Yes they will cross pollinate but you will get some really nice colors that way. I take a large flat platter out to the garden and cut the the seed heads and lay them on the platter. Allow them to dry further and then tap them against the platter. The seed are tiny and usually rust colored. Its difficult to tell the difference from the chaff. It's also difficult to tell just when to harvest the seed but they set alot of seed so even if you are a little late you will still get plenty of seed. I winter sow mine. In the spring I will transplant to 4 inch pots and keep them potted up all summer because they are so small. I plant them out in the fall and in the spring I have nice sized plants. Mine have never self sowed in the garden. Don't know why. They are easy winter sowers. Have fun.

Linda - Regarding your Ligularia Dentata "Othello". Make sure the dead flowertop is very dry before picking (stem should be very brown too). My flowers have been dying off for quite sometime and the seeds are still not ready - they take forever to be dry enough to have viable seeds. The viable seed will be tan and plump. Only the fat plump and hard seeds are viable.

dawiff! Dont sour, just mail from the mailbox! :) I have had no problems this way. I mail most of them for 2 stamps and if I get into a huge trade (20+) I use 3! No returns and no headaches! I avoid the PO unless I have to go,the whole situation was bumming me out also. But I figured why let them ruin something I love so much for me? :)

Welcome newbie in nj. The first year is one of questions and wondering if this is going to REALLY work. I have had such good germination and growth through wintersowing that my problem is too many seedlings so this last time I sowed thinly for those that I expected to HOS. If I wanted 4-6 plants and the seed isn't tiny I sowed 9-12 seeds per milk jug and even then had more seedlings than needed. I place 2-3 seeds in a 2L if I want 1 tomato/pepper seedling. I keep some seed as a back up plan. Perhaps the seedling got eaten by critters after it was planted out, or stepped on, or the first container didn't germinate, or seedling got frosted. Maybe I will want more of those seedlings another year and wasn't able to collect seed. Then I still have some seed to try again. I do not sow multiple containers unless I want lots of that plant. Haven't needed two containers of sprouts or two containers which didn't sprout. If I'm not sure if I should winter sow or wait until spring then I will winter sow and if they haven't germinated by spring I might sow another container then. As for spacing, many of us ignore all spacing requirements not only when sowing but also when planting out. With HOS it doesn't matter if the spacing is as stated. The strongest seedling will survive or a clump of seedlings will grow. I think having so many seedlings encourages us to plant them closer together with intermingling lush plantings resulting. Most seeds can be stored for many years. Search "storing seeds" here or on the seed collecting and other sites for more discussion on how others store seeds and for germination tests. I use seeds for years. Germination is sometimes lower but I still have too many seedlings. My tomato seeds still germinate well after four years. I don't know what "raw seed" is in referring to grass. I sow a shallow gallon pot lightly with grass seed. Then plant out as a clump or divide into two or four clumps. Little Bluestem doesn't get all that tall. Big Bluestem gets much taller. I love the multiple colors shading Little Bluestem. Bunny Tails looked great planted as one clump. Have fun and remember that you can always sow more seed in the spring, in the summer, in the fall or the next winter. I have family who spend their time in Clifton or on a farm in NY. In which part of NJ are you located? Bobbie