I have had very good luck with California Wonder peppers and would like to save some seed. I assume they are open pollinated. It's the only pepper I'm growing this year so it's a good time to do this. Do I need to let one or two peppers ripen to red or can I save seed from mature green peppers?
I would want to be sure the seeds are mature. Just leave one or two on the plant till they turn red and begin to soften. Then pick and remove seeds and let them dry.
Thanks, Mart. That makes good sense. I have planted seeds from an unknown variety of green bell pepper. I got less than 50% germination. I still don't know if it was me or something about the pepper? So, maybe immature seeds or possibly it was a hybrid. It was before I owned a heat mat. It was certainly a failed experiment.
When bell peppers are green the seeds are still slightly immature. 50% is about average for them. Try with more mature ones. you should get 85% or better. Even with bought seed you are going to have a few that don`t germinate.
It may be poor germination if you didn't have adequate pollinators or air movement when the blossoms were open. The same goes for tomatoes and eggplant.
Thanks, everyone. I have saved seed from a ripe, red pepper. When they dry out a bit, I'll do a germination test. If I get eight out of ten, then I'll keep some seed for next year. I'll put ten seeds in a wet paper towel and stuff that in a zip lock baggie. I'll keep that baggie next to my daily vitamins, so I'll remember to check them. I've had excellent results starting veggies and melons from seed--including tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. This will be the first time I've saved seed from a pepper I've grown. So next year I'll be planting "my" seed (if all goes well) and the rest of the California seeds I have left in my commercial packet. I've thought about this some more and realized that I was assuming that just because I ate "green" peppers didn't mean using "green" or immature seed was a good idea. Geeze.
My brother grew some Fajita Spicy Bell Peppers this year. Basically a Bell Pepper with some "kick"... which I fell in love with! I saved a couple and set them aside to dry out so I can try to grow some next year. So this thread is interesting to me. Do I just let them sit there until they are totally dried out before "harvesting" the seeds?
I took seeds from a ripe, red pepper I was putting in a salad. I put the seed on a saucer and let it air dry, then I'll put the seed in a labeled envelope inside a zip lock sandwich bag. I store seed in an airtight container in the fridge. I dry the seed outside the pepper because the bells are large enough that inside the pepper seeds might mold or rot before the pepper dries.
Thanks Prickly. I was wondering about them just sitting here. I'm going to do as you suggest and get the seeds out and let them dry before storing for the winter.
Storing seeds in the freezer is a new one on me. Never heard of doing that. I really need to get off the computer this morning but now I've got something to add to my "Look this up" list. Thanks. Just had a thought...Mother Nature stores her seeds in the freezer during the winter (in the North). Doesn't seem to hurt those weed seeds. LOL!
Letting vegetables "rot" naturally is the best way to save seeds. When they turn mushy gather the seeds with a spoon and put them in a jar of water and shake vigorously. When the slurry clears (may take some time)and the pulp and some seeds are on top and most seeds are on the bottom, gently add water (careful not to disturb the seeds on the bottom) until the pulp and top seeds float out of the jar. The seeds on top are no good. Strain the seeds out of the water and place on a paper towel to dry. Now make sure they are dry before you store them.
