4.23

5

Oct 02, 2011

I can't recommend this book highly enough. I've been hunting for a reference guide that tells me exactly how to save each type of vegetable seed, and this book is it. I only wish I'd bought it in hardback because I can tell that my paperback copy will be falling apart in ten years.

As an extra bonus, the book has introductory chapters explaining issues I never would have considered, like how many plants you need to save seeds. (No, the answer isn't "just enough to get them pollinated" as I would I can't recommend this book highly enough. I've been hunting for a reference guide that tells me exactly how to save each type of vegetable seed, and this book is it. I only wish I'd bought it in hardback because I can tell that my paperback copy will be falling apart in ten years.

As an extra bonus, the book has introductory chapters explaining issues I never would have considered, like how many plants you need to save seeds. (No, the answer isn't "just enough to get them pollinated" as I would have suspected.) This book should be on every sustainable homesteader's reference shelf. ...more

4

Feb 21, 2009

This books give detailed instructions on how to preserve seeds from Heirloom plants. I was just reading recently that most of the seeds you buy though the store and though a catalog are genetically engineered to not produce viable seeds. Check out seedsavers.org for plants that will produce viable seeds. This is an important thing to know about, especially if our food economy collapses and we must find ways to feed ourselves.

5

Dec 11, 2010

This is by far the best resource for anyone interested in saving various types of seeds (vegetables, mostly). You need no other book--it's all here, extremely well-organized, efficient, and chock-full of information. One of my most used garden books. It's all black and white and has very few (dated) pictures, but you're not there for plant porn.

5

Feb 10, 2011

This is a reference book, really, so I can't say I read it cover to cover. I read the bits relevant to my garden (thus far).

This is a REALLY useful book for a seedsaver - meaning, if you're growing heirloom vegetables and don't know how to collect the seed, or what the risks of cross-pollination are, or how to correct for those risks in order to keep the next generation of seed pure, this book will answer all those questions exhaustively. It's extremely detailed and factual; it's a how-to, not a This is a reference book, really, so I can't say I read it cover to cover. I read the bits relevant to my garden (thus far).

This is a REALLY useful book for a seedsaver - meaning, if you're growing heirloom vegetables and don't know how to collect the seed, or what the risks of cross-pollination are, or how to correct for those risks in order to keep the next generation of seed pure, this book will answer all those questions exhaustively. It's extremely detailed and factual; it's a how-to, not a joys-of-gardening book, and in just one perusal it told me things I've never known. And blew up a few dearly-held gardening beliefs, too.

Great book. Highly recommended for those looking into a) planting a vegetable garden, b) planting with heirloom seeds - which is also highly recommended. ...more

4

Jan 13, 2013

Raised my consciousness about the limited kinds of produce offered in our supermarkets. Introduced the grassroots movement that is preserving 'heirloom' varieties across America.

4

Dec 01, 2011

Pictures are all black and white. Very comprehensive information about species, cross breeding, cultivating, and saving seed.

4

Nov 10, 2008

This is *the* go-to book or seed-harvesting and saving. I give it 4 because I like color pictures- that's right, I said it: I like books with color pictures.

5

Jun 17, 2009

I got this book after it was reccomended to me by a local farmer... and I love it! Everything you need to know about growing, harvesting, and saving seeds. It's a good read too because it's a bit of a combination textbook and manual so while you're learning applicable information about good growing techniques you're also getting a bit into the botany and science of plants.

3

Mar 14, 2009

My wife has had this book for years, and I've mostly ignored it until now because I thought it was just about how to clean and store seeds. Wow, was I wrong. This is a comprehensive, advanced guide to how to grow plants (of just about every genus you'd find in a vegetable garden) so that they breed true to type. We're talking flower taping, stamen bags ("corn condoms"), hand pollination, using window-screen cages to exclude pollinators, and lists of which varieties and species can interbreed. My wife has had this book for years, and I've mostly ignored it until now because I thought it was just about how to clean and store seeds. Wow, was I wrong. This is a comprehensive, advanced guide to how to grow plants (of just about every genus you'd find in a vegetable garden) so that they breed true to type. We're talking flower taping, stamen bags ("corn condoms"), hand pollination, using window-screen cages to exclude pollinators, and lists of which varieties and species can interbreed. Very technical without being written in a hard-to-read, science journal style. ...more

5

Nov 04, 2012

Only slightly biased because I met both the author and "co-author" and found them to be passionate, articulate and most importantly good fun loving folks. It's mostly all here. It's my go to book when growing something new and want to preserve seed purity if I'm unsure of its growth and pollination factors. Written for the layperson or the professional. No fancy, unwarranted verbage. Keeps it simple, informative and eminently enjoyable. My copy is held together with camo duct tape. In hindsight Only slightly biased because I met both the author and "co-author" and found them to be passionate, articulate and most importantly good fun loving folks. It's mostly all here. It's my go to book when growing something new and want to preserve seed purity if I'm unsure of its growth and pollination factors. Written for the layperson or the professional. No fancy, unwarranted verbage. Keeps it simple, informative and eminently enjoyable. My copy is held together with camo duct tape. In hindsight maybe camo tape ain't such a great idea; I'll get some neon pink tape Monday...too important to lose! ...more

4

Dec 29, 2013

An essential guide for the gardener. Maybe deserving of 5 stars? It is a reference book that will be used repeatedly. A keeper.

