Freighter View Farms

November at Freighter View Farms is a time for contemplation and quiet preparation. As the garden rests, so do we, shifting from the urgency of daily harvests to planning for the seasons ahead. This week, I turned my attention to one of the standouts of the year: shishito peppers. The deep reds of the fully ripened peppers, set against the cool backdrop of the late fall kitchen, served as a beautiful reminder that even in this resting period, the promise of next year’s garden quietly unfolds.

Shishito peppers have earned their place in my garden for their mild flavor, versatility, and those lovely, blistered skins when charred. Whether tossed onto the grill or added to a fresh stir-fry, these peppers were a delight this summer. Now, with a hint of winter in the air, it’s time to save their seeds, to ensure that the taste of these peppers will grace Freighter View Farms again next year.

Selecting the Best Peppers for Seed Saving
Saving seeds is a ritual of choosing the best of what the garden offered. For shishito peppers, that means selecting the healthiest and ripest specimens, those that have turned a deep, fiery red. These peppers are a picture of vibrancy, and their seeds are fully mature, ready to carry their strength into the next generation.

This fall, I left a few shishito peppers to linger on the plants longer, letting the cool days of autumn ripen them to their fullest potential. The bright red pods were plucked on a still morning, the air crisp, and the calls of Canada geese honking and flocking overhead, a reminder of the rhythm of the seasons here on the bay.

The Seed-Saving Process
Seed saving is simple but requires care. I began by slicing open the ripened shishito peppers. The aroma of the peppers was still sharp and fresh, a vivid reminder of summer. With gentle hands, I removed the seeds, taking care not to damage their delicate forms. Each seed is a promise, a tiny vessel of potential.

After removing the seeds, I spread them out on a paper towel whcih covered a paper plate, ensuring they lay in a single layer. I chose a spot in the house away from direct sunlight, where the cool, dry air could do its work. Over the next week, those seeds slowly dried, preparing themselves for the long winter ahead. The key to successful seed saving is patience, letting the seeds dry thoroughly before storing them ensures they’ll remain viable when it comes time to plant.

Storing Your Shishito Pepper Seeds
Once dried, the seeds were carefully placed into small, labeled envelopes, each one marked with the variety name and growing information. There’s something satisfying in this, the ritual of labeling, knowing that these tiny seeds will rest in their envelopes until spring calls them back to life. I store my seed packets in a cool, dry, dark place, often in my trusty seed organizer, alongside the other treasures of the year’s harvest. The freighters might be carrying their loads up the Sagianw Bay, but here in my kitchen, I’m preserving the garden’s treasures for the journey to next spring.

Reflecting on the Cycle of Growth
Saving seeds from shishito peppers isn’t just about ensuring next year’s crop; it’s about continuity and the rhythm of the garden here at Freighter View Farms. The act of saving seeds is deeply satisfying, each pepper that ripened and each seed carefully dried represents a story of growth, care, and nurturing through the year. As I tuck the envelopes away, I’m reminded of the bigger picture: that each season builds on the one before it, each harvest preparing for the next.

Looking Ahead
The thought of planting these seeds next spring fills me with anticipation. Shishito peppers, with their slender green bodies and mild bite, are perfect for experimenting in the kitchen. Whether blistered and served simply or added to more elaborate dishes, I can already picture the rows of pepper plants growing in the garden next year, their branches heavy with green fruit under the summer sun.

Closing Thoughts
Seed saving is a small act, but it carries a lot of weight. There’s something uniquely special about planting seeds you’ve saved yourself, watching them sprout, and nurturing them to maturity. It adds another layer of connection to your garden, and to nature, turning each plant into part of a larger story. I invite you to try it, start with something simple, like shishito peppers, and feel that sense of continuity, of being part of the garden’s endless cycle.

Here at Freighter View Farms, the work never truly stops, there is always something growing, always something to save, always a story waiting to unfold. And as I hold these small envelopes in my hand, I know that next year’s garden is already beginning to take root.