Savings plan

Peas
Once you’ve had your fill of fresh peas and the vine’s production has slowed, allow the remaining pods to fully mature on the plant until they turn brown and dry. The pods are ready to harvest when the seeds inside rattle when shaken. Carefully open the dried pods to extract the seeds, then place them in a clean jar or similar container. Pea seeds remain viable for three to five years.

Spring onions
Spring onions, also known as green onions, shallots and scallions, produce spherical clusters of small, star-shaped white flowers at the top of tall stalks. These flowers develop into seed heads filled with black seeds. Allow them to dry on the plant until they turn brown and the seeds rattle inside. Gently crush the seed heads to release the angular seeds and store in a clean glass jar. Spring onion seeds remain viable for one to two years.

Lettuce
Allow one of your best-performing lettuce plants to set flowers. The plant will send up tall stalks adorned with small yellow flowers that look like tiny dandelions. These flowers will develop into fluffy seed heads, also similar to dandelions. Wait until the seed heads are fully dry then break open onto a plate and winnow the seed from the chaff. Store the seeds in an envelope or glass jar. Lettuce seeds typically remain viable for about five years.

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