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Collecting seeds from perennials

15 years ago

I am relatively new to gardening and am wondering if you can harvest seeds that have been on plants all winter? I have a perennial garden and I have some plants that look like they still have seed pods attached to the top of them.

Could I pick these and dry them to winter sow, or is it too late for them?

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Comments (12)

tiffy_z5_6_can
15 years ago
Definitely! Go ahead and gather the seeds and sow them. You can either sow them right away or if it's going to be a few days you can dry them and then sow them.

I still have seeds of Buddleias, Phlox, Echinaceas, Lynchnis, etc, out there at this time of year and in the past have gathered and sowed them with great results since they've stayed in their natural environment all winter long.

Have fun. :O)
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token28001
15 years ago
I noticed yesterday that the datura down the street still has seed pods on it. I took a walk last night and grabbed a couple. Most have fallen out, but there's still many inside each pod. Think I'll crush them and scatter them in the yard today. I've already sown 3 containers for me, my sister, and a friend. Never can have too many fast growing, HUGE annuals while waiting on the perennials. Also collected buddleia seeds last month from a plant in Virginia. They were sown three weeks ago and have already sprouted. So yeah, go for it.
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The only one of these I have a lot of experience with is the delphinium. I buy or collect my own seed (it doesn't keep well and should be planted fresh) and germinate inside in my propagation box (about 3' x 4' with shop lights that can be raised and lowered). These will usually bloom a bit the first year. Some of the others I've tried using this method as well, but they take the entire season to get established. Another thought: check out the winter sowing sites (including GW). I should think any of these seeds, including delphinium, could be winter sown. Something I start in midsummer are biennials like foxglove. These get a nice start and overwinter in a cold frame outside and bloom next season. I doubt you have time to germinate, then plant and expect the seedlings to overwinter in the garden. But others may have more experience with this. Good luck. GaryStPaul
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And I have collected too much seed already- and still waiting to haul in more! I have been trying to stay better at keeping records of what I have to offer- and what I am going to try to grow this year- I thought I would tell you that WS Tricertis worked well for me last year! As a matter of fact- 2 of the babes have blooms on them! I don't have the heart to lop off the flowers so they would save energy to get through the winter- If they want to celebrate with a bloom- I wanna watch! Who knew it would be so(w) easy to WS and work so well! I had no luck with the Cimi (WS) or Ligs (indoors)- but I do believe they need long warm and cold periods to break dormancy- I will study more this time and try again! Send me a note to let me know what you would like, List all you would like- don't worry about an even trade- I have seed, and I like to share- It is good to know that these seeds will grow on- Julie
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I only grow by winter sowing. Tried normal spring/summer sprouting in small plastic pots and have a talent for killing. It's like I'm my own branded pesticide. No matter how careful my sprouted seedlings either had too little or too much moisture, too much or not enough sun. I was not successful at all. For all the amazing things people say about WS, me included, I must honestly admit that I lose a lot of stuff that way, too. Slugs are a huuuuuuuuuge problem for me. At least 90% of my losses by WS are slugs. This year was not good for WS for me. Not exactly sure why. The April weather was slightly too erratic, combined with a nearly 2 week trip in May during prime planting season. I did lose some to April weather that just got too low, but not many at all. I would say that from germination to planting I had many seedlings that didn't make it, e even in their jugs. For all the seeds I planted, I don't have that many plants to show for it this year. Who in a colder climate grows Agastache aurantiaca? This is my second year trying with those, and once in the ground they stubbornly hunker down and refuse to grow. I don't know if they need more heat, or what. I don't overwater them, but I don't ignore them. What's the secret? Some of them are actually supposed to be winter hardy to zone 5 (Agastache aurantiaca 'Tango' and repestris 'Apache Sunset') so I feel like if I could get them going they'd have a chance. This year I'm going more natives for woodland edge and shade. Last year 85% of my new perennials beds were seeds or my own transplants. What a money saver. Couldn't do it without the seeds. I've ordered from Swallowtail for a while and their quality is excellent. Their seeds count is lower, but I've noticed that with many seed companies. Many of their plants with low seed count are "fancier" plants which are difficult to find in seed form. I've grown Pow Wow Wild Berry Echinacea seeds from them for a couple of years, as an example. Only 10 seeds in a pack, but that's cheaper than what they cost at the nursery. Big Swallowtail fan for the variety they have.
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busylizzy
15 years ago
I still have a Delphnium stalk standing upright on the porch, u bet I will sprinkle the seeds.
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retiredprof
15 years ago
This got me going this morning. I just snagged Sweet Autumn Clematis and Blue Monkshood.
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grannymargi
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for all your responses! I'm heading outdoors to snip away! This will be my second year of perennials. I wasn't sure if I should cut them back in the fall, or not..so I just left them. I'm glad I did now! I just joined this group two days ago, and can't keep myself off this website. I'm calling everyone I know to keep their containers for me. I'm going to plant my *first* of many, containers today. It's 70 degrees....I'm ready for spring, however learning about winter sowing, I won't be disappointed now when it drops back to the 30's next week.
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retiredprof
15 years ago
Got real excited about this. Went back out this afternoon and collected sweet basil, hosta, jalapeno pepper and some dwarf crepe myrtle in addition to the monkshood and autumn clematis.

