Clarence Booker
Seed pods and paper envelopes on a wooden table

September 6, 2026 · 5 min

Saving seed from the best tomato

One good plant, a spoon and a paper towel.

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  1. The tomato bed

    Deep planting, tall cages and a thick mulch from May on.

    1. Jan
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. Aug
    9. Sep
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec

  2. The bean and pea bed

    Peas in March, beans in May and seed saved in the autumn.

    1. Jan
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. Aug
    9. The bean and pea bed, September: Drying beans on the vine
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec

  3. The greens bed

    Spinach, collards and kale cut at a comfortable height.

    1. Jan
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. The greens bed, August: Sowing greens for the cool months
    9. Sep
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec

  4. The root bed

    Carrots, beets and sweet potatoes in a deep, loose bed.

    1. Jan
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. Aug
    9. Sep
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec

  5. The squash bed

    A raised hill, a bottle of water and plenty of room to run.

    1. Jan
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. Aug
    9. Sep
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec
Hands splitting dried bean pods onto a bamboo tray

The bean and pea bed · September 2026

Drying beans on the vine

Leaving the last pods to dry for seed.