that you like or the color of the blossom,

that you like or the color of the blossom, its shape or fragrance. Check the plant’s health, too. The leaves should be well formed without mold or mildew. Pick the perfect plant. You want to replicate those characteristics and eliminate the ones you don’t want.

For large seed pods that will dry before they rot (like zinnia blossoms and dill heads ), let the perfect blossom or seed head stay on the plant until it .starts to wilt, then snip it off into a large, brown paper grocery bag. One blossom or seed head contains hundreds of seeds, so what you’re looking for is the perfect seed pod, not an abundance of seed pods. Expect 50-75 percent germination from the amount of seeds you save.

Fold over the top of the bag a few times and leave it to dry in a cool, dry place until planting time next spring. I hang my bags of seeds from a pole in my mud room so mice can’t get into the seeds and eat them.

For seeds in vegetables that will rot before they dry (like green peppers or cucumbers), I scrape the seeds out of the (again perfect) vegetable and put them (without washing) onto a piece of paper towel to air dry. After a couple of days, I fold up the seeds in the paper towel and put the folded towel into a paper envelope and seal it shut. Never put seeds in a plastic bag or container. They will sprout or worse yet, rot.

Most hybrid plants will not yield a true variety if you save the seeds and replant them, but it's fun to give it a try.

Some seeds, tomatoes in particular, need to rot a bit in their fruit before drying or they won’t germinate next year.

As you get more and more into seed saving, you can read up on different techniques and decide what works best for you.

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