If you love flowers in your garden but don't want to spend money on new flowers, why not save your seeds for planting next year?
To maximize the chances that a new plant will grow with its parent, collect only seeds from those marked "heirloom" or "heirloom". The seeds of a hybrid line, produced by crossing two or more lines, will produce a plant that looks exactly like one of the plant's parents, so there's no telling what you'll get.
Still, there are no guarantees. Accidental hybridization can occur in your garden when wind or insects transfer pollen between cultivars. To avoid this, plant only one variety of the plant for which you want to collect seeds.
But if you don't mind surprises, go ahead and experiment. You can create beautiful new plants.
Like many gardening jobs, timing is everything. Seeds are best harvested on a dry, sunny day. And whatever seeds you harvest, let them fully ripen and dry on the plant. Otherwise, they cannot germinate. However, if you wait too long, you could miss something.
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After harvesting and separating non-seed material such as petals and pods, spread the seeds over a sieve or newspaper in a single layer and let them dry for about a week.
Then put it in a paper envelope or a sealed glass jar (you can put the envelope in a jar) and store in a cool, dry place. A refrigerator is ideal as long as the seeds can be kept away from the fruit, which will release ethylene gas which can interfere with germination. Adding silica gel packets during the first day or two of storage will help prevent mold growth.
Label your envelopes or jars, because even if you're sure you remember what spring is like, you probably won't.
This image shows harvested California poppy, cosmos, zinnia, coneflower, and nasturtium seeds.
Collected seeds can last for several years if stored properly, but their overall germination rate will decrease. For best results, plant seeds that were harvested the following year.
Also, be sure to leave some seed heads to feed the birds over the winter. They will reward you with free pest control in your garden next year.
More information about collecting seeds from different types of plants:
While many plants naturally drop their seeds to dry, some, such as Since it's hard to say exactly when this will happen, you need to watch the fruit closely and harvest it when it looks like it's about to burst. But be careful; Many types of pods will burst open at the slightest touch, and good luck finding scattered seeds when that happens.
Instead, tie a small paper bag or specially designed seed collection bag over the pods when they are almost ripe. If the explosions are back to back, the bag will contain the seeds.
Other plants such as Mexican sunflower and echinacea produce pointed seed heads. To avoid biting your fingers, cut off the entire adult head and put it in a paper bag. Then shake to loosen and separate the seeds.
This photo shows dried echinacea seed heads.
In general, seeds from daisy-like flowers such as sunflower, echinacea, and asters have a relatively low germination rate. Choose the thickest for planting or plant more for insurance.
Some flowers, such as marigolds, produce seeds that attach to a stalk-like structure on the inside of their stiff leaves. To reveal it, remove the dry petals and open the seed heads to reveal the stems inside. Then dry, store and plant the entire structure.
Garden birds offer enchanting song and a unique connection to nature. They also help plants and humans by reducing the number of pests:
Photo: Pest control birds are a boon in the garden
Birds visit a garden shed in Glen Head, NY in this July 14, 2022 photo.
This May 25, 2022 photo shows a mourning dove perched on a bridge pier in Glen Head, New York.
A bananaquit hangs upside down to peck flowers at the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Ohio February 15, 2012.
A male robin perches on a flowering maple tree in Beverly Hills, Michigan March 24, 2012.
Birds gather in front of a bird feeder in a park in Johannesburg, South Africa, September 22, 2013.
A hummingbird flies through a park near Bogotá, Colombia.
