Seed Collecting - But when and how???

Hi Chaps,

I want to collect Lupin seeds, old fashioned Marigolds, Delphiniums and others. I'd like to know please, should I leave the flower heads ON the plant to dry out then gather up or should I cut the pods/old flower heads OFF and store in warm place until dried? Thing is, as an example, Lupins you need to cut OFF the flowers as they fade to encourage a second flush. If I do that though, I'll never GET any pods/seeds if they've to be left on! I find this a very gray area... Anyone know the answer please?

Springy

 

Generally speaking you need to give up the flowers if you want the seeds. Once plants are having the seeds they have reached the purpose and don´t need flowering any more. It´s a matter of deciding what you want more. YOu could also leave a few flower heads to go to seed and dead head the rest.

Seed heads are best left on the plant while still green and "alive" when they start to go dry you can cut them and finish then in a paperbag on a sunny windo sill.

 

I thought it might be something like that. Mmm. I think I'll wait till the LAST MINUTE then, and leave a flower or two to go over.

S

x

 

I would agree with Ivory. You can't both deadhead and have seeds. I like to leave the seeds on for as long as possible so that they can ripen naturally. But in the autumn when it is cold and wet, you may need to remove seeds a bit earlier so that they don't go mouldy on the plant.

 

Springy, thank you for that excellent question:thumb: I have just started wondering about this myself as i want to collect seeds again this year (only 2nd year).

Big thank you to Ivory & PeterS for the replies. I have been looking at my geraniums that have gone wild & brilliant this year so far but have now been battered by the wind & rain. I keep looking at them, knowing I should tidy them up but can't work out where the seed pods are:o.

So I think the rule is to let them get dry then pick off the seed pods - what do you do when it is raining non stop for days though?

Thanks again.

cheers

 

Sorry forgot to say, I came across this site accidently earlier today. I haven't had a proper look at it yet but it seems to have a lot of info. Can you let me know if any of you 'proper' gardeners have a look and think it's good.

www.theseedsite.co.uk

cheers