Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners – review

by Suzanne Ashworth

2nd Edition

My Review

With the growing concern of GMO’s and our food supply dwindling, this book could not have been published at a better time.

When it comes to preserving heirloom seed; this book is one of the most informed complete manuals on the market.

It has thorough and definitive seeds saving guide for 160 non-hybrid vegetable crops, with comprehensive information about each plant.

If you are looking for an entertaining story type book, this is not! It is a great reference book on ‘How To”.

It is the ideal book if you plan on saving seed and you’re not quite sure where to start ~ you will soon find that this book is a must have and is indispensable.

The seed list contains mostly vegetables, but there are a few herbs and grains. The book includes the following:

Botanical classification
Basic description, history and culture
Type of pollination like insects or wind
Planting from seed
Seed production and harvesting
Regional growing recommendations for the 5 US regions
Seed statistics such as percent of germination, number of seeds per ounce, different varieties, etc.

It is also evident that Ashworth is very much a believer of sustainable practices. The first few chapters explain how the devastating agricultural practices of commercial farmers are taking its toll on our environment. As well, the appendix has numerous resources on how to find heirloom plants. Plus there are contacts who might be able to help with any struggles and success of your sustainable garden.

A must have book! Especially for seed savers and Gardeners!

Online Review

Seed to Seed is a complete seed-saving guide that describes specific techniques for saving the seeds of 160 different vegetables. This book contains detailed information about each vegetable, including its botanical classification, flower structure and means of pollination, required population size, isolation distance, techniques for caging or hand-pollination, and also the proper methods for harvesting, drying, cleaning, and storing the seeds.

Seed to Seed is widely acknowledged as the best guide available for home gardeners to learn effective ways to produce and store seeds on a small scale. The author has grown seed crops of every vegetable featured in the book, and has thoroughly researched and tested all of the techniques she recommends for the home garden.

This newly updated and greatly expanded Second Edition includes additional information about how to start each vegetable from seed, which has turned the book into a complete growing guide. Local knowledge about seed starting techniques for each vegetable has been shared by expert gardeners from seven regions of the United States-Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast/Gulf Coast, Midwest, Southwest, Central West Coast, and Northwest.

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