How to make my own vegetable seeds and store them...open pollinated or native or nati variety?

This article is for open pollinated variety only and not your F1 hybrid which  you may have bought from a store by spending tons of money last season.

Too bad...you need to throw the seeds and go back to store to buy your favorite F1 variety and make the seed company rich.

Had you gone for a Native or open pollinated straight line improved variety... then read on...

Pepper:
 Saving pepper seeds is easy. Allow some fruits to stay on the plants until they become fully ripe and start to wrinkle. Remove the seeds from the peppers and spread them out to dry.

Beans and Peas:
Leave the pods  on the vine until the pods are dry and crackly.

Corn or Maize:
 Corn should also be left to dry on the stalk until the kernels dent.

Fleshy vegetables such as tomatoes, squash and melons

Traditional Storage Techniques (wisdom passed on from generation to generation)
Under Compilation
 If you know of a traditional technique not mentioned in this document, please leave a comment and I will incorporate the technique after checking the authenticity of the technique. It is important to check authenticity of information provided because we donot want a farmer to use a technique to save his seeds and when he gets back next season to sow, he should not be short of seeds due to bad storage techniques.

Modern Storage Techniques
Hermetic Bags : Organic way of storing food grains, pulses, seeds

Do visit this page at a later point, I am in the process of compiling all the traditional ways of storing seeds which I have collected over years.

Thanks for reading and

Native seed vs Hybrid vs GMO?

While I have been part of starting a discussion on Native vs Hybrid seeds in Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) whatsapp group. I thought it was now my responsibility to write a blog on the difference between them.

With no further due Native Seeds are the way to go for ZBNF. If you donot find native variety you are looking for then you can go for open pollinated improved varieties from institutes like IIHR or from seeds banks of certain NGOs. However ensure the authenticity of the seeds. Other multi national companies also produce open pollinated varieties but I have stayed away from big companies, because their interest is more in F1 and GMO seeds and I am not interested in funding those projects by buying any seeds from them.

The real challenges before a beginner ZBNF farmer starts with the seeds. Follow this link to find FAQs related to procuring native seeds.


What is Native seeds? (Also called as Nati or  heirloom seeds or open pollinated seeds)
Native seeds are "open pollinated" variety, where the plannts self-pollinate or are pollinated by another representative of the same variety. The resulting seeds will produce plants roughly identical to their parents.  These seeds are passed on from generation to generation and have very interesting stories about the origin of the seeds.
As described in Wikipedia  ""Open pollinated" generally refers to seeds that will "breed true." ... Open-pollinated varieties are also often referred to as standard varieties or, when the seeds have been saved across generations or across several decades, heirloom varieties.

Open-pollination is when pollination occurs by insect, bird, wind, humans, or other natural mechanisms.Open-pollination is when pollination occurs by insect, bird, wind, humans, or other natural mechanisms.

Difference between Open-pollination and Native Seeds
Open-pollination is when pollination occurs by insect, bird, wind, humans, or other natural mechanisms.

• Because there are no restrictions on the flow of pollen between individuals, open-pollinated plants are more genetically diverse. 
• This can cause a greater amount of variation within plant populations, which allows plants to slowly adapt to local growing conditions and climate year-to-year.
•  As long as pollen is not shared between different varieties within the same species, then the seed produced will remain true-to-type year after year.

An native or nati or heirloom variety is a plant variety that has a history of being passed down within a family or community, similar to the generational sharing of heirloom jewelry or furniture.

• An heirloom variety must be open-pollinated, but not all open-pollinated plants are heirlooms. In the western countries some companies create heirloom labels based on dates (such as a variety that is more than 50 years old), Seed Savers Exchange identifies heirlooms by verifying and documenting the generational history of preserving and passing on the seed. I donot know if we had such an agency until recently when we started creating heirloom variety like Basmati Rice, Nanjanagud Rasabhale
• For most part native seeds held in NGO seed banks like Green Foundation or directly by farmers are heirloom varieties. Those held by farmers directly cannot be authenticated as heirloom but the NGOs are trying to create authenticity. Eg; Pichikhadhi Ragi from Green Foundation was awarded UNESCO award for preserving the millet variety with extensive seed selection process over years.
• We have great varieties such as Khari Mundaga Rice from South Kanara, Karnataka or the Gandhasale (perfumed rice variety) once grown in Kerala and Karnataka which are heirloom varieties but don not have authenticity due to lack of verification and documentation with genrational history.  Government of India has to wake up and do some work, whatever work is happening with heirloom is very slow and inadequate, especially given the biodiversity of grains that was grown in each region across India.

