We're just home after a trip to see family in Southern California. Lots of gardens, and lots of thoughts to share with you once I've had a minute to process it all.

In the meantime, a quick note about greetings and easy seed saving.

One of my cousins told me that she and her friend Sue are both avid readers of this newsletter, and often discuss what they read. So fun! Hello to you Sue!

And hello you all of you who, like Sue, open and read this newsletter weekly. Thank you. It means the world to me that you're out there lending me a little bit of your precious time and attention.

If you're so inclined, drop me a reply and say hi! You know a lot about me and my garden, but if you've never written, I don't know about you. I'd love to though! Just hit reply - your responses come directly to my inbox.

On to seeds, and the easiest seed to save:

This morning I spent a couple hours weeding (and am about to head out to weed some more!) As I pulled out some nasturtiums past their prime, I was reminded that theirs are the absolute easiest seeds to save.

If you're totally new to seed saving, and have nasturtiums growing, here's a way to dip your toe into seed saving.

The seeds grow like this:

They're big and chunky, growing in groups of three.

They fall off the plant when they're ready.

Lift the plant and you'll find the seeds scattered on the ground below.

All you do is collect them and save them to replant. Of course you can just leave them be, and you'll get a new crop of nasturtiums in that same spot next year.

Best practice for storing saved seed is to keep them somewhere cool, dark, and dry, in a labeled paper bag. Labeled, because even if you think you'll remember what they are, you might not! And paper because you want the seeds to breathe. Any dampness that gets trapped inside a seed bag makes them more likely to rot.

Fun fact: For longer term seed storage, professional seed growers like to follow the 100 rule: The combined temperature (in Fahrenheit) and humidity of your seed storage should add up to no more than 100. For example If your storage area is 70 degrees F, humidity should be less than 30.

Home gardeners don't have to be quite so strict, of course, but it's good to know what the ideal is!

How is your garden doing as we make the transition to proper summer?

Happy Seedurday,

Anne

When you’re ready, here are some more ways I can help you grow a thriving garden from seed:

1. Plan your seed-starting schedule with our ​free printable planner.​

2. Download the free ​Orta Seed Starting Handbook with all the basics you need to succeed with seeds.​

3. Take the guesswork out of watering with Orta Self-Watering Pots. (Find discounted factory seconds here!)

4. Join the Orta Seed Club to have 5 hand-picked, unusual & high-yielding varieties delivered to you every season.

Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up to get the best emails about gardening from seed!