How to Collect and Store My Seeds: Guide for Urban Gardeners

Seed saving is a smart, sustainable way to keep your garden thriving year after year. Whether you’re growing chillies in pots on your balcony or herbs on a sunny windowsill, collecting and storing seeds from your healthiest plants helps you save money, reduce waste, and maintain plant varieties that thrive in your local conditions. If you’ve wondered how to do it, this article walks you through the basics of collecting, drying, labelling, and storing seeds—perfect for anyone gardening in compact city spaces. It’s how I collect and save my seeds!

Which plants to choose for seed-saving?

Collecting my seeds from healthy or high producing plants

Not all plants produce seeds that are suitable for saving. Ideally, you should choose open-pollinated or heirloom varieties, which tend to grow true to the parent plant. Hybrid varieties may produce seeds, but the resulting plants are often unpredictable.

Start with beginner-friendly plants that are easy to grow and save seeds from. Tomatoes, chillies, okra, basil, spinach, and marigolds are ideal choices for urban gardeners. Identify healthy or productive plants. Collect seeds from them to be assured of disease-resistant plants in the next generation.

How I collect my seeds

Drying seeds on the stalk to collect seeds

Timing is a critical element when collecting seeds. It’s best to allow the seeds to mature fully on the plant to ensure viability. Here’s how I collect seeds based on plant type:

Dry fruits and pods (like beans or marigolds): I let the pods stay on the plant until they turn brown and dry. Then, I shake the pods to check if the seeds are ready to extract. If the seeds rattle inside the pod when shaken, I know it’s time to open the pods and extract the seeds.
Wet fruits (like tomatoes or chillies): I scoop out the seeds along with the pulp, place them in a bowl of water, and let them sit for a day or two to ferment (this helps remove the jelly coating). After that, I rinse and strain them through a sieve.

You can use paper bags, bowls, or shallow trays to catch seeds during harvest, especially on balconies or patios where wind can scatter small seeds.

How to clean and dry seeds

Seeds drying on paper for storage in an urban home

After collecting seeds, the next important step is drying. It prevents mould and ensures long-term storage.

I start by removing any pulp, chaff, or plant debris from the seeds. Then, I spread the cleaned seeds in a single layer on paper towels, mesh screens, or newspaper and place them in a shaded, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.

Depending on humidity, seeds may take 3–7 days to dry completely. To test if the seeds are ready, bend them. If they snap cleanly, they are ready. If they bend without snapping, allow them to dry a while longer.

Labelling and organising my seeds

Collecting dispersed seeds from dried stalks

It’s easy to forget which seeds are which once they’re dried, especially if you save several types. I always label seeds immediately with:

Plant name
Variety (if known)
Date of collection

You can use paper envelopes, seed-saving notebooks, or upcycled glass jars for storage. If you’re tight on space, try organising seeds by growing season or container size using small folders or Ziplock bags stored in a box.

Best practices for storing seeds

Airtight glass jar storing seeds with silica gel for moisture control

Seeds need cool, dry, and dark conditions to stay viable. Store them in an airtight container in a drawer, cupboard, or closet—anywhere they won’t be exposed to humidity or sunlight.

To absorb moisture, toss in a silica gel packet or a small pouch of uncooked rice. Avoid plastic containers unless they’re completely airtight and kept in a dry environment.

Most seeds stay viable for 1–3 years, but their germination rate declines over time. You can test the viability of your seeds by placing a few between damp paper towels, spraying them daily to keep them moist, and checking after a few days to see how many sprout.

Start seed saving today!

Seed saving helps sow seeds of viable plants

Saving seeds from your terrace or balcony garden is more than a money-saving trick—it’s a way to reconnect with your plants, reduce reliance on store-bought packets, and build a resilient garden tailored to your microclimate. Start small, keep it simple, and with each season, you’ll gain confidence, and before you know it, seed saving will become a cherished part of your urban gardening journey.