What are Hybrid seeds?
Hybridization is a controlled method of pollination in which the pollen of two different species or varieties is crossed by human intervention.

• Hybridization can occur naturally through random crosses, but commercially available hybridized seed, often labeled as F1, is deliberately created to breed a desired trait. 
• The first generation of a hybridized plant cross also tends to grow better and produce higher yields than the parent varieties due to a phenomenon called ‘hybrid vigor’. 
• However, any seed produced by F1 plants is genetically unstable and cannot be saved for use in following years.
•  Not only will the plants not be true-to-type, but they will be considerably less vigorous. 
• Gardeners who use hybrid plant varieties must purchase new seed every year. 
• Some good news is, Hybrid seeds can be stabilized, becoming open-pollinated varieties, by growing, selecting, and saving the seed over many years.

Why do we prefer Native seeds in ZBNF?
The one pro that makes to the top of the list of Advantages of Native seeds is: you can make your own seeds.

1. The popularity is from the fact that you can save your own seeds, plant them the following year, and be assured that they will grow back with the exact same characteristics as the parent.
2. Native seeds are cheaper then their counterpart namely Hybrid seeds.
3. Native variety plants have non-uniform harvest and size, thus allowing for staggered harvest.
4. Plants grown from native seeds slowly adapt to local growing conditions and climate year-to-year
5. An important advantage of choosing open-pollinated varieties conserves the genetic diversity of farm or kitchen garden vegetables and prevents the loss of unique varieties in the face of dwindling agricultural biodiversity.
6. You will have a great history that can be learned from nature and retold and written in a blog (if you wish too!!!)

The first reason is a no brainer for a ZBNF farmer because we prefer to do things on the cheap. It also has the advantage of allowing your operation to be basically self-contained or sustainable.  The second reason plays into those thoughts.

The third reason is important if you a ZBNF farmer serving a small community who needs staggered harvest. Due to non-uniform harvest and size, it gives  the farmer continuous supply over longer period than their Hybrid counterpart.

The fourth reason is important since adaptability is the law of Nature and automatic resistance to pests and environment changes is an added advantage to ZBNF farmers. 

The fifth reason is the biggest contribution any ZBNF farmer can do to Nature. We are literally preserving genetic diversity in today's adverse environment where biodiversity is dwindling not only in our farm lands but also in our forests, due to deforestation and smuggling of medicinal plants and herbs.

What are GMO seeds?
Being a ZBNF farmer this is the least interested topic that I want to write anything about. Hence, I suggest you surt the internet and read all about Genetically Modified seeds.

