Saving seeds from this season’s crops for future planting is an age-old practice that is having a revival. Farmers and gardeners once relied on the sustainable practice of saving seeds from their favorite plants, sharing or trading them with other growers and planting the saved seeds later. It meant that you could grow lots of food, flowers and trees from free seeds. No seed companies, nurseries or money were involved.
At some point, businesses were established that grew plants for seeds and propagated some from cuttings to sell to growers. Seed companies, nurseries and money became involved. The legalizing of patents on some hybridized plants and most genetically modified seeds has made the opportunity to save seeds from some crops illegal. Now most growers trade dollars for their seeds every season or buy plants. In response to this, some farmers and gardeners prefer growing crops from seeds saved from nonpatented, open-pollinated and heirloom plants.
The demand for seeds saved from locally grown plants is growing and so is the number of seed exchanges in West Hawaii. At this writing three are scheduled in the next few months.
On Saturday, seed enthusiasts and savers will gather at Tropical Edibles Nursery to talk story, share a potluck lunch and trade seeds at the Summer Seed Exchange. This free event is open to the public and begins at 11:30 a.m. with talks by Momi Subiano and Nancy Redfeather. At noon, those present will enjoy lunch. The trading begins once lunch is cleared around 12:30 p.m. Seed savers are encouraged to bring viable seeds and cuttings of their favorite plants as well as information about growing out their seeds. Potted plants are not permitted to avoid spreading little fire ants or coqui frog eggs. You do not have to bring material to trade, but be willing to grow out the seeds you acquire and save some for future events.
The Friends of the Libraries, Kona is planning to start a seed exchange and a series of seed and plant information classes at the library in Kailua-Kona. Members are hoping their program will empower people to grow more of their own food and medicinal plants. Their tentative start date is Sept. 15. To get involved in the program or find out more about it, contact Natalie Guerin at Nehamah47@gmail.com or call her at 508-264-7335.
The Hawaii Public Seed Initiative is sponsoring its annual November Seed Exchange at Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook in conjunction with a three-day Arbor Day celebration. The seed exchange will begin at 3 p.m. Nov. 6 with a workshop for students. The actual exchange of seeds is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m., with a dinner for students and teachers following at 5:30. To get involved in this event contact Nancy Redfeather from the Hawaii Public Seed Initiative at nredfeather@kohalacenter.org or 322-2801.
With all of these opportunities to trade seeds and learn about saving seeds, it’s time to get involved in the movement for many reasons. Locally grown seeds will often produce plants that are better adapted to area climatic conditions. By continuing to plant seeds from plants on your site, you will find the following generations will likely be well adapted to your location and will produce heartier plants.
When choosing plants for seed, select healthy ones that grow vigorously in your location. Choose those that produce the tastiest and most disease-free flowers and fruit. Growing plants from seeds that you selected wisely will often produce healthier plants and fruit in the next generation. Grown in optimal conditions, your good seeds can even produce more nutritious fruit. Eating fresh and nutritious food can, of course, positively affect your health as well.
Not all plants grow “true” from seed, however. Many are better reproduced from cuttings, root shoots or huli. For example, ulu, bananas and taro are best propagated vegetatively. Many plants are best reproduced from air layers or micro-propagation techniques. Many citrus or avocado varieties have been crossed with other plants in their species to produce high quality fruit but their seeds may not produce the same combined quality of their parents. Propagation information is available online but is probably best gathered from experienced gardeners and seed collectors. You’ll find many of these at the upcoming seed exchanges.
Tropical gardening helpline
Bugz asks: I am thinning out my banana patch and want to know which keiki I should select to stay or move and which I should simply remove.
Answer: It is true that some banana keiki will be better producers than others. The sword off-shoots have a well-developed root system and will grow into healthy banana plants. Sword keiki have small, sharply pointed leaves and large root systems. Keiki with large leaves are often called water shoots. They usually have much weaker roots and should be removed.
A sword keiki of about 3 feet tall is ready to transplant. Shorter keiki may not have developed strong roots and are likely to die if moved. If you are moving a younger banana, prepare the site first. Dig a hole about 18 inches deep and twice as wide as the base of the keiki. Amend the soil with compost and some potassium fertilizer. Compost with banana plant parts or fruit peels, green sand, rock dust, other products you might find on the Web will add potassium. You can also add phosphorus (example: bone meal) to encourage root growth.
To separate the keiki from the main plant, use an o‘o bar or sharp shovel and push down to sever the connection between the two plants. Once you have loosened the keiki in the soil, lift it up, being careful not to damage the roots. Remove most of the leaves from the keiki once you have replanted it so that it will put its energy into root growth in its new home.
Water the new plant deeply right away. Add mulch around the base to help retain moisture. Water twice or three times a week until the plant recovers from the move. It may wilt for a few weeks but will gradually start putting out new leaves. At that point, you can apply a balanced fertilizer or one with a high potassium percentage.
Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by certified master gardeners. Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living on an organic farm in Captain Cook.
Gardening events
Saturday: Mango Festival fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. at Under the Bodhi Tree restaurant in the Shops at Mauna Lani. It’s $50 for a mango-inspired vegan dinner. Limited reservations are available at 895-2053.
Farmers markets
Wednesday: Hooulu Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay
Wednesday: Sunset Farmers Market, 2 p.m. to sunset at the north makai corner of the Kmart parking lot
Saturday: Keauhou Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
Sunday: South Kona Green Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook
Monday to Saturday: U-Pick greens and produce, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tropical Edibles Nursery in Captain Cook
Plant advice lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu
Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon at UH Cooperative Extension Service in Kainaliu, 322-4892.
Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo, 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu.