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Seed harvesting

Hi all:

Coreen Smith asked a number of questions about seed harvesting:

1:  Asiatic Lilies.  The small bulbs (called bulbills) form in the axils are 
viable clones that usually drop of the parent stalk when it begins to die back 
in the fall.  They drop to the ground and root onto the surface, and over time 
draw themselves down into the soil until they reach their preferred depth.  
You can either let them alone and protect them with mulch, or you can take 
them and grow them on in pots in a cold frame, cold greenhouse, etc.  The same 
is true for daughter bulbs formed at the soil surface or just below from the 
flowering stalk, ie, mulch or take and pot.  You can do this anytime you like, 
though there is some risk with the daughter bulds at the base of the stalk; 
you may prefer to leave them alone and protect with mulch.

2.  Seed harvesting.

Pansy (Viola x wittrockriana) seeds are not ripe when white.  The pds are ripe 
when they are dry, whitish or tan, and begin to split open.  At least the 
capsules are not explosive, so even if you loose a few seeds you should still 
get many from each pod.  You need to check the pods daily.

Calendula officinalis.  The curly half-moon shaped things are the seeds.  They 
will be ripe with they dry to a tan/brownish color and come away easily from 
the recepticle.  They ripen from the outer edge inward, like many compositae.

Delphinium x.  The seeds are ripe when the pod opens.  My recollectin of 
Delphinium cultivars is that seeds may be viable regardless of color, but I 
may have this wrong.  Not all seeds in an ovary are necessarily fertilized, 
which may account for the color difference, but it would be worthwhile to sow 
everything and see what you get.

Cosmos spp.  The seeds need to ripen on the plant.  Harvesting before will not 
give viable seed.  See below for some ideas for collecting this type of seed.

Datura.  From what you describe this is most likely Datura stramonium.  The 
spiked ball is the ovary and the seeds are inside within 3 or 4 compartments.  
When the seeds are ripe the ovary will begin to split and you can remove it 
and harvest the seeds at that time.  BTW, this plant is very poisonous in all 
its parts if eaten.  It is naturalized widely, and sometimes kids who have 
heard tales of  the psychedlic properties of the plant have killed themselves 
eating seeds.

The easiest way to collect seed from plants that have dehiscent (exploding or 
popping) seed capsules, and from those that drop seeds as they ripen, is to 
use a small muslin or nylon mesh bag with a drawstring, slipping it over the 
maturing ovary and closing it around the stem tightly enough to hold it in 
place and contain the seeds, but not so tightly as to cut off circulation.  
They are easy to make of you have the time, and are available frm a number of 
sources.  Southern Exposure Seed Exchange sells nylon mesh bags in three 
sizes; I believe that Pinewood Gardens does as well.  I will post the 
addresses if you don't have their catalogues.  Small paper bags work too, if 
you can't find fabric bags.

Hope this helps.  Post further questions you may have, or send private email.

Regards all around,
Phillip Allen
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