Jasmine berries

I forswore the chance of a first lie-in in probably half a year, to get some gardening work done.

I discovered my jasmine officinale is covered in deep black berries.

Can I pick them- would they be viable?
When would be the optimum time to sow them?
Would they come remotely true?

 

BUMP!

Should pick the berries or leave them for the birds?

Edited to add:

Im going to pick them!

 

Hi Melinda

I'm surprised by the RHS entry; the seeds are most definitely viable and my plant to sets fruit every year. If you're an untidy gardener like me, you'll almost certainly find some seedlings around your parent plant which have already taken root. I have to be vigilant about pulling seedlings from cracks in the paving, because they grow study root systems in no time. Jasmine comes true from seed, because it is pretty much the untrammelled wild variety anyway. (There are a few selections, such the variegated varieties and a plant which is supposed to have slightly bigger flowers, as well as another which has creamier coloured flowers, but I'm assuming you have the bog-standard one.) Jasmine is ridiculously easy from cuttings as well, by the way.

I've never seen a bird eating jasmine berries. This is not to say they don't, just that I've never seen them do it. In my garden they seem to prefer ivy berries, which look revolting to me but are clearly akin to caviar for starlings, thrushes and blackbirds. One morning I opened the front door only to find it had been coated with something bright pink and rather nasty. 'Vandals again,' I thought. Then I looked upwards and caught sight of a cheerful posse of starlings. They were sitting in the gutter, having a nice bath after stuffing themselves with berries. Every now and then they lifted their tails over the edge and had a good squit down the door. They are natural hooligans.