Why don't you just look online and not buy a book? You can search all kinds of plants, foliage, etc. The web also keeps up-to-date better than a book. I know you can take your book outside, but you can also print a picture and take it outside, too. Or take a photo on your phone, download it and compare to a photo on a website. Just a thought.

Did you ever find a book? I am looking for one as well for the same reasons as you.

The two books I mentioned in my original post, I found free ebook copies of them so for now I'm checking them out. I always download free ebooks for whatever books I'm interested in so that I can check them out thoroughly before purchasing the physical copy. I got a special deal on Ebay and ended up with a free $20 coupon to use on there so I decided to get "The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds: 322 Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, Flowers, Trees, and Shrubs" by Robert Gough in paperback. It's exactly what I expected from having read multiple reviews (and having the ebook version).... It's not EXACTLY what I'm looking for, but it's pretty darn good. I decided to get this book because, so far, it seems to be as close to ideal as I can find. Still searching for something with more detail and pictures. Will let you know if I stumble upon anything better.

Who needs a book when you have a terrific video? NCTomatoman has several great videos on seed starting and up planting on his website. You can thank me later...enjoy!

http://www.craiglehoullier.com/resources/

This post may be older, but I like "Seed to Seed" by Suzanne Ashworth. It is used as a text book by many seed collectors/suppliers. I believe an introductory course on seed saving/genetics will begin soon at my college and this will probably be the text book for them too.

This is an example of lettuce in the book ("Seed to Seed, Seed Saving and Growing Techniques" by Suzanne Ashworth). You have probably already seen the table of contents through amazon etc...

Thanks for the pictures, Dion :) I'm sure they will be helpful for others. I now have both books I mentioned in my original post ("Seed to Seed" by Suzanne Ashworth and "The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds: 322 Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, Flowers, Trees, and Shrubs" by Robert Gough). Both books are really good, but I'm still looking for one that is much more detailed, almost like a field guide, I guess. I'm not exactly sure what terms to use--which I guess is why I haven't found 'THE' book. For now, though, these two books are helpful enough :)

Have you watched SSE webinars? They have many beginner webinars about genetic diversity, choosing the correct population size to collect from, and isolation techniques etc... Then they have many videos on individual vegetables and fruits....like this one for lettuce. It would be nice if SSE came out with a book.

Perhaps this book would be one you want:

The Organic Seed Grower: A Farmer's Guide to Vegetable Seed Production by John Navazio

Don't know if this will help, but I save nearly ALL of my seed by simple air drying on paper plates. I find the plates have a microbial element and its really easy to scrape the seed off of. When you save a lot of seed as well they stack really easily for further transport into 2x2 mil bags. I like the 2x2 or 3x2 bags because they are easy to label and it allows for easy gifts/trade. Larger quantities of seed go into sandwich, quart, or gallon ziplock bags. The 2x2/2x3 then go into the freezer, fridge, or main fridge where I have a "put out shelf/storage shelf". I tranfer from freezer to put out shelf so it is like the thawing cycle for about two weeks or so before I plant. I also find it easier to throw freshly dried seeds into the main fridge and transfer over a couple of times a year when I need to get seeds out. That way I am not going in and out of the freezer seed consistently. I really like freezing seed and store it in soft canvas coolers in the freezer and have them divided by herbs (small), trees(small), annuals/perinneals(medium) and fruit/vegtables(whole shelf). Hope that helps and gives you some ideas. They also make drying trays, you can turn on an oven on low and cut off let dry in oven, hang dry, use powders, etc... easiest way I have found is the way I do it above by far... some things like lettuce, carrots, broccoli can be left on and will dry on its own and its really easy to harvest seed from.

Oh and when you freeze as far as I know seed remains viable for 20+ years vs shelf storage of 3-5 years. Its how the federal cryogenic seed storage facilities work more or less.

Wow, I just save seeds and put them in envelopes or larger containers. I know some need cold and some need scarification or stratification but for the most part, I just do what Mother Nature does. I let things to go to seed in place and they grow themselves a lot. I always have volunteers of tomatoes, tomatillos, lettuce, dill, cilantro, mustard, etc. I guess I'm a lackadaisical gardener. :-)