Mid-Atlantic Gardening: August Blooms, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
This is taken on October 19, 2007.
This is the time you can expect most of the seed pods to start popping open. You WILL have to check daily--as if you miss a couple of days, the pod may have "popped" all the way open and spilled a lot of seeds in your flower bed, which will self-germinate for years to come.

As soon as you see a Pod starting to split open--CUT IT off at the stem. DO NOT try to pull it off, as the 'rind" of the pod is very soft and you will just have the whole thing fall apart in your hands as the stem is VERY tough--but the Pod is VERY soft.

I then take them inside--remove all the 100+ seeds on a paper plate, and put them on top of my fridge to dry. Make sure you label which color Datura you got it from, as the seeds are identical.

This picture is ONE day's pickings from 3 plants.....ALL from the Purple one--see the purple dots on the Pod? AND--NO spikes....

Edited to say--
you want to REALLY wash your hands well after messing with the Pods and seeds or the leaves or any other part of the Datura--as all parts of it are toxic (IF ingested). Why take chances" You just might lick your finger--or something.......rub it in your eyes.....

Gita

This message was edited Aug 7, 2008 11:14 PM