Seed Gathering Time

We have been enjoying a long, beautiful fall.  The mornings are crisp while the afternoons are warm enough to shed the light sweater.  As I sip my cup of tea, I look out over the gardens and realize - I need to collect seeds!

Often there is a short window for seed collecting since snow can come any day - even in September.  I drop the tea cup and race in the house for my seed collecting materials:

Paper bags

marker

gloves

Mark each bag with the name of the flower, color, height, and the date collected.  With my memory come next spring I will have no idea if the marigolds are gold, striped or yellow; petite or 18" tall.

Look for seed heads that are ready to blow away in the wind; which is why it's important to do this before a windy day comes along and delivers your seeds to a garden half a mile away. If the flower pods are cracking open and ready to spill the seeds, then the seeds have ripened and are viable.  It's important to only collect ripened seeds or they will not sprout next spring.

Put the paper bag under the flower head and gentle shake or rub the flower head.  Usually I have to roll hollyhock heads between my thumb and forefinger to break up the outer covering and let the seeds escape. If the seeds are extremely small, such as petunias, cut the dried flower head and let it drop into the bag - seeds and all.  Later roll over the bag with a rolling pin to break the shaft away from the seed.

If any  seeds  are not dry, spread them on a clean cookie sheet.  Put the cookie sheet indoors, out of the sun and away from drafts or disturbance.  For instance my guest room bed worked well until I found the cat laying on the seeds. 

The seeds can be left in the paper bags or poured into labeled envelopes or cute, labeled jars.  Store in a dry, dark place.

The best seeds to collect are from plants which are true to their variety.  The seeds of any hybrids or designer plants will not grow into the same plants.  If they are viable, they will revert to one of the original varieties that was cross-bred. I have had great luck with the basics:

cosmos

marigolds

calendulas

hollyhocks

My rule of thumb is if the flower sprouts somewhere else in my garden, it must have very strong seeds.  In which case, I should be able to put the seeds where I want them! Besides collecting hollyhock seeds, I have sprinkled some along the fence where I need them to fill in next year.  Hopefully over the winter, snug under the snow, they will be happy enough to sprout in May.