Fern seed

how / when would go about harvesting fern 'seed'? I have a few but like to encourage their spread or even collect the seed from the local woods

 

My mistake, they're..
"
fern seed
n.
The dustlike spores of ferns, formerly believed to be seeds and once thought to have the power of making their possessor invisible."

So if I disappear at any point...

 

Hi Loofah, Ferns are not the easiest to grow at all, but this is the method I follow.. The only real tip I have is. I cannot stress enough about strerilising the spores... Also the light & temperature.. Collecting spores

To collect spores place a portion of mature frond on a piece of paper ( I use unbleached paper for this ) in a dry place. If spores are ripe they will be shed onto the paper and will appear as black, brown or yellow 'powder' which is a mixture of spores and fragments of the spore cases (sporangia).
Sowing method

It is important to sterilise the germination mixture before sowing the fern spores by pouring boiling water over it This kills the spores of fungi and other plants that may germinate and crowd out the developing fern prothalli.

Spores should be sp****ly sprinkled on a medium such as finely chopped tree fern fibre, peat moss or sphagnum moss( I use sphagnum) . Equal parts of loam, peat moss and finely crushed terracotta spread to a depth of 2cm over a base of vermiculite also forms an excellent germination base.

Once sown the containers should be covered with plastic or glass (allowing some airspace) and kept at around 20 degrees C in indirect light. Spores take from 2 to 6 weeks to germinate.
Potting on

After a few weeks the germinating spores appear as a mossy growth. When the prothalli are formed and well developed they may be pricked off into a punnet containing a finely sifted soil mixture. The container should be covered with glass or plastic until the fronds appear. The developing ferns should not be exposed to direct light.

Further potting up should be into a co****r textured mix with relatively high levels of organic matter. The mix should drain well. Materials such as sharp river sand and gravel-sized charcoal pieces may be useful for this purpose.


I keep them in pots for a few yrs until a descent size before planting out.. Best of luck & let us know if it works for you too..

 

Now that sounds like an effort! OK, best patience & determination head on... Will let you know how it all turns out