Harvesting Seeds from the Flower Garden

Novice gardeners, it’s okay to buy seed packets for planting flowers this year, but don’t make the mistake of buying them again next year. Those flowers in the garden are offering up free money for the taking. Save that flower seed money in a glass jar this season and use it for pocket money during summer vacation next year.

Collecting Flower Seeds

Anyone can have that cottage garden she’s dreamed of just by harvesting this year’s seeds from this year’s flower garden. Annuals are the easiest flowers to grow, because they are so prolific at producing seeds, but perennials and biennials will work also.

When flowers fade and seed heads turn brown, snip them off the stem. and place in a brown paper bag or plastic baggy. If seeds are still green when harvested, be sure to let them ripen in the pod or seed head. Be careful not to pick seed heads immediately after flower petals fade, but wait until the seeds have plumped up and are not shrunken and flat. The same goes for pods like sweet peas. They should be plump in the pod before harvesting so the living plant can still give them nourishment.

Drying Flower Seeds

Dry seeds in a protected area so the wind doesn’t blow them away or the dog doesn’t sneeze on them. Clean pizza boxes work great, because the low rims provide good air circulation for drying. Newspaper will also work under the same conditions.

Storing Flower Seeds

It can take anywhere from one to four weeks for pods and seed heads to completely dry. Once dry, shake the seeds into an envelope or paper bag. Sift them to remove litter and transfer them to lidded jars or envelopes for storage. Write the date and plant’s name on the containers and store in a cool, dry place for next year’s planting season.

Special Handling of Flower Seeds

Some seed heads, like purple coneflowers are prickly and require special handling. Snip off these seed heads into a paper bag. The seeds will drop off by themselves. Use gloves to separate seeds from the more stubborn prickly seed heads.

Novice gardeners learn through trial and error which plants work best and which don’t. Pretty soon the novice will be the neighborhood expert. Nobody would flush dollar bills down the toilet, or rake up coins with the winter leaves and throw in the trash. However, every year gardeners do exactly that by not harvesting flower seeds for next year’s crop. By saving those seeds, the flower gardener will never again waste hard earned money on the garden.

Resources

“Starting from Seed”, from the publisher of “Fine Gardening”; Steve Aitken, Editor; Kerry Ann Moore, Assistant Editor