Re: HYB: verbena moth larvae in pods

Robin, I don't know the type of little moth larvae that get in pods
here, but I do surgery on the pods as soon as I see a hole in a pod.
Use a fresh blade Exacto type knife.  They sell very inexpensive lttle
ones ($1 each) at the hardware store with a plastic case and a segmented
retractable blade, where you break off the old blade segment when it
gets dull or icky.

I slice a very small section of the pod open, right around the hole in
the pod, just enough to reach in with curved forceps and drag the little
villain out.

I harvest pods when they start to turn color and bring them indoors to
finish ripening.  They usually start to turn at 8 to 10 weeks, getting a
sort of whiteish or bleached look.  They also start to feel a little
spongey - not soft & squishy, but like they are drying a bit & have some
air in the pod.  I put them on a bright window sill (no direct sun) to
finish ripening.

I started bringing them indoors to finish ripening because so many of
the stalks were rotting as the pods ripened, it was easier to keep track
of them.  Poor ripening conditions may be another factor contributing to
low germination rates here, but the early harvested seeds seem to do as
well as the ones dried and split on the plant.

Long answer to your question...Short answer is 8 weeks.  Some have said
6 is the bare minimum they need attached to the plant, but the pods I've
tried to salvage that young have rotted.

--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.korrnet.org/etis>
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
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