We are entering prime seed collecting season. September and October abound with seed collecting opportunities.
Opening a seed pod or flower head to discover seeds can be an overwhelming experience when you think of the magnitude
of seeds. Just think how many opportunities this plant has given us. Each flower head or pod contains many, many seeds.
And oftentimes the pods themselves are so beautiful you just have to stand back in awe. And there is nothing
comparable to the joy and wonder one feels when a seed germinates and grows into a beautiful plant from a seed you have
collected yourself.
Collecting seeds is a matter of timing. You must wait for the seeds to mature, so you can't collect too early;
and if you wait too long, they may very well be gone when you come back. If collecting a certain seed is especially
important to you, tie a small paper bag around the flower head once the flower is spent and wait for the flower head
to dry on its own. You can tell if it's ready by tapping the flower head. If seeds fall or rattle about in the pod,
then it is ready for collection. Even though I know it's the not best way to propogate Day Lilies, I discovered
seed pods on my Day Lilies this year and can't wait to see if they will germinate.
This is also an activity that can be quite fun for children. I like to collect with small paper bags you can
write on. Before adding the flower heads or pods, write on the bag what type flower or plant it is, the color, and
the date you harvested it. Let the children write on their own bags and plant the seeds they have collected in the spring.
They will be just as excited as you are by the wonders of nature. Some ornamental plants that readily set seed and
are easy to collect include: marigolds, cosmos, money plant, poppies, zinnias, morning glory, moon flower and cone
flower. But once you start looking, you will be amazed to find seeds everywhere.
It is vital that the seeds be dried thoroughly for about a week. Drying will prevent premature death of the
seed. You do not want the seeds to mold, so spread them out and let them dry at room temperature in a well-ventilated
room. Once dried, separate the seed from the debris or chaff. You can store the seeds, once dried, in a paper
bag, an envelope or plastic bag. No matter what kind of package you use, be sure to label it with the seed type,
color and date it was harvested. It doesn't hurt to include a small packet of silica gel to ensure they stay dry.
Store your seeds in the refrigerator.
I do want to mention that seeds collected from hybrid plants can be very unpredictable and may result in an
inferior plant. But you will learn which seeds you get the best results with; and truly, experimentation is
half the fun.
Happy Collecting!
