Sandy's eggplant reminded me about seed saving.  And NOW is a good time to do it.  

 

When you have a plant like that: strong and healthy, happy in its environment, and producing fruit like crazy, you NEED to save those seeds for future planting.  The plant is telling you that it is well adapted to your climate, your soil, and your style of gardening.  

 

Eggplant seeds are really easy to save.  When you cut into the fruit to use for a meal, just scrape out some seeds onto a plate and let them dry for a day or two.  Remember to label your seeds, lest ye forget what they are (when you finally get around to planting them. Seeds tend to look the same after a couple years.)   Make sure they are very dry before storing them in a glass container.  We use pimiento jars, because they're a good size and they're free.  We also add one of those little desiccant packs that come in our vitamin bottles.  That seems to help keep them dry.  I've read that eggplant seeds will still be viable after 6 years, if stored properly.

 

Not all seeds last that long, but are still worth saving.  Like heirloom tomatoes, or those beautiful blue pumpkins.  When you cut into them, save a few seeds to plant in the spring.  Heirloom seeds will reproduce true to the variety.  Hybrid seeds, like Better Boy tomatoes may not.  They usually revert to the characteristics of one or the other parent plant, so don't bother with them.  But do try to save seeds from heirloom plants.  I've had good luck with butternut and spaghetti squashes.  And I've been growing pineapple tomatoes for the last 4 years, just saving my own seeds.

 

So, you see it's a good idea to reuse what Nature has given us, not just the gift of food, but the ability to grow it again for free.  Besides, it's fun to know that you did it.  Gardeners love "bragging rights."

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!