How to Collect Seeds at Season End

Jul 2

A Simple Guide for Houston Gardeners

As the growing season winds down, your garden is full of quiet treasure — seeds. Whether you're growing native plants, vegetables, or flowers, collecting seeds is a simple, satisfying way to extend your garden's legacy into next year (and save money doing it).

Here’s a quick guide to seed saving for beginners, with a focus on plants that thrive in the Houston area.

🌼 Why Save Seeds?

Cost savings – Grow next year’s garden from this year’s plants
Local adaptation – Seeds from your garden are already adapted to your microclimate
Pollinator support – Share or scatter native plant seeds to expand habitat
Sustainability – Reduce waste and reliance on commercial seed packets

🪻 What Kinds of Seeds Can You Collect?

The best candidates for seed saving are:

Open-pollinated vegetables (like beans, peppers, and tomatoes)
Native perennials (like purple coneflower, inland sea oats, or milkweed)
Annual flowers (like sunflowers, cosmos or zinnias)
Avoid hybrids — they don’t grow true to type from seed.

✂️ How to Collect Seeds

Let seed heads fully mature
Wait until seed pods or flower heads are completely dry and brown. They may rattle when shaken or split open easily.
Harvest on a dry day
Pick pods or seed heads when the plant is completely dry to avoid mold during storage.
Label right away
It’s easy to forget what’s what! Use envelopes or paper bags, and jot down the plant name and date.
Clean and sort
Remove debris, dried petals, and chaff. For vegetables, extract the seeds, wash them to remove any remaining plant material, and dry on a paper towel for a couple days before storing.
Store smart
Place cleaned seeds in labeled paper envelopes, and keep them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (like a fridge or cupboard).

🐝 Native Plant Tip:

Don’t collect every seed! Leave some for birds, bugs, and natural reseeding. Native plants support wildlife even after they’ve bloomed.

🌱 Bonus: Use What You Save

Plant them next season in starter trays or directly in the garden
Swap with neighbors or attend local seed exchanges
Broadcast in empty areas to expand your garden’s footprint naturally

Ready to Save Seeds but Not Sure Where to Start?

If you need help identifying ripe seed heads or choosing which plants to collect from, Flourish offers seasonal garden coaching to teach you hands-on skills like this — tailored to your garden and your goals.

Nicole Rennalls