Saving Vegetable Seeds: Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, and More

Introduction

Seed saving works only for open-pollinated varieties, not hybrids.

Save Only Open-Pollinated Varieties

Hybrid seeds don't breed true.

Tomato Seeds Need Fermentation

Squeeze seeds+juice into bowl, ferment 2 days, rinse, dry on paper plates.

Pepper Seeds Dry Directly

Remove, dry on paper plate.

Cucumber Seeds Risk Cross-Pollination

Only save if no other cucurbits within 1000 ft. Ferment like tomatoes.

Carrots/Radishes Not Worth Saving

Too many wild relatives cross with them.

Onion Seed from Sprouted Bulbs

Let storage onions sprout, replant, let flower, collect seeds.

Corn Usually Hybrid

Buy corn seed instead of saving.

Conclusion

Save OP tomato (ferment), pepper (dry), onion (from sprouts); avoid hybrids and crossers.