external facebook instagramlinkedin pinterest playsearch twitteryoutube

Category

Learn

Education is at the heart of Seed Savers Exchange’s nonprofit mission. In addition to educational events and workshops throughout the year, SSE provides growing and seed-saving guides and instructional videos on a variety of topics.

A small plant with four starter leaves in a plastic cell with soil.

Thinning Seedlings

What?! I have to toss some of these perfectly healthy seedlings I worked so hard to start? Which do I save and which do I not? That is the reaction of many a new gardener upon first learning that thinning seedlings is a necessary step to ensure healthy growth of plant starts. The reality is that, if left in crowded environs, your seedlings will eventually suffer.

Read More

Conference Accessibility

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event environment for all attendees. We strive to provide an event that is welcoming, accommodating, and supportive of diverse accessibility needs. Watch this space as more information will be added as it becomes available.

Read More
packets of seeds and small jars of seeds spread out on a red tablecloth

How to Organize a Seed Swap

A seed swap is a gathering of people, usually gardeners and farmers, who have come together to share seeds. Open seed sharing is one of Seed Savers Exchange’s core values since our founding 50 years ago. Keep reading to learn how to organize a seed swap of your own!

Read More
A white head of cauliflower surrounded by its leaves

Growing Guide: Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a biennial crop belonging to the species Brassica oleracea, and requires a generous amount of space in the garden, especially in its second year of growth. Start cauliflower seeds in early spring and overwinter the plants to save seeds the following year.

Read More
Many squashes sit on tables in a greenhouse

How to Store Winter Squash

For some folks, harvest season brings hours and hours of canning, freezing, and drying to preserve crops for the colder months ahead. But if you’re looking for a crop that stores well all on its own, look no further than winter squash! Winter squash are versatile, nutritious, and can store for months. 

Read More
Apple tree filled with green apples.

Apple Grafting

Learn to graft your own apple trees through our series of virtual presentations and small-group sessions. Registration includes guidance for caring for your apple trees throughout the year and access to educational videos, recordings of live sessions, and other resources.

Details
A pile of many squashes with different colors, shapes, and sizes

Squash Hand-Pollination

Hand-pollination of squash ensures that the plants produce true-to-type seed and that the flowers are not contaminated by the pollen from another variety when the required isolation distance is impractical. Because the large male and female blossoms are easily distinguished, hand-pollinating squash can be easy for gardeners of all skill levels.

Read More
Three pale yellow ears of corn with the husks pealed back

Corn Hand-Pollination

In absence of isolation, hand-pollination ensures that the corn plant’s flowers are not contaminated by pollen from another variety. Hand-pollination prevents hybridization and ensures that the plant produces seeds that are true-to-type.

Read More
Rows of plants in the evaluation garden at Heritage Farm

It’s National Weed Your Garden Day!

So maybe it doesn’t spark the excitement of National Doughnut Day (June 2) or National Chocolate Ice Cream Day (June 7) or even National Selfie Day (no, you haven’t missed that—it’s June 21). But here at Seed Savers Exchange, we think National Weed Your Garden Day—observed annually on June 13—has a whole lot going for it too.

Read More