RE: Collecting Seed

I will piggyback onto Marilyn's comment with one addition: IF it matters to you what color the poppies are (when saving the seeds) I take plastic plant tags and punch a hole in one end with a one-hole punch.  I take twist ties of some sort and attach the tag, identified with the color/type of of poppy (i.e., pink fringed or dark red peony type) to the poppy stem somewhere.  Obviously this has to be done while the poppy is blooming.  But the leaves are usually big enough that the tags aren't seen.

Then, when you get read to harvest the seed, you can just stick the tag in the bag with the seeds for ID later.  AND the tags are reusable; I just save them for the next year and have used the same ones for years.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marilyn Dube [m*@easystreet.com]
> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2003 8:16 AM
> To: perennials@hort.net
> Subject: RE: Collecting Seed
> 
> 
> Kelly,
> 	Poppy seed is the easiest of any to collect.  They make it sound
> unnecessarily difficult.  The seed capsule on the top of the 
> flower stalk
> gradually turns brown/tan as it dries.  When the seed is 
> ready to harvest,
> you can hear the seeds rattle in the pod if you gently shake 
> it.  There are
> holes near the top of the seedpod where you can shake out the 
> seeds (or
> Mother Nature will do it for you if you let them stay there 
> too long).  You
> will be amazed at how many seeds you can collect from a few 
> poppies.  I've
> never bagged my poppy seedpods, don't think it's necessary.  
> You can save
> your seeds in a zip loc baggy with a little package of gel 
> and store in the
> fridge until it's time to sprinkle them around next winter.
> 
> 	Enjoy,
> 
> Marilyn Dube'
> Natural Designs Nursery
> Portland, Oregon
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From:	owner-perennials@hort.net 
> [o*@hort.net] On Behalf
> Of Kelly Stephens
> Sent:	Thursday, July 10, 2003 7:06 AM
> To:	perennials@hort.net
> Subject:	Collecting Seed
> 
> Hi folks,
> I just love my Shirley Poppy bed.  Dave's Garden website says:
> "Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
> Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
> Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored"
> 
> Can anyone expand upon this for me?  How do I go about 
> "bagging?"  How do I
> know when the pod is dry?  What does "properly cleaned" mean?
> 
> Thanks for any help,
> Kelly Stephens
> 
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