Seed Library
Seed packets will be available throughout the year for patrons with a library card from the Monon Town and Township Public Library.
Each family may have up to 6 packets of seeds. This is limited to only 1 packet of each kind of seed. Patrons may gather their own plant’s seeds, bring them to the library and make them available to other library users.
Tips for Growing Squash & Cucumbers
Perfectly Planting Cucumbers, Squash & Zucchini
Seed Saving
Seed Savers Exchange - Seed Savers has a number of resources on seed saving, and excellent YouTube videos!
Their Seed Saving Chart is a great resource for any kind of crop!
Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library
Seed Saving Chart
(provided by Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library)
Cycle: A = annual, B = biennial
Pollination: Self = self-pollinated, Cross = cross-pollinated by another plant.
Isolation Distance: recommended distance by which different varieties must be separated to prevent unwanted cross- pollination.
Seed Longevity: Averages, not guarantees. Seed longevity depends on the condition under which the crop was grown and how the seeds have been stored.
Saving Ease: All vegetables that are self-pollinated are easy to save. Vegetables marked with an asterisk (*) are easy to save, but are cross-pollinated. Since they cross, you’ll have to learn more to make sure that you get plants like the ones you started with.
A Note on Seed Health: Seeds from cross-pollinating plants that are isolated in small colonies can become inbred after a time, so it is recommended that they be planted in large enough colonies to avoid inbreeding, at least every few generations. Recommended minimum populations to maintain vigor and avoid inbreeding depression (# of plants per colony): 25 cucumbers, squash, melons; 50-100 radishes, brassicas, mustards; 200 sweet corn.