How to Save Your Own Seed You can save seed from any standard or heirloom variety. The first technique for successful hand pollination and seed saving is selection. This is the most basic plant breeding method. To select is to choose which genes and characteristics to perpetuate. We do it by saving seed from the best plants.
Superior plants are more likely to produce superior offspring.
Here are some basic guidelines to consider when planning your garden with seed saving in mind. Grow several plants of any variety you plan to save seed from. There are two reasons. First, if you have only one or two plants, it may be difficult or even impossible to find a female flower and a male flower at the right stage for hand-pollinating simultaneously. With three or more plants, it's usually easy.