I want to save some money and collect some of my seeds to start more stuff for myself and share with my DG friends. I know when my morning glory and jacarda vine seeds are ready but Im not sure about my cone flower and sunflower seeds.. the birds are already cleaning off the sunflower heads so I cut a couple of them and brought them in to dry.. the coneflower heads are dry (well as dry as they can be in 98 degee humidity). Anything I should look for so I can tell when they are ready to be harvested???
Thanks
Kathleen
seed collecting
I think the seeds are actually inside the head of the flower, so you might need to break it open. I checked plant files and there are several good seed pics so you'll know what you're looking for.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/26/
The seed head should be brown and feel dry, but it is very prickly.
I put on gloves and press hard on it from the top down to separate the seeds from the cone.
You can also set the the seed heads on newspaper and hit them with a hammer.
I hope that helps.
Josephine.
Ive pulled them apart with no gloves.. my hands are tough I guess..lol.. and it looks like the seeds in the pics I found.. Ive got 2 varieties so far an orange called sunrise and the other a white with a pink/rose blush on it..Ive got another one thats called kims and hopefully will get seeds from it. the butterflys LOVED it!! if anyone wants some let me know and Ill have it for you at the fall RU
Check the plant files to make sure the seeds are viable. On some of those coneflowers, they're not. I fell in love with one at a nursery a couple of years ago, popped a seed head off, stuck it in my purse and brought it home. When I checked PF, I found out the seeds were sterile.