The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Seed Saving And Starting

Mouthwatering heirlooms, exciting hybrids, sensational herbs, colorful flowers—you dream of a garden overflowing with vibrant, healthy plants. Turn your dream garden into reality with seeds you save and start yourself! With easy ideas on harvesting, storing, sowing and nurturing your seeds into flourishing plants, this helpful guide gives you a sure path from start to success. In it, you get: • A look at seed and plant anatomy and how pollination works. • Simple suggestions for identifying seeds to save, and for gathering and prepping seeds for next year's garden. • Guidance on germinating seeds, indoors or out, using scarification or stratification. • Tips for transplanting, thinning, hardening off, and protecting seedlings from weather, pests and disease. • Easy ideas for cross-breeding plants and creating hybrids suited to your garden and climate. • A comprehensive directory of botanical names and harvesting, germination, and sowing data for hundreds of plants. __The Complete Idiot's Guide To Seed Saving And Starting__ is an essential resource to reap richer results with plants grown from your own seeds! Getting started with seeds. Why save seeds? A seed is born Harvesting and storing seeds. How to save seeds. Preparing your seeds for storage. Storing your seeds Germinating and sowing seeds. Germinating and testing your seeds. Scarification and stratification. Sowing seeds indoors. Sowing seeds outdoors When seeds become plants. Extending the growing season. Transplanting your seedlings. Protecting your plants from diseases, pests, and critters Building your seed future. Creating new varieties by cross breeding. Creating a gardening journal. Sharing your knowledge Seed directories. The herb, spice, grain, and fruit seed directory. The vegetable seed directory. The flower seed directory. Explains the essential techniques for growing plants from harvested seeds, including information on collecting seeds, drying, controlling pests, testing and germinating, and sowing--

• Covers all of the essential techniques- harvesting, drying, disease and pest control, testing and germinating, and sowing