HAWLEY, PA — Every plant has its own story and it is built on its seeds, said Master Gardener Jessie Caccavale in a lecture given at the monthly meeting of the Country Gardeners.

Caccavale is in charge of the organic production of Lukan’s Farm Resort, supplying their restaurant and selling to local chefs and passersby who stop at their store.

When the summer is over and the harvest has been collected, seeds tell us we are not done yet. Now it is the moment to save seeds, and the first step is to know the life cycle of your plant. If it is a perennial, it will return year after year; if it is an annual, only the seeds will survive to start the next generation. If it is biennial, the plant has a two-year cycle.

Some seeds dry before the plant does, and others, such as the tomato or the sunflower, have to be dried. Some are open-pollinated, others are hybrids and all can accidentally cross-pollinate somewhere along their cycle. It is important not to plant two varieties together, because then you cannot expect to get what you planted.

Caccavalle recommends picking up your best-looking plant and saving its seeds—keeping them in paper bags—to wait for drying. She pointed out the importance of seed saving: It saves you thousands of dollars, you can ensure you have a specific variety that otherwise might not be available, you have more control over your food, you can adapt a plant to your area, you can create your own variety, and—not the least—seeds connect people!.

Caccavalle told stories about her seeds, particularly how she got her purple tomatoes in a seed swap. She recommended looking for ads in your area—usually at libraries or churches, or from master gardeners. You might find things you never saw or had a hard time finding.

For her, seeds not only allow you to share with your community but are important memories of people and places. From your grandma’s seeds to those from places you visited on vacation.

 Finally, seeds do not last forever, so check the chart of viability on websites such as www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/index.html. 

The Country Gardeners meet at the Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center, located at 126 Lamberton Ln. Anyone interested in gardening is welcome to attend as a guest.