I'm very new to gardenning and am wondering if its okay to simply put the seeds of homegrown veggies in a plastic bag for the following year? would i have to take special precautions or would a dry place be sufficient?
Most seeds you can simply dry. The pepper seeds are easy to get to of course, just put them on a dish and dry them out. Stuff like tomatos and tomatillos are efficiently done by crushing with a fork and rinse in a strainer so you can get to the seeds easier. Just remember to dry them thoroghly before storing for the winter. Just spread them out on a plate and let them dry naturally. Personally, I would store them in a paper envelope. It would breath better than plastic and keep down any mildew if you have humidity. Also remember to harvest seeds from mature fruits. You should let your peppers mature till they turn color in order to ensure that your seeds will germinate.
Yes, Monkeydog is exactly right! I couldn't have said it better myself. I love to collect pepper seeds - any seeds really. Pepper seeds though, both hot and sweet are so easy to harvest from the fruits, already cleaned too! My favorite seeds to work with, by far. I have even tried germinating 6 year old pepper seeds, and they popped like fresh seed! It's all in the storing, and the secret to my success is the bottom of my fridge! I keep the seeds in paper coin envelopes inside a special tupperware container that locks out moisture. Although most of my seeds are fresh and new, the special container and the coolness of the fridge will keep them viable for many years to come. Also too, because the seeds are always kept cool, when I take them out of the fridge to sow them, they germinate quickly because of the instant warmth. Keeping your seeds in the fridge really pays off. : )
