Collecting seed - now is the time

At rosybee we try to generate as many or the plants as possible from our own seed. This means collecting good seed at the right time to increase the chances of reliable germination. I have written before about how fresh seed germinates much better than dried but it’s also important to make sure the seed you collect is viable in the first place. Here are my tips:

• Observe your plants from the stage when some of the flowers begin to fade

• Ideally you want to collect the seed just before it naturally disperses as then it has fully ripened; it’s very tempting to take it too early just because you can see the seeds developing.

• Collect the seeds in a paper bag or open container to allow them to dry breifly for storage, even if you plan to sow them very soon. I tend to give them at least 48 hours to become fully ‘ripe’.

• Clean away as much of the non-seed debris as posilbe. I use a variety of techniques for this including sifting them through a range of sieves and ‘winnowing’. The latter involves pouring the seeds from one container to another while either blowing or allowing the wind to remove husks.

• If possible sow your seed within a week of collection. Germination rates reduce dramatically the older/drier seed gets. If you intend to keep it for next year, dry for a week or so then freeze.

  Right now the weather is still very warm so it’s a great time to sow seeds without needing any additional heat to germinate them. Small seedlings can still be pricked out or potted up right to the end of October if it stays mild.