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Post by daylilydude on Apr 6, 2011 7:23:59 GMT -5
Can anyone add to this, as I just buy fresh seed every year and would change my ways if I knew more about this?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2011 8:16:51 GMT -5
Good thread.. I am looking forward to help on this subject, too. When I was reselling cut flowers, the fresh seeds from Ivy Garth were a business expense - and labor free. Now, it seems like an extravagance to drop a couple hundred bucks on flower seeds. Especially when it just cost $80 to fill the gas tank on the LITTLE car.... I am really interested in how to save viable zinnia seeds. I have tried to save zinnia seeds before, with no luck, and the Benary Giants seeds are pricing themselves out of the market.
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Post by txdirtdog on Apr 6, 2011 13:58:55 GMT -5
Not a lot to add. I don't grow a lot of flowers, but try to save seed from the ones that I do. Pretty basic, easy-to-save-seed-from ones.
Cosmos - Really easy. After the flower fades, there will be a star shaped group of seeds on the end of the flower stalk. Wait for the stalk to turn brown, and collect the seeds. I usually lay them out on a plate to continue to dry for a week or 2. I haven't bought cosmos seeds in about 3 years, and I have a couple of jars worth.
Marigold - similar. Wait for the flower to die off. There will be a "husk" left on the end of the flower stem. Wait for it and the stem to turn brown. Break open the husk and it will be full of slender match-looking seeds. I lay them out on a plate for about a week or 2 as well. Lots and lots of seeds on one decent sized plant.
Zinnia - My first try last year. Same thing wait for flower to dry up an there will be a sort of cone-shaped core left. Wait for it and the stem to turn brown. Run your finger against the grain of it, and the seeds will sort of "pop" out. If the seed is paper thin, I understand it will not be viable. If it is "fatter", then it should be viable. The ratio I saw of viable vs. non-viable was very heavy in the non-viable side. I will probably just buy zinnia seed in future myself, but then maybe someone here has a better line on saving this seed.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2011 6:09:32 GMT -5
I collect seeds from all my flowers, if at all possible, since I have a seed business.
You probably already know this but I have to say it, as some people have asked me how to get seeds from flowers and been surprised that they have to leave the dead flowers on the plant. People who insist on clean gardens and always deadhead will never have seeds.
The seeds have to mature to be viable, so have to stay on the plant until they are ready. Sometimes you have to bag the seed pods before they ripen to catch the seed and sometimes you have to protect the seed pods as they grow from critter who eat them.
Some plants have seed pods that are hard to find. You just have to wait until it has dried out and rub the branch into a paper bag, then pick through and separate the seed.
Some are difficult and labor intensive and some are easy. usually, if unsure, you can wait until it's all brown and take one apart and study it, to find the seed.
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