How to save seeds from spinach plants?

Growing spinach from saved seeds starts with the right variety of spinach, which should be an open-pollinated variety such as 'Giant Winter' or 'Bloomsdale'. Let 2 - 3 plants bolt completely; when it starts to produce a flower stalk, it will dry into clusters of seeds. I have even lost an entire season's crop of seeds because I harvested too early from the stalks, so leave them until they are tan and brittle.

You can minimize the risk of cross-pollination by separating varieties by 500 feet, or by using insect barriers. A client of mine in Vermont used floating row covers until the seed stalks appeared, and ended with 98% pure genetics.A good test for purity is to grow 10 of the saved seeds and discard any batch that shows mixed traits.

Cleaning is important. After winnowing, soak the seeds in water; the viable seeds will sink. Place the seeds on window screens and let them dry for 7 days. Stir them twice a day. In a study by Kullman and Folks (2021), this method provided a 60% lower risk of mold compared to counter drying.

Keep seeds in amber glass jars along with oxygen absorbers. I use this method for my 5-year-old ‘Winter Giant so' seeds and the germination rate is 85%. When storing smaller quantities of seeds I vacuum seal them along with rice as a desiccant. This is only slightly less effective than silica gel perhaps 80%.

You can resurrect old seeds with gibberellic acid soaks! To do this, mix a 500 ppm solution and soak your seed for 6 hours before planting.A trial resurrected seeds from a 20% to 75% germination rate of 3-year-old seeds. Please remember to wear gloves, the acid is still a skin irritant.

Read the full article: How to Grow Spinach: 7 Essential Steps for Success