Biennials

Some plants, like biennials, can take two years to produce flowers and seeds. Biennial plants include carrots and onions which need to remain in the garden over winter for seed production. Be sure to cross-check your plant's growing conditions and your plant hardiness zone if you want to collect seeds from these plants. You want to make sure the varieties you choose can survive your winters and sprout a second year.

Annuals

Luckily, most of our typical garden plants are annuals. These plants germinate, grow, and produce fruit full of seeds before dying off over a single year. In nature, animals would eat these fruit eagerly at peak ripeness. The seeds would then eventually drop from them elsewhere, repeating the process over the next year. These typical backyard annuals are going to include tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, just to name a few.

Perennials

Finally, perennials are plants that will remain in the ground for multiple years and producing numerous crops. These plants are going to include your berries and fruit trees. Most perennials I have come across prefer to grow for a year or two before harvesting. Waiting allows the plant to focus on the development of its structure to produce better results in the following years. Be so be sure to check on growing information for your perennials before harvesting.  

Vegetable Maturity Cues

It would be best to learn each fruit and vegetable's cues for maturity. Examine the plant for color changes, like fading flowers or browning plant heads. These could be the plant signaling the beginning of its end. By researching and anticipating these signs, you can better prepare for the seed harvest. When the time's right, instead of stressing to gather your supplies at the last minute, you can make quick work of the crop.

Collecting Seeds from "Wet Fruits"

If you like to collect seeds as you eat your produce, understand that you can harvest several "wet fruits" and vegetables before the seeds are mature. Plants like eggplants, cucumbers, and tomatoes are just a few examples of crops you may need to leave on the vine longer to produce mature seeds. 

Dry vegetables, like beans, are also left on the vine only to be harvested when they are thoroughly dry and hard. This process could take up to a month after a typical harvest.

How Do I Harvest the Seeds?

Every plant is going to have a different harvesting method. Understanding beforehand where the seeds are on the plant helps make the process easier. Will you be collecting the fruit or vegetable or the seedpods that replaces your favorite annual flowers?

Prepare For Seed Harvesting

To begin, gather your essential tools:

• Knife or Scissors
• Spoon
• Paper envelopes or reusable container
• Pen