How to Save Broccoli Seeds

Saving the seeds from your broccoli plants gives you a personal supply for growing new ones each year. Broccoli is a member of the cabbage family and easily crosses with other members of this plant family if they are grown too close together. This is why it's best to avoid planting other cabbage family plants too close together if you want to save broccoli seeds. Broccoli must flower to produce seeds, so plant a few extra plants each year just for seed production instead of harvesting the heads for the kitchen.

Shears Paper bag Cloth bag Rubber mallet Bowls

Instructions

- 1
  Cut off the flower heads once the flowers have wilted and the seed heads become yellow and dry. Cut off the flower stalk 3 to 4 inches beneath the seed heads with shears and place the stalks into a paper bag as you collect them so the seeds aren't lost.
- 2
  Set the paper bags in a warm, well-ventilated room for one week so they finish drying. Leave the bag open to provide air circulation around the seed heads.
- 3
  Place the seed heads in a cloth bag. Hit them with a rubber mallet with medium force to dislodge the seeds from their pods.
- 4
  Pour the seed into a bowl. Pick out as much non-seed plant material as possible, then winnow out any remaining chafe outside on a breezy day. Pour the seed slowly into a second bowl, allowing the breeze to blow through and carry away the chafe as you pour. Repeat two to three times or until most of the chafe is removed.
- 5
  Label a paper bag with the broccoli variety name and the year harvested. Place the seed inside and fold the top of the bag over to close. Store in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant the broccoli seeds in fall or the following spring.

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