During this time of year there is revived interest in saving seeds from the garden.

Why would gardeners want to save seeds?

Seed companies continuously replace older cultivars (a plant or group of plants selected for desirable characteristics that can be maintained by propagation) with newly developed ones, and many of the older cultivars become very difficult or impossible to find.

In some cases, gardeners are especially pleased with a new cultivar they are growing for the first time, but do not know the cultivar name. Immediately they think of saving some of those seeds. Other gardeners routinely grow family or regional "heirloom" cultivars that are not available commercially. Their only assurance of a renewed seed supply may be to save seed.

Considering the relatively small cost of garden seed and the superior quality of most commercially grown vegetable seed, economics do not usually justify saving garden seed.

For those who do choose to save seed, the following recommendations should be followed.

• Do not save seed from hybrid cultivars. Seed saved from hybrids will not duplicate the hybrid parent.
• Save only those seeds that are free of insects and disease.
• Collect seeds only after they have reached maturity.
• Seeds from fleshy fruits should be promptly separated from the fruit, washed thoroughly and dried on paper towels.
• Seeds in pods can be allowed to dry in the pod and then cleaned by flailing, winnowing or screening.
• After seeds are properly cleaned and dried, they should be stored in a relatively cool, dry place.
• Once your seed has been prepared for storage, keep it in a sealed glass jar with a desiccant added so any excess moisture is removed. You can buy packets online or simply save those little packets of silica from new shoes and purses.
• Use saved seed as soon as possible. Most vegetable seeds maintain good viability for only two to five years.

Michael Wheeler is county extension coordinator for the UGA Cooperative Extension in Hall County. You can contact him at 770-535-8293, www.hallcounty.org/extension. His column appears weekly and on gainesvilletimes.com/life.