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Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners
Seed to Seed is a complete seed-saving guide that describes specific techniques for saving the seeds of 160 different vegetables. This book contains detailed information about each vegetable, including its botanical classification, flower structure and means of pollination, required population size, isolation distance, techniques for caging or hand-pollination, and also the proper methods for harvesting, drying, cleaning, and storing the seeds.
Seed to Seed is widely acknowledged as the best guide available for home gardeners to learn effective ways to produce and store seeds on a small scale. The author has grown seed crops of every vegetable featured in the book, and has thoroughly researched and tested all of the techniques she recommends for the home garden.
This newly updated and greatly expanded Second Edition includes additional information about how to start each vegetable from seed, which has turned the book into a complete growing guide. Local knowledge about seed starting techniques for each vegetable has been shared by expert gardeners from seven regions of the United States-Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast/Gulf Coast, Midwest, Southwest, Central West Coast, and Northwest.
Seed to Seed is widely acknowledged as the best guide available for home gardeners to learn effective ways to produce and store seeds on a small scale. The author has grown seed crops of every vegetable featured in the book, and has thoroughly researched and tested all of the techniques she recommends for the home garden.
This newly updated and greatly expanded Second Edition includes additional information about how to start each vegetable from seed, which has turned the book into a complete growing guide. Local knowledge about seed starting techniques for each vegetable has been shared by expert gardeners from seven regions of the United States-Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast/Gulf Coast, Midwest, Southwest, Central West Coast, and Northwest.
228 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1995
About the author
Suzanne Ashworth
3 books10 followersSuzanne Ashworth is an educational administrator living in Sacramento, California, whose spare time and large backyard are completely devoted to gardening. Suzanne has donated the text of Seed to Seed to help support the work of the Seed Savers Exchange, a genetic preservation organization with 8,000 members who are working together to maintain and distribute heirloom varieties of vegetables, fruits, grains, flowers, and herbs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 11, 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 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.
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.
October 2, 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 have suspected.) This book should be on every sustainable homesteader's reference shelf.
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.
September 16, 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. Very technical without being written in a hard-to-read, science journal style.
February 22, 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.
June 17, 2015
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.
November 5, 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 maybe camo tape ain't such a great idea; I'll get some neon pink tape Monday...too important to lose!
August 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.
June 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.
June 30, 2009
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.
December 1, 2011
Pictures are all black and white. Very comprehensive information about species, cross breeding, cultivating, and saving seed.
January 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.
May 28, 2018
Super fantastic, informative book. I really appreciated the clear writing and practical advice. I also loved the regional advice section. I've determined that our climate is a solid mix of the Maritime Northwest and Central West Coast regional climates, so I have to do a little bit of adjusting to planting times and other recommendations. The only thing I would have REALLY liked to see was color photographs--it would simply make things easier when comparing photos with your own plants.
December 23, 2020
Wealth of information, but the minimum number of plants needed for each variety was listed only for a few plants. Also this 2002 edition is outdated as the climate has drastically changed in the last 20 years. In the northeast (where I live and garden) several plants can now be successfully grown, such as okra, sweet potatoes, mung and lima beans. Hope the 3rd edition is in the works with updated info.
May 20, 2022
Seed to Seed 2nd edition is written in a text book fashion with what seems to me an intent to educate the reader rather than entertain. The book breaks down plants by Family, Genus, & Variety. It provides basic planting details, isolation distances (based on commercial growing requirements), seed saving techniques, & seed viability over time. I did read this book from front cover to back cover & found the information very helpful.
December 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.
December 29, 2021
Incredibly informative book for anyone, not just those with an interest in gardening. Seed saving won’t take up too much space in your brain. Its simple, but it is a perpetually useful skill that we should all know something about. This book is beautiful as well as comprehensive and easy to understand.
August 31, 2020
Great resource to add to your home library from Seed Savers Exchange. This volume explains seed saving from heirloom varieties. It gives growing tips for different regions around the United States.
There aren't a lot of photos but a ton of easy to follow, descriptive text.
There aren't a lot of photos but a ton of easy to follow, descriptive text.
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February 20, 2024A great reference for the shelf.
However, after reading this, I’ve decided that saving seeds seems like too much work and can have too much error. Does that mean the book failed?
Maybe someday I’ll pick this up and try saving seeds from one or two plants just to practice.
However, after reading this, I’ve decided that saving seeds seems like too much work and can have too much error. Does that mean the book failed?
Maybe someday I’ll pick this up and try saving seeds from one or two plants just to practice.
June 5, 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.
November 21, 2018
Detailed information for successful saving of true to parent seeds.
May 25, 2020
This book is very informative. However it’s an incredibly dry read. Makes a better reference book than a sit down and read cover to cover.
August 14, 2020
Yes, it's a seed saving book that's incredibly comprehensive. What I wasn't expecting was to be able to have a list of practically every domesticated plant, divided by families. Beyond impressed
December 22, 2021
Love this book.
June 1, 2022
Helpful, though sometimes impractical.
September 14, 2022
Great information! Glad to know that this company is preserving so many precious seeds for future generations! Well Done!
May 3, 2020
Although extremely informative, the repetition of its structure and delivery made it very difficult to read through. This is a must have reference, but most of the material could be efficiently conveyed in a table format.
March 7, 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 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
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
September 5, 2016
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.
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.
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 reference that I'm likely to come back to repeatedly.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews