Question
I enjoy picking the nasturnium seeds from my garden during early fall to late fall. My grandkids also enjoy picking them.  This year we found some very large seeds. I have over 100 now. I've never seen any so big this year. What is the best way to store them? I store them in a plastic sandwich bag. But I now will try letting them dry out for a couple of days before storing them.

Answer
Botanists harvest individual Nasturtium Fruits for research by soaking them for 5 minutes in a weak bleach solution to sterilize them, then freezing them.

California's 'North Coast Journal' has posted online a nice little essay on how gardeners on the West Coast save their Nasturtium Seeds:

http://www.northcoastjournal.com/OCT95/GARDEN_1.HTM

They begin with advice on what NOT to do: NEVER save seeds from F1 hybrids.  'Hybrid flowers and vegetables result from a cross of one species of plant with another in the same genus, or between distinct varieties within the species. The seeds resulting from a cross are F1 hybrid, which means the seed will produce a superior plant in color, scent, yield, taste, resistance to disease or size of fruit. It's called hybrid vigor.

But if you save seed from F1 hybrids, you will not get the identical flowers or vegetables that you planted in the first place. Hybrid seeds do not reproduce true.'

If you have F1 Nasturtium Seeds, of course, you CAN plant them; just don't expect them to look familiar next year when they bloom.

Otherwise, there's not much else to it.  'Seeds should be harvested in the afternoon when it is sunny and dry. If it is foggy, rainy of dewy, mold and mildew can get into the seed pods. Do not collect when there is moisture on the pods.'

Dry Seeds by scattering pods onto cardboard, then store in a warm, dry well-ventilated room for 'a week or two'.  Freeze or store COOL, they advise, for best percentage of viable Seeds in the Spring.  They save these in Film canisters and other small containers.  Your plastic sandwich bag works, too, but there's no air and possibly moisture condensation on the inside that could lead to trouble.  A paper bag would be better, in my opinion.  My vote is for Film canisters in the Freezer -- the preferred method for storing Pollen and other goodies.

Thanks for writing.

I would appreciate a Nomination for 'AllExpert of the Year' if you would be so kind.