Introduction

If you’re a gardener, you’ve probably had some of your plants produce fruit or vegetables. What do you do with the seeds? If you’re like me, you probably throw them in the trash. But have you ever thought about saving them? Saving seeds is one of the best ways to help preserve biodiversity, improve nutrition and food security across the globe and reduce pollution by reducing waste. Plus, it’s fun! In this article I’ll walk through how to save tomato seeds and cucumber seeds so that next time your garden produces fruit or vegetables, instead of throwing away those seeds consider storing them for next year’s garden or sharing them with others who might benefit from having access to good quality organic seed stock.

Saving seeds from your garden is key to saving the world

Saving seeds from your garden is key to saving the world.

By saving seeds, you can preserve biodiversity, genetic diversity, cultural diversity and environmental diversity. You can also help preserve the future of all of these things.

How to save tomato seeds

To save tomato seeds, you need to allow the tomatoes to ripen on the vine and then fully dry out in a warm place. The seeds will become brown and shriveled at that point, but they can still be stored successfully. If you want to plant those seeds in your garden next year, separate them from any remaining fruit or flesh by rubbing them between your hands over a bowl until only the brownish seeds remain.

Next, place those seeds into an airtight container and store them in a cool dark place for up to three years so that they are ready for planting when spring rolls around again!

Cucumber seeds can also be saved with this method; however, their longevity is shorter than that of tomatoes’—about one year instead of three. When storing cucumber seeds make sure not to let them get too damp or wet as this could compromise their viability!

How to store tomato seeds

• Store tomato seeds in a cool, dry place.
• Store them in a glass jar with a lid, or in small paper bags that have been folded shut and taped shut with masking tape.
• Store them in an opaque container (such as glass or metal), so they won’t be exposed to light while they’re drying out, which can cause them to rot or develop moldy spores that can contaminate your seed stock.
• If you choose not to use any of these methods for storage, be sure that whatever vessel you use has no holes or other openings through which moisture can get into the seeds before they are completely dried out—and make sure it’s big enough so that nothing else gets into there either!

How to save cucumber seeds

Saving cucumber seeds is a pretty straightforward process. All you have to do is let them dry out, and they’ll be good to go!

• Cut the cucumbers open and remove the seeds.
• Spread out the seeds on a paper towel or cloth to dry them out (you don’t want them too wet). It’s best if you can hang these somewhere where they get plenty of air circulation, like outside on a nice day or near an open window indoors.
• Once they’re dry, store them in an airtight container like a jar or plastic baggie with holes poked into it so moisture can escape (like our friends at Cool Tools suggest). Store in your fridge if you want to keep them for longer than six months without having to reseed every year—that’s what I do because we end up going through most of our seed stock before then anyway!

How to store cucumber seeds

Cucumbers are a very easy plant to grow. They are vine-like and climb tall supports, making them ideal for growing in a garden or on the side of your house.

Cucumber seeds can be stored for one year in the refrigerator or freezer (at 0°F) and up to five years if stored in paper envelopes. If you are going to store them longer than one year, it is recommended that you store them in plastic bags or containers instead of envelopes because they will absorb moisture from the air over time which may damage your seeds. The best place to store cucumber seeds is actually outside! They love being out under the sun where there’s plenty of warmth and humidity for them to thrive. Just make sure not too much rain gets on top of where they’re sitting – we don’t want mold growing on those little guys!

Why save seeds?

Saving your own seeds is good for you, your family and the world.

• Save money

If you want to save money, growing your own produce is one of the best ways to do it. The cost of buying fresh veggies from a grocery store can add up quickly, especially if you’re buying organic food that’s grown in faraway places! By saving seeds instead of buying them every year, it’s easier to have the best quality vegetables on hand all year round without breaking the bank. Plus, it saves time: no more rushing through the grocery store just before closing time because there isn’t enough time left in your busy day to go pick out new plants from somewhere else (and pay another fee). You’ll never have this issue again when you grow all of your own vegetables!

• Eat healthy

The benefits don’t stop at saving money though – by growing vegetables yourself instead of purchasing them each season or week like most people do now these days means healthier eating habits overall too! That’s because homegrown foods are free from pesticides and other chemicals used by large commercial farms across America today; they’re not only safer but they also taste better too! Studies show that people who eat organically produced foods report lower incidences diseases such as cancer than those who don’t consume organic products consistently throughout their childhood development stages while simultaneously avoiding harmful substances like herbicides which may appear on regular produce sold outside supermarkets today due environmental factors such as poor soil conditions caused by drought conditions or overuse practices by farmers who aren’t careful about what types

Conclusion

It’s pretty simple: if you save your seeds, you can grow more food and help the world. So why not start today?