Be patient make sure the seeds are ripe before you harvest. This means letting seed heads turn completely brown before picking or letting seed pods start to open before harvesting.

Store seeds in coffee filters or paper bags until dry vs plastic containers or baggies, as they can mold.

Store freshly harvested seeds in a shed or garage. Many will have small insects in them that you don't want in your home!

Mark the container or put a plant marker or even a piece of paper with the name of the seed harvested.

Hybrids won't come true to seed. If you're unsure, look it up. Even if they don't come true, you can still get nice plants!

Some plants have seed pods. Those that don't, contain the seed in the flower (like a zinnia).

Keep a notebook, spreadsheet, or a database of seed collected, name, genus, hybrid---or not, date harvested, and a picture (if possible).

The best way to make sure tuft type flowers seeds are ready for harvest, is to flip up the seed head and when it is brown underneath the seeds are ready for harvest.

To make sure plants that produce seed pods are ready for harvest is the pod will actually split open to release the seed.

Open pollinated plants will cross with the same genus of plants. Open pollinated means that a plant that must be fertilized by insects in order to produce seed.

You can fertilize your own plants by simply taking a soft paint brush from the outside of the flower head to the inside or from the stamen to the pistil of the plant.

Beans and peas do not cross!!

Most varieties of tomatoes will not cross excluding, currant and potato leaf types.

Always save seed from your healthiest plants!!

Curcurbits (melons) will cross if planted within a half of a mile.

Plants sometimes have similar or common names there may be two different types of plants with the same common name. That is why it is so important for the Botanical or scientific name so you may obtain appropriate growing information per plant.

The most useful tool for me was different size sieves. I can shake out the seeds on a paper plate and throw away the chaff. Kinda. Still alot of work

Seed packets that contain the botanical name of the plant, the year harvested, your screen name, and any requirements such as type of light or soil the plant grows well in will make your trade partners very happy.

Plants that have been uprooted prior to seed ripening will NOT produce viable seed.

Let seeds dry for several days before storing them, especially if you plan to store them in an air tight container or plastic bag.