The autumn has felt drier and almost warmer than the summer here in Manchester. I’m taking advantage of this dry spell to collect seeds for sowing next year.
A papery brown, ripe pod ready for picking on a perennial sweet pea.
The key thing is to get your timing right. Don’t be tempted to pick the pod, or other type of seed case, when they’re still green and under ripe. Wait until the seed falls out naturally when you tap the case then gather it in a paper bag or bowl. Some seeds are encased in more complicated seed heads. With these, I leave my seed on a tray for a while so that it drys out properly. This also gives time for any creepy crawlies to escape from seed pods and husks. It’s been a bumper year for earwigs and they have the habit of crawling into the tiniest cracks. I don’t mind earwigs, but they can make me jump when they appear suddenly and I don’t want to end up dropping all my seeds on the floor.
If you find lots of husks are mixed in with the seed then these can be removed by gently blowing the debris away as it’s usually lighter than the seed itself. Don’t attempt it if you feel a sneeze coming on or you’ll loose the lot!
Seed heads spilling out their harvest. Papaver somniferum and Verbascum olympicum.
When the seed harvest is gathered in, store it in envelopes marked clearly with the plant’s name and date it. Seed packets have a habit of hanging around in drawers for a while (well, they do in my house) so I need to know which to use first. Seeds that have a hard coat and aren’t too small are generally the type that will last for years, if kept in an airtight tin in a cool place. Large, fleshy seeds will shrivel in storage, so they’re the type to sow straight away after collecting. But I don’t really go in for serious seed collecting and I tend to opt for collecting the easier types. It’s a practical way of keeping and sharing some of my favourite plants.
This year’s collection has included
Alcea rugosa – a species hollyhock originating from Russia. Perennial and less prone to rust than other types, it blooms over a long period in summer with pale lime yellow flowers on spikes 1.5- 1.8m high. Attractive grey/green leaves.
Linaria purpurea ‘Canon J. Went’ – a pretty, pale pink toadflax that’s always on demand when people see it in flower. Self seeds in my garden but I collect some for sowing in pots for use in planting up new gardens and on my plant stall. For a sunny spot.
Atriplex hortensis – also known as ‘Red Mountain Spinach’. Generous with its seed so that it’s always popping up on my allotment (and my neighbours). The young leaves are edible but I really like it as a decorative addition to the plot. Everything about it is plumy red! Forms a tall spike of foliage 1.5 -1.8 tall.
Seed of Atriplex hortensis – Red Mountain Spinach.
