Seed Collecting
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The first year I started collecting seeds, I purchased the tray on the left from Lee Valley. The glass-topped aluminum containers are quite suitable for seed storage. I had only a small collection of seeds and this was quite adequate for my seed collection. I kept it in the refrigerator, as it was quite compact and didn't take up much space. |
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In the last number of years, my selection of perennials and annuals as grown. Subsequently, my seed storage needs have also increased. I have started storing seeds in little tins such as the one pictured here. This past year was the first year I started pansies from seed. The seeds were quite fun to collect. You have to watch carefully until the capsules are ready to explode, then they are ready to harvest. |
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I collected some snapdragon seeds, the pods become dry and papery when the seed is mature. There are many seeds inside one capsule.
Just hold the seed pod and shake into a container. The seed is very fine and a large quantity can be saved for starting your own plants for the next year's growing season. |
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Foxglove is similar to snapdragons in regard to their seedpod. The little pods are situated along the flower stalk where the blooms were. Once they appear papery and light brown in color, they are ready to be harvested. The seed is very fine thus great quantities are available for collecting. |
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This is a mini hand seeder which I have found useful in planting fine seeds, such as snapdragons, poppies and foxgloves. This way you hopefully won't plant too many seeds in one plant cell. It is adjustable so you can use it for any size of seed. |
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| The seeds on the left are annual poppies, and the seeds on the right are perennial poppies. The seed pods on both are the same. They turn brownish in color when the seeds are ready to be shaken out. I find it is like a salt shaker - you just hold the seed pod over a container and shake the contents out. There is an incredible amount of seeds in each seed pod, as you can guess from the quantity of seeds in the containers above. The seed is very fine and it is useful to use a device such as the mini hand seeder to plant the seeds evenly into containers. |
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Lupin seeds are very easy to collect. The plant will develop seed
pods after the blooms are finished. They resemble a bean pod, long
and narrow. Once the pod is brownish, it will begin to crack open.
The seeds are lined up on both side of the pod. The seeds are quite hard. They do require a stratification (cold) period to break the seed's dormancy, if you plan on starting them indoors. |
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This was my first year of collecting Delphinium seeds. They were quite easy - just looking where the flower buds had been in bloom. I was able to collect quite a few from just only a couple of plants. |
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Lynchis or Maltese-cross forms seeds in capsules such as shown in the container on the right. One plant can supply an incredible amount of seed for collecting. |
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These are Hollyhock seeds (Alcea Rosea). The plant forms little wheels along the flower stalk. Inside the wheel are many little seed discs. There are usually many wheels on each stalk resulting in a great many seeds to save for growing in following years. |
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These are Four O'Clock (Mirabilis) seeds. You can see the seed sitting right inside a little pocket where the bloom was originally. When it is mature, it will be dark in color and come out easily when you pinch the pocket with your fingers. |
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These are Marigold seeds which are very easy to grow from seed. They are also quite easy to collect. When the flower petals are dried, just grasp with your fingers and pull. You will harvest many seeds in each spent bloom. |
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These are two examples of different types of seed trays which you can buy to start your seeds in. They can be reused. Just put your seed starting soil mixture in the containers and plant your seeds. |
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Once your seeds have outgrown the smaller trays and you want to transplant into larger containers, the two trays above are examples of larger containers for your seedlings. There are many types of containers available for use by the home gardener. |
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I purchased a seedling heat mat with a thermostat this past winter. I found I had a higher germination rate of some seeds than I had in past years. |
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I have a three tier light stand which I use to grow on my seedlings once
they have germinated. When I am not growing seedlings, I use it
for houseplants. These units are also available in one and two
tier units. Some people find hanging shop lights works well for
them also. |
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