Learned Easy Way to Collect Native Milkweed Seed

16 years ago

First, want to thank Susan for slowly working on me over time to get involved with raising monarchs.

After collecting over an ounce of native Spider Milkweed seed I can get all of the seed out of a pod in less than 10 seconds with no fuzz or fluff.

Important part of it is checking for ready pods very early each morning and finding them just starting to split open. I grab a hold of the seed stem about half way from the end and pull it out. The seed stays in it's tight bunch without separating. I can then start on the end gently flicking the seed off the stem. I clean down to my fingers , then move them back a little and start again.

Although I haven't seen many monarchs or eggs in quite a while. I look forward to creating a better habitat for them in the future with a lot of this seed.

I don't mind sending some to others that can put it to good use.

randy

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Comments (7)

tdogmom
16 years ago
Randy,

This is the best way, for sure, IF you can get to the pods in time. I then add them to the cup with the coins in case I get a bit of the silk.

I always take the cup with the seeds outdoors and then shake so the silk literally flies out of the cup. Much easier than having it float all over the house!
mechelle_m
16 years ago
Randy,

I would love some of the seeds for the spider milkweed. Do I need to send you a SASE? Just let me know.

Thanks,

Mechelle
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Don't remember seeing climbing milkweed in South Dakota when growing up on the farm. We would pick the pods and rub the silky strands between our fingers and blow the seeds into the air. Mostly they grew in ditches, soil banks, tree claims and along the dirt roads between fields. We cultivated between rows of corn which reduced the mw in the fields. Now they spray for weeds. I planted some common milkweed in my garden many years ago as was concerned when stands of mw and thistle became scarce as land around us was developed. Rarely see any in the area now. There have been monarch caterpillars munching on the leaves. It may not make a big difference in the long run but it does help keep butterflies coming to my gardens. Common milk weed in the garden isn't for everyone as it needs to be controlled. Left on it's own it will spread by the roots and self seed. I keep the flowers deadheaded to prevent seed blowing into my neighbors' gardens and yards. I also grow fennel for swallowtail caterpillars and other plants as well as assorted nectar plants for a variety of insects. There may be fewer butterflies today due to weather last year. This doesn't mean we need less milk weed next year as when the butterflies numbers increase they will need more milk weed than that which can support those we have today. Plan for the future.
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I hope it isn't rude of me to resurrect a thread from a few years ago, but I came across this thread while searching for information on controlling asclepias syriaca, more specifically, whether the rhizomes can be contained so as to prevent them from taking over (the seeds I'm not as concerned about). I have a couple of 1 year old syriacas in my garden (planted last year), as well as some new syriaca and purpurascens seedlings I have started indoors. I'm just now realizing/reading about how aggressive established syriaca can be. I have been fighting ongoing battles with Japanese knotweed and bindweed in my garden, which makes me very leery of inviting more rhizome-related trouble! I also have a fairly small garden, which means that if the syriaca begins spreading, it will quickly be popping up in my raised veggie beds on the one side, or in my rose/perennial beds on the other side. That said, is there a way to contain the syriaca rhizomes? Jazzygardener, above, mentions black plastic landscape edging--do others recommend this approach? Perhaps I'm overly cautious because of my J. knotweed experiences--those roots spread far too deeply underground for some black plastic to do much good, but J. knotweed is somewhat notorious for that so it may not apply to syriaca. If black plastic would work, what about large nursery pots sunk into the ground? Or alternatively, might it be a better idea for me to focus on better-behaved asclepias that would be more manageable? As mentioned, I do have some purpurascens seedlings and from my reading, it looks like there are many other asclepias varieties that are better behaved. I don't want to do the butterflies any disservice, but I don't know if I can take on another garden battle! What would you recommend? Thanks all for any thoughts and opinions. :)
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docmom, Yeah, the sightings here are not as common as they are slightly east. Last year was a historic (or so some claim) sightings year for the Edmonton, AB area several hundred miles to the north and a bit east. I am also in a known travel corridor for birds that are not listed for this area that are often sighted during migratory seasons. I am hoping Monarchs are the same as I know I have seen them in the past. As well, I am not sure how to treat the information on sightings for this area. If you look at all the maps it is like the Monarchs stop at the 49th parallel as if customs held them up. Heck, the most common fritillary I have around here wasn't even on the regional checklist for BAMONA until I submitted it last week (assuming there ID is correct LOL). That all being said while I would appreciate seeing a Monarch the milkweed is as much for the other butterfly's as well as for me to be able to collect and distribute seed. I am hoping that while I may not be able to raise Monarch cats I might be able to smile knowing I supplied the seed for someone else raising them. I do appreciate your concern as well. I actually don't expect to see one. If I do, be assured every forum on this site as well as any others I find will know about it :) LOL Thanks again. SCG
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Ah yes, we have summat similar (called roottrainers, they are basically long plugs with little internal flanges to encourage downward growth)....but, given a deep enough container, roots will always grow down (they are sensitive to gravity) so I have used newspaper or cardboard, rolled in a tube, sitting in 24cell tray modules, but only for station sowing largeish seeds. Mostly, I use large deep pots and just upend them to separate the seedlings. I usually only sow a couple of thousand seeds over a season but have ramped it up considerably so will have to much more sowing in situ in nursery beds. I find sowing in plugs or modules to be fairly stressful and largely abandonned it because it was easier to keep the soil uniformly moist (or dry) with larger pots....but if I was sowing, say 100 sweet peas, a set-up like that, Tex, is just the ticket. I often use 5 litre, 10inch deep pots, plant 100 seeds in each and when I come to turn the pot out, the roots grow all the way to the bottom and generally fill the pot, but they separate really easily, leaving long roots - I use a bulb-planter (for crocus and snowdrops, so only 1inch diameter tube) - I am not keen on dibbers because I think they compact the soil. I can race through planting 100 plugs in no time - almost a bit of a swizz after all that time nurturing the little seedlings in pots.
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rjj1
Original Author
16 years ago
Mechelle,

