It’s never too early to start planning next spring’s garden! Join the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners at our FREE Seed Exchange, where you can share your extra seeds, pick up new seeds to grow, and get advice from Extension Master Gardeners.
About the Event
If you’re a home garden seed saver or have some extra commercially grown seeds left from last year’s planting, bring them to the EMG Seed Exchange. Even if you don’t have seeds to share, you’re encouraged to participate. Gardeners are always happy to share their knowledge and harvest with others.
Types of Seeds Typically on Hand
- Vegetables
- Herbs
- Perennials
- Annuals
- Trees and shrubs
Other Activities at the Seed Exchange
- Ask a Master Gardener – Got a gardening question?
- Want to chat with fellow plant nerds? We’ve got you covered!
- Gardening book and magazine exchange
- Stamp rally for kids of all ages!
Tips for saving seeds for the exchange
While volumes have been written about saving seeds, below are some general tips, depending on the seed type. If you need envelopes, use some our seed packet templates and ideas.
- How to save seed for:
- For many herbs and flowers, allow seed heads to dry on the plant before collecting and then hang upside down to completely dry. Crumble the seed head to separate seeds.
- For legumes, allow seed pods to thoroughly dry on plants. Do not harvest while wet. Separate seeds from pod.
- For plants such as pumpkins, squash, or watermelon, leave fruit on the vine past when you would pick them for eating and then store for an additional three weeks before removing seeds. Scoop seeds from the fruit, place in water to clean. Viable seed will sink to the bottom. Remove viable seed from water and dry. Pumpkin, squash, and melon seeds can benefit from fermenting as described for tomatoes below.
- For tomatoes, leave fruit on vine until fully ripe. Squeeze seeds and some pulp into a jar with a small amount of water. Allow seeds to ferment: keep at 75–85?F for 1.5–5 days, leaving for about one day after bubbling or white mold appear, then clean in water the same as for pumpkins above.
- Place clean, dry seeds in paper bags, paper envelopes, or glass jars. See our seed packet templates and ideas page for ideas.
- Label bag, envelope, or jar with the common name, Latin name, date of harvest, and any useful instructions if unusual seeds.
- Please do not bring seeds for plants on the Virginia Invasive Plant Species List.
- You also are welcome to bring in commercially packaged seeds.
- Please avoid bringing seed that is more than 2–4 years old.
Inclement Weather Policy
If Mother Nature sends us a light dusting of snow for the seed exchange, the event will go on as scheduled.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.