What to do with seeds from bulb plants?

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CrabgrassCentrl New Milford, CT Jun 18, 2009

I've never given much thought before to the seeds that bulb plants generate. Is it worth harvesting them? (I asked at the Bulb forum already but I don't think it gets much traffic so I'm repeating here.) I just always thought there were no seeds on bulb plants, but I can see in my own garden that I'm wrong, LOL!

Also, I'm particularly wondering about seeds from my Muscari Aucheri Mount Hood Grape Hyacinth, which the plant files says "Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds" AND "N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed." There are seeds on them, but would anyone want seeds that won't generate true daughter plants? I don't need more myself but if I thought they were trade-worthy, I'd harvest them.

So I have a general question about seeds from bulb plants being worthwhile to harvest and sow, and a specific question about seeds from my Mt. Hood muscari.

Thanks in advance for your kind assistance!

Mary

Post #6705220
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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Jun 18, 2009

Bulb plants can produce seeds--it's a way to reproduce themselves and spread themselves over a wider area than just having the clump of bulbs expand. I think it would generally take them longer to bloom if you start them from seed vs buying bulbs though and bulbs often aren't that expensive, that's why you see more people buying them as bulbs rather than as seeds (plus you don't have to go through all the extra effort/TLC involved with starting seeds). Since it's a named cultivar, you can't guarantee that the plants will come true from seed, but sometimes it's fun to grow them anyway so as long as you're up front with people that they may not come true I'm sure there'll probably still be some people who are interested.

Post #6705280
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wormfood Lecanto, FL(Zone 9a) Jun 18, 2009

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/germination/all/
Try this forum. I'm just learning about seeds myself.
And sometimes getting plants from hybrids is creating a new plant. Like Japanese Maple seeds. You never know what you're going to get.
Good luck


That Mt. Hood is VERY pretty.

This message was edited Jun 18, 2009 10:38 AM

Post #6705316
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CrabgrassCentrl New Milford, CT Jun 18, 2009

Thanks so much! That makes sense. Now you 've got me intrigued with the "new plant" idea, so maybe I'll even plant some myself! And I'll put them on my Trade List with full explanation.

Mary

Post #6705328
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