In The Garden — The Seed Collector
By JOYCE ARLEEN CORSON
Master Gardener
SYRACUSE — Many of us have pulled off the seed pod of a marigold, pressed on the dried blossoms gently pulling the seeds out and fanning them between our fingers. You can save them in a paper sandwich bag to plant in your garden in a neat row like your grandmother did before you. Another joy is to find them growing on their own in your garden the following spring.
By this time you have probably decided on which seeds to save. They should be showing signs of becoming ripe, turning dark but some of the wings may stay white or transparent. The seed is hard to protect the endosperm.
It is interesting to note that most seed pods have internal mechanisms to guarantee their seeds will be sown appropriately. These internal springs will surprise you one day and the seeds that you thought were there will have been sprung free! It is a good idea to guarantee capture that you put a thin nylon cloth tied over the seed pod to make sure it doesn’t get away from you, especially if not all of the seeds are turning ripe.
Some “seeding” projects of my own illustrated here: Forget-me-not planted, in four squares, in June ready to bloom, a little out of season but I will enjoy them.
Collecting early with enough stem left on may prove to be more successful. Sometimes I put them in a plastic container such as a yogurt container with the name of the seed written on the side. You may want to tag the stem as well. Some seeds are more perishable than others and may need to be planted right away or in most cases within one year.
Here are some guidelines to get started:
1. Always asks permission unless it is your own property before you collect seeds.
2. Carry bags with you for easy access. Paper is best, but plastic will work if you leave the top open.
3. Label with the name and location as best you can and later correct spelling errors especially if you want to use the Latin language.
4. Store in cool dry location until ready to plant.
Growing plants from seeds is one of the best ways to learn plant identification. The first leaves or baby leaves will be different than the mature plant leaves. Be patient and wait until second set of leaves, past the baby leaves, have grown before transplanting.
Hosta seeded indoors, in December 2014 under lights, transplant ready to be wintered in cold frames. Assorted yellow, blue and stripes.
The art of growing plants, shrubs and trees from seeds is not a new idea. It may be new to you but the satisfaction of growing your own is never ending. The falling of a seed to the ground in the natural cycle may be all you need to get hooked on seed collecting. Transplanting is even more rewarding when you find the right place in your gar-den design.
For more on seed saving check out these sites.
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb259/entry_10391/
Corson is a graduate of Adams Central High School, Manchester University and Ball State University. She and her husband, Ron, were married and enjoyed many years of traveling before they settled at Lake Papakeechie to raise their family. Soon after moving to the Syracuse area, Corson joined the Syracuse/Wawasee Garden Club and then became a Kosciusko County Master Gardener in 2002, the same year she retired from teaching.
“Early on my interest in gardening came from a lineage of farmers and their wives, including three generations of generosity, giving me an enormous collection of heritage trees, shrubs and flowers. History and traveling has given me special interest in native flowers, hosta, the art of bonsai and many plants that have been naturalized.”
Individuals who wish to contact Corson for further information or questions may email her at [email protected].
