SEED Luxembourg asbl and CELL asbl, September 2025
Introduction to the practical aspects of growing vegetable seeds in your own garden, written by Frank Adams (professional vegetable gardener, specialised in organic seed production for 30 years, secretary of SEED Luxembourg asbl) and published by SEED Luxembourg asbl and CELL asbl in September 2025. The guide assumes knowledge of vegetable growing and applies to the climate zone of Northern Europe between latitudes 48°N and 52°N. The first part covers the purpose of the guide, the reasons for traditional seed cultivation and local seeds, networking and policy work, seed categories and seed quality. The second part covers botanical aspects (vegetable types, annual and biennial species, pollination, inflorescences, seed formation and maturation) and technical aspects: selection of seed bearers, overwintering and transplanting of biennials, cultivation of seed bearers, harvest, seed drying, cleaning and sorting, processing after wet extraction, seed quality and germination testing, and storage. The third part gives cultivation notes for ten species (tomato, beans, lettuce, cucumber, onion, beetroot, pumpkin, endive, carrot, head cabbage). Summary tables on life cycle, pollination, fertilisation and risk of hybridisation, and a calendar for seed cultivation, are followed by specialist literature and addresses for equipment. The publication was supported by the Luxembourg Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity and œuvre nationale.
Key topics: seed saving, seed quality, seed storage, seed drying, on-farm conservation, vegetable seeds
