Saving Seeds in January

Our crew of growers were out in the fields 3 out of 5 days last week. They were busy collecting seed from 3 different varieties of basil as well as seed from summer savory. They also harvested the remaining purple top turnips. These turnips are being stored in a cool dry place until mid March. We will then transplant them back into the ground and watch as they produce a seed stalk. Those seeds will be collected and ultimately planted again in August for our fall crop (2006). Seed saving is a great way to reduce our costs while developing strains of crops that are acclimated to our climate and soil conditions here in upper Montgomery County Maryland.