Happy October! It's the end of gardening season and I've harvested most of my herbs and tomatoes. My peppers are still producing so I'm leaving those alone for now. I've pulled up my annuals and am hoping my lavender and rosemary perennials survive the winter. I've let some plants, like my perilla and cilantro flower, so I can save seeds my garden.
Why save your own seeds?
The main reason to save seeds is so that you can grow new plants year after year. This is especially helpful for heirloom varieties which may not have seeds readily available for purchase. Other seeds might not be commercially viable for large-scale production. Most of us are familiar with heirloom tomatoes, but many other species also have heirloom varieties. These plants exist today because people took the time to save seeds for future generations.
For any crop that you may not be able to find seeds or starters for, saving seeds is your best option. Additionally, seeds you harvest from your own garden will already be acclimated to your growing environment. This gives you a better chance of a successful harvest next season.
My first experiment with saving seeds
By now, my fondness for perilla plants is well-known by now. It’s my favorite crop to grow and use, and I’m thankful that I can even grow them at all. I clearly remember the first time I bought perilla seedlings—quite by chance. We weren't even looking for them, but there they were, on display in the parking lot of one of our favorite Korean stores. We bought three starter plants and our first attempt at growing perilla was a success.
When we returned to the same store the following year, the seedlings were no longer available. For at least two years, we went without growing perilla on our balcony. During that time, I tried ordering seeds online, but none of them sprouted—they were completely unviable. It seemed that buying seedlings was the only option if we wanted to grow perilla at home again.
After another search, I found seedlings once more and had another productive growing season. As the season came to a close, I noticed flowers beginning to form, and that’s when I had an idea. These flowers will produce seeds—why not save them for next year? I had never saved seeds before, and while it seemed a bit intimidating, I figured it was worth trying in case I couldn’t find seedlings again.
How to save perilla seeds from your garden
The process of saving seeds varies greatly between plant species, so the steps I’ll outline here apply specifically to perilla plants. There may be similarities to related plants like basil or mint, but slight differences could exist. Fortunately, basil and mint are widely available as seeds or seedlings, so saving their seeds isn’t usually necessary.
1. Wait for the Flowers to Form
Once your growing season is winding down and you’ve harvested plenty of perilla leaves, you’ll start noticing flower clusters forming at the tops of the plants. The seeds develop inside these tiny flowers, which grow in clusters about 3–4 inches long. As the plant shifts its energy to seed production, the leaves may begin to dry out—this is normal.
2. Look for Signs of Seed Readiness
Over the next few weeks, the flowers will start to turn brown, indicating that the seeds are almost ready to harvest. The seeds are mature when the flowers are completely dry and brown all over.
3. Harvest the Seed Clusters
At this point, cut off the seed clusters and remove any remaining leaves. Place the clusters in a brown paper bag, tightly seal the top, and store the bag in a cool, dry place. The goal is to completely dry out the seed pods—any residual moisture could cause the seeds to rot during storage. Depending on your environment, this drying process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. In my case, it took about a month, as the seeds were already fairly dry when I harvested them.
4. Check for Dryness
Periodically check the bag to see if the seed pods are completely dry. Once they are brittle and crumble easily, they’re ready for the next step.
5. Extract the Seeds
To extract the seeds, vigorously shake the sealed paper bag to loosen the seeds from their pods. Empty the contents into a shallow pan or baking sheet (I prefer a baking sheet because the raised sides help keep the tiny seeds from rolling off). Sort through the material, removing stems and empty pods. For pods that still contain seeds, you can easily remove them by gently squeezing the pod between your fingers. This process can take some time, depending on how many seeds you have
6. Store the Seeds
Once you’ve collected your seeds, store them in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. If stored properly, they should remain viable and ready to produce new perilla plants in the next growing season.
By saving seeds, you can ensure a continuous supply of your favorite plants. It's especially satisfying to know that I no longer need to rely on finding seedlings at the store—I’ve got my own perilla supply ready for next year!
Leave a Reply