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It can get expensive, though. A much cheaper way to get more plants in your garden is to collect seeds from your existing plants and then grow them yourself.

Here are some reasons to go with seeds rather than purchased plants:

• It’s free (except for the cost of seed growing medium and seed-saving supplies). This is particularly significant if you have a big yard to fill.
• It’s a great way for kids to get started in gardening.
• Better chance of success. You know the parents do well in your yard, so chances are the offspring plants will too.
• It’s great fun to watch a whole plant grow from a tiny seed. Truly a miracle of nature!
• You can pick and choose the plants you want more of — for instance, certain berry colors or leaf shapes, or an heirloom variety that you want to conserve.
• Seed collecting is a truly Zen-like activity and brings you into the present moment. You notice more details about your garden and your plants.
• The always present possibility of surprise — you may get a new flower color, a new variegated leaf. You never know!

If you’re convinced, here are the basics of collecting seeds.

• Collect them when the flower stalks and seed heads are very dry.
• Use paper bags to collect and store the seeds. You can get these from .
• Put the paper bags in an airtight container, like a glass jar or plastic Tupperware. For added moisture protection, you can add a little silica gel bag (you can save these from over-the-counter medications and other products). You can also put a teaspoon of powdered milk into a tissue to absorb extra moisture.
• Label your seeds with the plant name and date — particularly the year — and any other information (flower color, flavor, etc.) that you might want to know in the future when you’re selecting which seeds to grow out.
• , like a drawer in a cool room or a refrigerator. This can extend their viability to several years. 

One thing to remember — if you want predictability, don’t grow your plants from hybrid varieties. Hybrid plants do not produce seeds that are true to type — i.e. they will look (or taste) very different from their parents. This includes many edible veggies, fruit trees and quite a few ornamentals. Save the seeds from naturally pollinated heirloom varieties, as these will breed true to type. For more predictability, choose plants that self-pollinate rather than ones (like squashes, for example) that cross-pollinate with other plants of the same species.

For more tips on seed saving, check out this helpful article from the University of New Hampshire: “�

When you’re ready to grow out your seeds, take a look at my article “How to plant and grow from seed.