Native Seed FAQ for beginner ZBNF farmer

1. From where do I source my first batch of native seeds?
• Post on your local ZBNF whatsApp group.  No luck, then
• Ask another ZBNF farmer, if you know one. No luck, then
• Post a request on ZBNF facebook. No luck, then
• If you have run out of all the above options, then don't get disheartened. I know your intention was to buy from a farmer friend directly. But you couldn't find a good source.
• Your next option is, you have IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticulture Research) with zones all over India and they provide open pollinated improved varieties. 
• They are an authentic source. 
• They guarantee germination rate of their seeds and rest assured they have followed seed selection process which is very important to guarantee your plant will have same characteristics as its parent. 
• What I mean to say by this last point is, there is no hybrid variety cross pollinated by wind or bird or another source. Since they ensure seed are selected from those fields where there is no other variety of the same plant grown within a specified area.
•  They have a criteria they check for very strictly while collecting seeds from farms.
•  The open pollinated vegetable varieties from Bangalore are sold under the trade name of Arka Anamika is OP (Open Pollinated) variety of okra or bhendi. IMPORTANT: Please ask before buying that the variety they are selling is OP and not F1. Of course you will know by cost, F1 variety are very expensive.
• The Arka open pollinated variety are  not very expensive and from next season you can save your own seeds from the plants you have grown. 
• Just remember to follow seed selection process  to ensure quality and good germination of your seeds for the following season.
• There are also few NGOs working with farmers to create Native Seed Banks. you can approach them for native seeds.  
• One such organization is Green Foundation in Kanakapura, Karnataka. They are close to Bangalore and also send seeds via post, if you are willing to pick the postal expense. Contact Shivkumar @ GreenFoundation for details of seed availability and cost.
• I can vouch for their seed selection process since I have known them for past 14 years.
2. Should I buy from a farmer or from an authentic source?
1. If you have a local farmer then I would go with him. Just check with him how he has collected his seeds.
2. If he has not followed the seed selection process, it only means the germination rate may be low.
3. Or if he had other farmers growing other similar variety of plants, then the authenticity of his seeds with respect to parent may not be there.
4. Based on these two important criteria you may chose to buy from your local farmer friend or look for another source.
3. How do you know the authenticity of the Native Seeds I procure from a farmer friend?
1. If you are buying from a farmer  visit his farm so your doubts are cleared about the variety of the plant. Since in native seeds produce plants identical to parents. If you are happy with the plants you see, then you can pick the seeds from him.
2. If you cannot visit his farm, then ask for a picture or ask questions related to  seed selection process.  Based on his response you make your decision about the authenticity of the seeds you are to procure from the farmer.
3. Many times, farmers are not aware of  seed selection process but they know the process of seed selection. So don't question him "Are you following a procedure for seed selection"? Rather be friendly and ask him how does he collect his seeds for next sowing season?
4. Are there really seeds which have not been mixed by wind pollination by a hybrid variety growing in the neighbor farm?
1. You have to ask questions or visit his farm to ensure cross pollination related problem w.r.t authenticity of the seeds.
2. Let's see in an area like Bellary where Thor Dal is grown for acres, there can be a ZBNF farmer growing native variety surrounded by two sides with farmers growing different hybrid variety. Chances of getting a pure open pollinated variety is low, unless the plant is reproducing using self-pollination.
5. What questions should I ask the farmer friend to know he/she is fol the seed selection process so you are guaranteed of rate of germination or variety?
1. Since you will have to invest time only once to collect native seeds. I would suggest visiting the farmer field would be ideal. For following seasons you can make your own seeds and donot have to buy from others.
2. However, if you cannot visit the farmer field during time of harvest or for other practical reasons, then ask check on his seed selection process by asking few questions and make you decision based on his response.
6. Is the farmer's answer convincing or should I do a field visit before I buy my seeds?
1. Our hope is all ZBNF farmers are down to earth and donot intend to cheat you.
2. However, they may not the seed selection process and have simply collected seeds from the post harvest heap.
3. Or they did not find time and patience to follow seed selection process , though they knew the procedure.
4. So it's best to visit the field or ask a friend or another local ZBNF farmer for recommendation or simply trust your farmer to be genuine. 
7. Where can I find an authentic source? Contacts please...
1. Few that I know of
1. NGOs working directly with farmers on Native Seed Banks
1. Green Foundation, Kanakapura, Ramanagara Dist. Contact Shivkumar @ GreenFoundation for details of seed availability and cost.
2. Sahaja Seeds, Bangalore. I am not sure about their seed selection process. Can someone who knows Sahaja Seeds seed procurement methods send me details, so I can update with more authentic information.
2. Open Pollinated Improved Varieties
1. These are available from various commercial companies like Namdhari too. However, I have not  tried them or intend to try them.  Eg: Namdhari also produces Arka open pollination variety. But I don't buy from them.
2. I buy directly from IIHR, Bangalore online or I walk into their seed office at Hesaraghatta and buy what I want. 
3. NOTE: For next season, start saving seeds following seed selection process. Don't keep running around for seeds every season. This is the first habit you need to cultivate as a ZBNF farmer.
8.  How to trust my seed source?
1. May God Be With You. 
2. If your intentions as a beginner ZBNF farmer are good, good things SHALL HAPPEN to you.

It's all about selection....Seed Selection Process

Under construction

my first post

Wow....After trying for almost half hour I final got a name for my blog which kind of summarizes what my current profession is all about...NO NO I am not running a restaurant, I am a farmer living on a 11 acre  farm in the outskirts of the busiest city in the world viz . Bangalore, India

So u see I don't serve food like in  restaurants but I grow and serve food grains, such as pulses, cereals, fruits in a nutshell I grow diversified food stuff.....u know the one that gets converted to energy and helps u to do your job such viz., a doctor, lawyer, labourer, banker, vice president, sportsperson, clerk, ...and so the list goes on...

You know the funny thing is I don't know who consumes my food, but I am  happy to say whoever consumes the food I grow, are being served th most healthiest, loaded with nutrition bcoz I grow all the stuff on my farm by working with nature and not against the forces of nature.

You know people have coined lot of agro  technical words or phrases for what i grow by working with nature and to list a few of them ....sustainable farm, integrated farm, organic farming, natural farming

Well well do these words make much of a difference to me...NO, i am a simple farmer who loves working  with the nature in and around my farm and really enjoy when SHE, I mean NATURE poses challenges at me...so as to simply keep me on my toes and to make my activities interesting..