Send me an email and I'll get you fixed up.

randy
susanlynne48
16 years ago
Randy, I'd love to have some, too. I have several species I've planted, so can send you some seeds in fall. I know for sure that my A. asperula is up (2 plants). This is also commonly called Antelope Horns. It is native to Oklahoma, as are the other species I'm growing. You'd probably have about as good a luck just tossing them out in the field. The seeds I grew didn't seem to like the potting soil very well. Once I got them in the ground, they took off like a house afire.

I will have A. syriaca (common), A. viridiflora (green milkweed), A. incarnata (Swamp--heehee, we can really use that now!); A. verticillata (whorled milkweed), and A. purpurescens (purple milkweed).

You're too kind! I hope we have increased the desire in other Oklahomans to grow milkweed and enjoy these beautiful butterflies.

Seen anymore moths, lately? Are you raising the Walnut Sphinx? I keep checking my saplings (some are about 5' tall) in hopes of finding one. I also check the Elderberry to see if I ever get a Cecropia.

Susan
rjj1
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi Susan

You are more than welcome to seed.

I'm going to build a raised bed out of brick (there are quite a few left over when they did the house) and put a lot of them in that.

My neighbor was talking about how thick monarchs were here when they first put their house up in early 70's. He said it was common to have hundreds roost overnight in a tree by their pool.

I have two different moths working my Adeniums blooms this year. It may be a banner year for seed. I'm wondering if higher humidity extends the life of pollen, makes it stickier, and raises percentages of fertilization by pollinators?

Turned the Sphinx loose back on the pecan. It didn't seem happy caged up. Saw my first American Snout of the season this morning.

randy
susanlynne48
16 years ago
The sphinx may have been ready to pupate and that's why it was wandering and acting unsettled. They need layers of paper towels or about 3-4" of loose soil in the bottom of a cage to pupate in.

I usually see tons of Snouts here in the city, but didn't have a single one last year. I think they're cool!

I need to go to one of the rock places to get some stones for borders. Do you know of a good one? I'm so slow at getting things done anymore. I think I will probably be in a wheelchair before long; it's becoming so difficult to be on my feet for any length of time. But, I can still do stuff while sitting on the ground, like making borders, planting, pulling weeds, etc.

Susan
linda_centralokzn6
16 years ago
Great idea, Randy.

I'm starting to see Monarchs again. Haven't found any eggs, yet.

I was thinking about you when Norman got soo much rain. We've been really lucky. Only 1 time when we had rain all day and night, and 3 extra inches in addition to what we already had, did it look like the lower end of town would flood. Otherwise, the rains have been light, and spread out.

Learned Easy Way to Collect Native Milkweed Seed

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Learned Easy Way to Collect Native Milkweed Seed

Comments (7)

tdogmom

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