5

Aug 02, 2011

2002
This was the only book I could find on saving seeds and growing techniques for vegetable gardeners.

5

Sep 11, 2012

Awesome vegetable history, a keystone of fully sustainable gardening.

5

Apr 11, 2012

The bible of seed saving. Suzanne makes this topic totally accessible to anyone interested in being really self sufficient. A must have.

4

Aug 20, 2010

This book is a great reference. I haven't read it cover-to-cover but want a copy so I can refer to it as needed.

4

May 13, 2008

I read this a really long time ago, and while I don't save seeds from my garden at the moment, this book still sits on my bookshelf along with my other gardening books.... maybe someday in the future I will save seeds.

4

May 08, 2010

Probably the most comprehensive book on seed saving around. I wish there were pictures of what the seeds look like because sometimes they're so small it's hard to tell what's a seed or what's just plant parts. A book I will be buying.

4

Oct 19, 2016

This is not a particularly readable book, but it is a good reference book for those who are serious about seed saving. It has a lot of information about a lot of food plants, including beans, corn, many vegetables, and some less common food plants for modern Americans, like amaranth.

4

May 12, 2014

I wish there were more illustrations to accompany the text here, especially when the plants being discussed have a lot of visible variations in the same species. But this is still a hugely useful resource on hundreds of varieties, including general notes on growing in different regions of the US, fertilization standards and precautions for making sure seed stays true to type, and harvesting/storage/life expectancy information for the seeds. Not a curl-up-by-the-hearth-and-read book but a I wish there were more illustrations to accompany the text here, especially when the plants being discussed have a lot of visible variations in the same species. But this is still a hugely useful resource on hundreds of varieties, including general notes on growing in different regions of the US, fertilization standards and precautions for making sure seed stays true to type, and harvesting/storage/life expectancy information for the seeds. Not a curl-up-by-the-hearth-and-read book but a reference that I'm likely to come back to repeatedly. ...more

5

Mar 05, 2011

Teton County Library call number" 635.0421 Ashworth S

Suzanne's star rating: 4.5
With spring around the corner "Seed to Seed" is a welcome companion as you sort through your box of seeds left over from years past, trying to decode whether you can take a chance with those old seeds. This book is a wealth of information on seed viability, seed saving, the value of heirloom varieties and lots of great tips on growing a wide variety of species with tips for different regions of the county. The Seed Teton County Library call number" 635.0421 Ashworth S

Suzanne's star rating: 4.5
With spring around the corner "Seed to Seed" is a welcome companion as you sort through your box of seeds left over from years past, trying to decode whether you can take a chance with those old seeds. This book is a wealth of information on seed viability, seed saving, the value of heirloom varieties and lots of great tips on growing a wide variety of species with tips for different regions of the county. The Seed Savers Exchange has been in existence for about 25 years and their website is also a source of good information on the topic http://www.seedsavers.org ...more

5

Apr 29, 2015

This has to be one of the best resources out there for seed knowledge. I wanted something that would tell me the basics, give me extra tips and diiferentiate enough between different types of plants so as to keep me informed, but not overwhelm me with too much material. This is it.
Each sections narrows down the plants to specific type with great pictures too. There is plenty of information good and bad about collecting and harvesting, many things I hadn't thought of that not knowing would've This has to be one of the best resources out there for seed knowledge. I wanted something that would tell me the basics, give me extra tips and diiferentiate enough between different types of plants so as to keep me informed, but not overwhelm me with too much material. This is it.
Each sections narrows down the plants to specific type with great pictures too. There is plenty of information good and bad about collecting and harvesting, many things I hadn't thought of that not knowing would've been too little too late in practice to find out on my own.
If you are serious about seed harvesting or plan on starting any sort of seed exchange group, I highly recommend taking a look at this book. ...more

4

Jun 05, 2017

No pictures which makes it hard to tell what they are talking about when you are a novice gardener. Contains good growing information broken down by region.

5

Nov 20, 2018

Detailed information for successful saving of true to parent seeds.

4

Dec 23, 2017

A great book on seed saving, suitable for everyone from those just getting started to the serious breeder. Well-organized, and contains all the relevant information you need to save seeds for each species / family. I checked this out from the library and quickly realized I was going to want my own copy for reference.

3

Aug 22, 2017

Looks like a great book but, as I was reading it, I realized that it would only be useful if I’m looking to get a seed from a particular plant. There is so much information that there is no point on reading it page by page. This is more like a reference book. And, to be honest, when I’ll want to know how I can reproduce a specific plant, I’ll be more likely to search on the internet than go back to the library to borrow it again.