Tropicals & Tender Perennials: When to pluck seed pods, 0 by bettydee

bettydee wrote:
The seed pods are ready to pick when the peduncle turns yellow or brown and dries up or starts to dry up. The cork surrounding the seed will be a dark brown. Remove the corked seeds from the pod and spread them out on a layer of paper towels to dry for a few days. The cork colow will be a tan color by them. If you use a fingernail to remove the cork from one of the seeds, the seed coat should feel dry and hard. You can then place the seeds in a container to store. Of course if you decide to plant the seed, you don't have to dry them out. I like to remove the cork and my nails do less damage if the seeds are dry. This a photo of dried seeds — some with the cork still on, others with the cork still on.