If you've never tried saving seeds from vegetables in your garden, don't let the idea intimidate you, because saving seeds from existing plants is a simple process. Nearly all vegetable seeds can be saved and planted in your garden the following spring, and collecting seeds from peas is among the easiest of all. Saving seeds is a good way to practice self-sufficiency and to save money in your family’s food budget.
Choose one of the healthiest pea plants in your garden. Be sure the vine is bright green and free of pests, fungus or disease. Tie a piece of brightly-colored string on the vine to remind you which vine you want to save.
Allow the pea pods to remain on the chosen vine when you harvest the other pea plants. Harvest the peas when the pods are so dry that you can hear the peas ratting when you shake the pod, but don't wait too long. If the pods are allowed to remain on the vine too long, they will eventually burst and scatter the seeds on the ground, where they can be eaten by hungry birds.
Toss the pea pods into a paper bag. Put the paper bag in a well-ventilated, cool room until the peas are completely dry, at least two weeks.
Break open the dry pea pods and remove the pea seeds. Store the pea seeds in a labeled envelope, and put the envelope in a glass jar. Put the lid on the jar and store the pea seeds in the refrigerator until planting time.
Things You Will Need
- Brightly-colored string
- Paper bag
- Labeled envelope
- Glass jar with lid
- If you're unable to check the pea pods often and you're worried that the pods might burst, tie a small piece of netting loosely around each pea pod to catch the pea seeds.
- If you want, you can just leave the pea pods in the paper bag until you're ready to plant the seeds in the spring