ... rhome.aspx
to help plan your garden out. It's free for a month, or if you subscribe, then next year's garden planning will remind you of what you can't plant in the same spot, to help with rotation.
I have some seed in already but I'm not done ordering; I'll see if I can get some from the seedsavers place.

When I want to save tomato seeds, I simply leave some on the plant through the end of July and all the way through August until frost. There seem to be less seeds the earlier I pick them and I am wondering (speculating, really) if our long photo periods have anything to do with seed production? Maybe the seeds were not far enough long?

What variety were you growing? A few types have nearly zero seeds, I swear, lol Like those Tumbling Toms. Saved about 45 maters, those tasty jewels, and ended up with maybe three seeds. Seriously.

Seed is a good way to store a lot of food in a small package and wether they reproduce or not I have a bunch that I vacuum sealed and keep in the freezer. Seeds can last 10,000 years kept frozen and you can easily store enough seed to last the rest of your life for survival garden. Further don't overlook sprouts as a survival food as it will provide enzimes freeze dried foods don't and if needed could have seed producing food without light in a couple of days.

IIRC, it was Mr Stripey and I left the tomatoes on until the very last...they took so long to get ripe to begin with. I'm trying a couple of other and a new method this year, so hope for more success.

Good point about sprouting seeds, we do that a lot and I've just started a fresh bunch of broccoli, I've heard they're very good.