My thanks for your replies. In reply to sarahbarah27, my question evolved from seed's I've saved from some native plants, Liatris (meadow blazing star). The seeds look good but I've not gotten one of them to germinate. I've put them through a 2 month cold treatment in the fridge before placing them in the warmth and still not one to germinate. This is what prompted my question. I've got some more in the fridge where I will leave them for three months, then try again. I'm also going to winter sow the remaining seeds to see if that will help. It may just be that I'm not handling them properly. My thanks again for taking the time to read and reply to my question. Mary

Hello Grant, your problem is your location mostly. Your dry hot (as opposed to humid hot) climate makes it difficult for pollination. When you get a scape growing, bring the pot inside. It will enjoy about the same range we amaryllis caregivers do. 68F - 82F. Although it can take much higher &lower temps, the dryness where you are makes the hot temps difficult. Mist the leaves every 2-3 days. If you can't put the pot inside during flowering and pod growth, put it in lots of shade, but not the solid shade of a building or wall. And especially mist the leaves every 1-2 days with water or chamomille tea in addition to what you give the pots. What is your pot mix? If you are trying to pollinate your outdoor cluster of bulbs, use a shade cloth with misting & irrigation. The reticulatum striatifolium in the ancestry is what makes it difficult. Mrs. Bury in England made the cross, reticulatim striatifoliumXDefiance=Mrs.. Garfield The story is interesting and you can search it on the net . It was presented at the London Arboretum in 1885, I think. I talked to a grower in se Florida a couple years ago who grows reticulatum striatifolium in a high humidity greenhouse.. He grows them in thin green plastic 5 inch pots with loose organic mix. And.says it offsets like crazy for him very profitable He bought 6 bulbs 20 years ago and sells a thousand $ worth each year.

No...they need to dry on the stem...they should slightly crack open first then you can harvest them.... They take quite a while to mature and dry on the plant.

If Pink Chablis is anything like Huskers red, I would say yes definatly. Huskers blooms early and has held it's seed all summer and fall now. I have collected after first hard frost and still had to break open each pod! Seed To my mind, it is usually best to let seeds ripen and dry on the stalk. Although there is always the exception to the rule... Happy gardening to you, Julie