|
|
Post by Chuckles on Jul 4, 2007 19:11:54 GMT
I normally save seeds from pansies, Delphiniums and other plants that are currently going to seed in th garden. Unfortunately with this stupid weather we are having it's not allowing them to dry as normal, some are even rotting  My Foxgloves are just rotting halfway up the flower stems and bending over so not even allowing the spent flowers to seed or the top flowers to flower  I had thought about picking them and just laying them on some kitchen roll in the GH to dry or bringing them in the house somewhere. How is everyone else coping with this, any hints and tips. |
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Jul 5, 2007 7:49:38 GMT
A good glass of wine.
Good thing most seeds of bi-annuals stay good for more than one year. Use last years seeds.
Sometimes you can safe them by hanging them in the green upside down in a dry warmish spot in the shed. Paper bag added after things are dry enough not to rot inside and keeping all fingers crossed.
Mind you doing the latter might hamper other gardening jobs.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Jul 5, 2007 8:06:02 GMT
Must admit that I have been thinking along the same lines with the seed situation and I have decide to take off what I want before they all go rotten and put them into paper bags to dry and just see what happens.
My OH suggested that I put them on an old baking tray covered with greaseproof paper in the cellar and dry them that way. So I will be trying both methods.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Jul 5, 2007 10:22:25 GMT
I had good advice here at GWD re saved tomato seeds - leave pulp/seeds in a dish of water for a few days, rub off all gunge with kitchen towel, leave naked seeds on kitchen towel on windowsill for a day to dry, then store in an envelope till needed with the name and date on the outside - and the yellow plum tomatoes that I wanted to try, brought in from France, have germinated really well and are among their 'trial' cousins.
I'm currently 'saving' some particularly lovely but ugly 'beefheart' toms from this years French trip...
I have a feeling there was a potential problem re F1 plants, but can't remember what it was...
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spruance on Jul 5, 2007 10:40:47 GMT
It think it would be inappropriate to requote verbatim from a third party site, so here is a link to some very useful information on saving seeds, including those from F1 hybrids.  |
|
|
|
Post by piggingardener on Jul 6, 2007 14:37:05 GMT
I have collected seed occasionally which has been a bit on the damp side. I put a couple of thicknesses of kitchen roll in the bottom of a plastic tray and spread the seed out until it is dry. I then packet it into either junk mail envelopes or pay slip packets. Your own saved seed seems to achieve a much higher germination rate than shop bought seed. I suspect because it is that much fresher. I sowed 3 trays of pansy seed recently. Swiss giants, clear crystals, and some saved from last years flowers. Swiss giants germination rate - nil. Clear crystals around 50%, own seed around 95%! So well worth the effort. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Jul 6, 2007 15:03:22 GMT
Sounds like all is not lost and it's worth a try picking semi dried heads. Off to collect some pansies now ;D Have some White Aquilegia to pick too. That link was interesting reading Spruance thanks  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2007 12:38:37 GMT
Hi all ... anyone grown Crocosmia from seed? I've read that the 'seed should be sown when ripe' - how do you tell? I know it won't work with cultivars, but this is plain old roadside montrebtia - you can't have too many clumps of this beauty! Any tips? ... cheers ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Jul 21, 2007 19:27:52 GMT
Not done them myself but is this any help CC Crososmia |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2007 10:50:53 GMT
Thanks, Chuckles ... I always forget about this site ... cheers ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Jul 23, 2007 10:57:53 GMT
Thanks, Chuckles ... I always forget about this site ... cheers ... ;D If I'm honest I do too. Just noticed my bad spelling of Crocosmia, it's this cold bug  |
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jul 23, 2007 18:29:13 GMT
Hi all ... anyone grown Crocosmia from seed? I've read that the 'seed should be sown when ripe' - how do you tell? I know it won't work with cultivars, but this is plain old roadside montrebtia - you can't have too many clumps of this beauty! Any tips? ... cheers ... Found a few rogue ones in my flower beds CC that must have self seeded from next door. I've pulled them out but know that I have probably left a "bulblet" behind and they will be back next year They can take over if you are not careful and even the heat of the compost heat doesn't kill them off. The red Lucifer doesn't seem to spread in quite the same way and is a lot more manageable. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2007 19:50:58 GMT
I've been putting the wet seed pods complete in the toast rack in paper towel, When they have dried off they go into the egg cups to finish off before the little brown dinner money packets from Wilkinsons, it seems to work,
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Jul 31, 2007 6:04:18 GMT
A couple of weeks ago I collected a load of things - half that I didn't want , just to see if the seed capsules would go mouldy or what would happen as the seeds were in one or two cases obviously not ripe.
I put them into greaseproof paper breakfast bags that we can get here for an apple and an eye and they have turned out really good.
Infact I am more than pleased - now then what do I do with the seeds now that the experiment is over.....
RF
|
|
My Foxgloves are just rotting halfway up the flower stems and bending over so not even allowing the spent flowers to seed or the top flowers to flower 
