Seeds from Store-Bought Peppers
Monday, January 15, 2007
The seed companies will hate me for this. I've been saving seeds from store-bought bell peppers, which have been going for about $2.99 per pound in the stores around here. Outrageous. I want to grow my own!
These are from orange bell peppers that I used in a meal last week.
Have you ever saved and planted seeds from store-bought vegetables or fruits you've eaten?
12 Comments:
My other half's sister has sucessfully grown a young lemon tree from a pip taken from her gin and tonic! It is now a foot tall with wonderful lemon-scented foliage. Fingers crossed it will produce lemons in years to come for many more G&Ts!
I am planning to collect and save as much seed as I can from our new veggie plot this year, especially tomatoes, peppers etc.
Dragon fruits (still at the seedling stage, so ultimate success rate is not yet known). And I planted some Jerusalem artichokes from my veggie box last year and we just ate the results :)
Unfortunately, the peppers you buy at the store are probably hybrids, and won't breed true. Something will probably grow from the seeds, but what kind of fruit it will produce, if any, is really a crapshoot. But don't let that stop you.
If the peppers are an heirloom variety, however, the seeds will create fruits pretty much like the original.
I have done that before, but sometimes the veggies and fruit are inferior to what seeds I can buy. Most grocery store produce is grown because it stores and ships well, not because it tastes good. :(
But it is fun to try. I have three orange tree seedlings that I held my son plant. I have no clue what I will do with them, but they are from groceries (BTW, anybody want an orange tree seedling? ;) )
I've grown an avocado plant from a pit from a store bought avocado, but didn't keep it for long, as I had no good place for it.
I agree with Nick, you'll get pepper plants, but what kinds of peppers you get is a guess, if those are hybrids. I've ordered several kinds of bell peppers from www.superseeds.com. Smaller packets, reasonably priced.
Thanks, everyone, for your input. I think I'm going to try them anyway and see what happens. I'm curious! I also bought some heirloom pepper seeds, so it will be interesting to compare how they grow vs. the hybrids.
Carol,
Thanks for the tip about www.superseeds.com. Better prices than some of the other online stores I've visited.
I have grown hot peppers from seed. My son brought home a scotch bonnet pepper, and it had a few seeds. So I planted them, and had two plants last summer. They did grow some pretty hot peppers!
I also grow potatoes from pieces of our local veggie shop potatoes, they usually grow quite well.
I also have orange, tangerine, and avacado trees, but no fruit on any of those.
I have tried planting sweet red pepper seeds from store bought peppers, with no germination resulting. Good luck with yours!
I DO NOT RECOMMEND SAVING SEEDS FROM SUPERMARKET PRODUCE. I SAVED SEEDS FROM A ZUCCHINI AND PLANTED THEM IN MY GARDEN. I ENDED UP WITH A PLANT THAT LOOKED LIKE A FROG AND SMELLED LIKE PEANUT BUTTER. WE WERE AFRAID TO EAT IT AND ENDED UP THROWING IN THE COMPOST PILE. IT WOULD NOT ROT LIKE OTHER VEGETABLES. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE BACKYARD BEGAN TO STINK. THIS WAS THE MOST FOUL SMELLING ODOR WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED AND IT TURMED OUT TO BE THIS...THING WE GREW FROM SUPERMARKET ZUCCHINI!!!
OUR NEIGHBORS BEGAN COMPLAINING AND WE ENDED UP CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ASKED THEM TO GET RID OF IT. MY DAIGHTER STILL HAS NIGHTMARES.
I planted some seeds from a red pepper called "ancient sweets", bought in a discount store. I had 5 plants. One is in a pot in my greenhouse, and ripening nicely. The peppers look like a 6 to 7 inch long hot pepper, but are very sweet!
Hahaha. That's hilarious! Your daughter still has nightmares. Sounds like the plot of an 80's B horror film!
I grew peppers from seeds i bought in a packet, but i am saving the seeds from the peppers i got so i can grow new plants in the spring.
I also once grew a mango tree from the pit of a store bought mango. It grew about 3 feet before our gardener accidentally cut it down.
Great blog. I too started couple of avocado pits and they grew a feet tall and didn't survive the winter/cold/snow conditions. Any ideas how to make it grow taller. I live in Seattle. Thanks. Looks like it needs warm climate.
Hi there! I come from a not so gardening oriented family. I do save seeds from store bought fruits (mangoes, calamansi, watermelon, etc). I secretly plant them in our backyard.
Funny thing is, I've never thought of buying seeds.
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