Many seeds found in foods or used as food may be grown to make new plants.   

                   

Background:  When working with seeds gleaned from food, be aware that unless the fruit is an heirloom variety (which means that it will breed true without special pollination), the seeds you save are unlikely to result in the same quality of fruit as the parent. For example, pumpkins grown in a garden may cross-pollinate with squashes. The resulting seeds grow into plants showing mixtures of squash and pumpkin traits. As long as you aren’t expecting perfect pumpkins, seeing what will result may be half the fun.

Gather:

1. • Any of the following seeds, such as raw peanuts (if no one is allergic), sunflowers (unsalted, raw), pumpkins (unsalted, raw) or heirloom tomato seeds. Check Kitchen Seed Survivor for more ideas)
   

2. • Recycled containers
   

3. • Potting soil
   

Seeds may be started in almost any recycled container. Old milk cartons, newspaper pots, even empty egg shells can serve as containers. Put opening in the bottom of the container for drainage and set it in a tray, and/or add some gravel or pebbles to cover the bottom.

For eggs, prick a small opening in one end and chip off the top of the opposite end, rather than cracking the egg through the middle. Empty out the contents and wash the eggs. You can set them in an old egg carton or a margarine container filled with pebbles.

About a month or so before the outdoor planting season starts (i.e. soil is warm and no chance of frost), fill the containers with moist potting soil. Plant seeds about the depth of the width of the seeds (bigger seeds are planted slightly deeper). Keep covered with plastic wrap or newspaper and keep moist until the seeds start to germinate. Remove the covering and set into a sunny place. Keep moist.

Once you have your plants started, transfer them outside. Vegetables need at least six hours of bright sunlight to grow properly. Vegetables also need to be in a container at least eight inches deep and eight inches in diameter to mature.

Record your results in a journal and try again next year.

Check Advanced Kitchen Scrap Garden Techniques for more complex growing techniques to try.