I know it sounds silly, but I love going out to save seeds. It makes me feel like a good steward, I guess.
Today I picked all the seeds off my balsam plants along the front walk. (I bought a packet of balsam seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (they’re homeschoolers!) last spring, and they grew very well —wish I’d taken a picture of them in bloom to share here.)
Balsam plants are fun because once they bloom, little seed pods form along the side branches of the plants, and in the fall you can pop them open over a cup and all the seeds come tumbling out. (When my kids were little, they loved doing this 🙂 ) I’ll let these dry in the unheated garage over the winter, and next spring I won’t need to buy more balsam seeds.
Other plants whose seeds I’ve collected in the past include:
Cleome (the long stringy pods under the blooms are full of tiny seeds)
Marigolds (the old blooms are seeds; save them once they’ve dried up)
Hollyhocks (the seed pods contain comma-shaped seeds)
Four o’clocks (the seeds are hard and black and found inside the blooms-they’re ready in mid-to-late summer)
Store seeds in a dry place where air can get to them and where they’ll get good and cold over the winter.
You don’t have to collect seeds; if you just leave them, they’ll come up again in the same spot next year. But by collecting seeds, you can scatter them where you want in the spring, plus you’ll have more than enough to share with friends and neighbors. Or, if you’re like me and think you might be moving, you can take the seeds along to the next house.
In recent years, most people bought blooming plants instead of planting them from seed. Most of the people who do grow flowers from seed buy new seed packets every year. Saving seeds is something people used to do when money was scarce. I think it’s going to be making a comeback.
The process is therapeutic, relaxing and productive. Vertical Garden
Thanks for the info. It’s not defficult. I may want to try it. 🙂
I too had 4 O’clocks one time. Upon hearing of their name my Father-in-Law inquired why they were called that, I explained that when they start blooming they open up at 4:00. One day he stopped by a little after 4 and asked why my 4 O’clocks were not blooming. I simply replied that they did not reccognize Daylight Savings Time, just as the cows did not.
Valerie Neal
VG, you’re right, it is very relaxing 🙂
SFC, it’s not at all difficult. I hope you do try it 🙂
Valerie, good point, lol! When we were outside all afternoon when my kids were young, I knew when it was time to go in and start dinner: when the four o’clocks opened.
Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
I love collecting seeds too! I don’t even really care how cold it is outside, and have been known to collect them in 30 degree, blowing snow weather! One of my favorites are the seeds out of one of those perennial seed packs. I like to scatter them around also. I also do marigolds, gaillardia, and any other little things I find! I really like that balsam too, and have never heard of it. I might just have to buy some!
Hey Katherine, I’ll have to look up gaillardia, as the name sounds familiar but I can’t picture the plant. You will love balsam, but it gets tall so plant the seeds behind your littler plants 🙂
Gaillardia is blanket flower. There are many different varieties. You might look up something called ‘Mexican hat’ too. I don’t know the botanical name. They are cool.
Katherine, I found a photo of them here: http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/chilternseeds/211/moreinfo/d/gaillardia+aristata+arizona+sun/pid/2383442
How pretty! Thanks for the recommendation 🙂
Barbara, I had to look back at this post to remember what the name of that flower was you were talking about. I’m starting to look through the 2009 seed and plant catalogs now. Thanks for posting on your blog so regularly! It’s one of the few I look at almost every day (ok, every day!). Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Oh, also, do you like morning glories? I have a ton of seeds, I’d be happy to share some with you if you’d like some.