The term “The bloom has fallen off of the rose,” may also apply to the condition of those early spring perennials.
We wait all winter for those first flowers. And soon after, the inevitable comes. The bees do their work, the bloom loses its luster, and the plant begins growing seed for the next season.
The joy of perennial plants is they will return each year. They will usually increase in size and the quality of the floral display. It usually takes three years for new perennials to become established but the wait is well worth it.
Perennials, like all living things, make seed for the next-generation.
Collecting and saving seed can be a rewarding way to preserve some varieties. That is especially the case with perennials. Heritage varieties have been preserved through the centuries thanks to diligent gardeners who have harvested their seeds.
In late spring, after flowering, many perennials begin to form seed heads. These seed heads are invaluable, but unfortunately, can become unsightly. Many gardeners will decide to cut back the spent blooms while others will go about labeling and collecting seeds.
Seed collecting and trading with other gardeners has become very popular. The process of collecting them isn’t hard, but it does take organization.
Timing is everything. A good collector must take on the role of Mother Nature. Let the plants do their work and wait for the harvest.
If you have many different colours of the same plant, it will help to label individual colours with a plant stake before the plant loses its bloom.
Seed pods will begin to change from green to a tan or brown. Let the sun dry the pods. They will develop a brittle or papery texture when the seeds inside are ripe. Gathering too soon may result in unusable seed. Shaking the seed pod will give a rattling sound when ready.
Waiting too long, many seeds will naturally drop. Others will be blown away or eaten by birds, so watch the heads carefully for just the right moment to harvest. Experience will tell you that the colour of the pod is the key to determining whether the seeds are ripe for picking.
Place collected seedheads into paper envelopes or bags. Do not use plastic or airtight containers. If the seedhead is not thoroughly dry, it will mold.
Often seedheads are so dry and brittle that they are very difficult to capture the seeds without spilling or losing the majority of them on the ground. Place a paper bag completely over the top of the dried seedheads, tightly gather up the open end as to seal it and then cut the full stem. Shaking the bag will release the majority of the seeds. That is usually very successful.
Brown paper lunch bags work very well.
Store the envelope or bag in a dry, ventilated location. Do not place in the sun or other heating source.
Always write the name, colour, and the year on the seed envelope.
During the winter, seeds can be cleaned from the chaff by dumping into a colander or the like, break apart the pods or seedheads. Strainers of different mesh sizes will assist in separating the seed from other debris.
Patience is needed when cleaning. Extra little bits will not be a problem in the germinating process. Realistically, seeds drop naturally and are not be deterred by debris.
Beginning seed collectors will find much success collecting – columbine (Aquilegia spp), lupines (Lupinus), delphinium (Delphinium), oriental poppy (Papaver orientale), sweet violet (Viola odorata), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica).
As the season moves along, additional seeds can be easily collected – yarrow (Achillea), hollyhock (Alcea), perennial alyssum (Alyssum), coral bells (Heuchera), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), foxglove (Digitalis), bellflower (Campanula persicifolia), baby’s breath (Gypsophila), English daisy (Bellis), obedient plant (Physostegia), blanket flower (Gaillardia), shasta daisy (Leucanthemum).
Trading seeds is a great way to expand your garden with new plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, shrubs, and trees. Internet seed exchanges provide a forum where gardeners offer seeds for trade and make requests for seeds they are seeking. Those hard-to-find or heritage varieties can be found using particular sites.
Often, Internet sites allow for seed requests. Drought-resistant plants, blue hostas, or giant white pumpkins are recent examples from seed seekers. Growing zones and special soil requirements may have to be taken into consideration for plant success.
Seed exchanges operate on a one-for-one basis. Bring envelopes of saved seeds and exchange them for new ones. Local exchanges are held in February and March (Seedy Saturday) and in April at the Fergus Horticultural Society’s regular meeting.