Have to tell you it took me couple hours to sift through these pods and things, but good therapy. I've never collected seeds before from my own plants.

Now here's a question for you: if I decide to offer these seeds in trade or just for nothing in return, is it appropriate to offer them on this forum or is that not PC? Do I have to go the the seed exchange?

Prof
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docmom_gw
15 years ago
Prof,
I think the answer to your question is one of opinion. There is a wintersowing seed exchange, but it is frequented mostly by people from this forum. I think if you mention that you have a few particular seeds available and you want them to go to your friends here, that would be fine. Certainly, if people here mention that they are looking for something, or that they had a germination failure of a particular plant, we all jump to find them replacements if possible. Do what makes you comfortable.

Martha
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token28001
15 years ago
Hey Prof, what color is the crepe myrtle, what do you mean by dwarf, and do you want some butterfly bush seeds?
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jessewo
15 years ago
The very first seeds I ever collected were from some forgotten snapdragons that didn't get cleaned up in the fall. They did well, so there was no turning back! I just "rescued" some datura pods that have been outside all winter, & I'm sure they'll be fine. Your perennials should be fine too-go for it! (I love being an enabler!)
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terrene
15 years ago
Hey retiredprof, I have traded and offered for SASBE some of the seeds I collected from my plants this past fall (Yvonne's Salvia, Salvia Coral Nymph, Asters, Asclepias, etc.). But I performed germination tests on most (not all) of them back in January to test their viability, with good results. So I felt pretty confident that I wasn't sending people "duds".

I am sowing a bunch of the collected seed this year because I am very curious how they sprout and what the babies will be like.
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retiredprof
15 years ago
Thanks, folks. This forum is my "home", so I thought I would want to offer anything I have here. I'm the anal-retentive, have to be "good corporate citizen" guy. Thanks, Martha.

Token: The crepe myrtle is a brilliant deep pink-purple kind of color. By dwarf, I mean dwarf. I've had the thing for six years and it's four feet tall. Since I'm 5'6", I planted the garden in all "dwarves" ten years ago. Dwarf this, dwarf that, mini this, munchkin that. It's hysterical. "And this is the dwarf garden..."

I'm scared of anything taller than I. Is your butterfly a junior petite?
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token28001
15 years ago
Sorry to say the butterfly is a rapid grower quickly shooting past my 6'1 tall head. The white one gets even larger and should be 6-8' tall this year. It's a "White profusion".

{{gwi:370775}}

Mountain Valley Growers
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