RE: Nasturtium Seeds and keeping them whole...

Hi all,
Last year, I faithfully waited until my Nasturtiums (A burgundy color that I haven't been able to track down a name for, precisely and hadn't seen previously but that came with a "_____ Nasturtiums" labeled mix from a fellow trader!) produced those lovely burgundy/green seeds became full size and caught them as they fell when I shook the plant gently. But, as I let them dry under open air in a room that was cooler but still above 50 Degrees F., their skins began to crack and the rest of the poor things began to crumble as well. Does anyone know a trick or secret to prevent this from happening again....two survived so I have another shot this year and don't want it to be my last with this neat color? Thanks for your help with this issue!!!

Thor

I don't know what makes the seed inside turn to dust, (or mush) but I've seen that too, with seeds I've found under the plants. Since you waited until they fell off, it's not likely that it's a ripeness issue, so I'm thinking it might be a pollination problem. Or maybe they were (multiple) hybrids, since you got them from a trade, and the resulting seed was too weak to even form properly? Or then there's always the possibility that some mold or tiny critter got in there before you got 'em.

So it really could have been anything, LOL! Sorry!

But it's unlikely that it was something that you could control.

You're making me nervous here, as I have about 5 plants hanging in a shed drying out. Oddly enough, they've been there about 2 weeks, and they're still blooming! (And the bees are showing up to pollinate!) Tough plant.

Good luck with your 2 seeds. It may be time to try to find some commercial seed to start again, and if you can, keep them isolated so that they don't cross. Or try hand pollinating. I saved multiple generations of marigolds once, and after about the 4th time, I got poor germanation, and very (very!) odd looking marigolds with daisy like blooms.

Thanks...got up to six seeds now!!! LOL

Wow, yes...I've actually found that nasturtiums...even in raised beds with landscape fabric are particularly susceptible or, at least this one is and we had the wettest summer...as you know...in over a decade, to what I think were mealy bugs or some form of black critters that were very voracious and multiplied like made, sucking at the plants stems, radiating outward and down the stem to some of the flowers. I have a feeling that the not-so-light freezes we've had has likely gotten rid of the d**** things!

Grrr...you should I have seem, I likely looked like a man-possessed with me (sitting on my "shower chair" since I have five artificial joints and a degenerative disk disease condition in my back) frantically hand-squishing every one I could find since I didn't want to accidentally spray soapy water on them or even organic insecticidal soap as it has very much been my experience the stuff kills the flowers overnight With all of the late season dampness and the tendency of nasturtiums to mash itself into a ball, I was not surprised that some form of nasty Aphid/Mealy Bug (the latter of which I think these were) got these. Well, I was surprised in the sense that nasturtiums are historically good companion plants to keep many bugs away from others and don't tend to fall pray to many enemies but the creepy crawlies (squash bugs, cucumber beetles, Mexican Bean Beetle (though not in my garden) and flea beetles, not to mention the lovely cabbage moths and their respective tiny camouflage little worms and slugs like nobodies business the latter of which finally got some form of Iron Sulfide or something that was not harmful nor attractive to animals but that stopped the slug infestation though I had to keep applying it! LOL

Anyway...enough about these things...how did your garden do?

Sincerely,
Thor

6 seeds now! Good for you.

Aside from a constant battle with the Squash Vine Borer on the Hubbards & Sweet Meats, the late (or not at all) ripening peppers & the tomato blight that killed nearly every plant...not too bad! LOL.

I had a huge sweet potato haul, (despite the deer nibbling) and the Russet potato haul wasn't too shabby either: 70 lbs from 5 lbs of seed. (Reds & Gold were poor though- that's the last time I buy cheap seed.) Pole beans produced right up until I pulled the trellises down last week. Lots of beets, and basil & parsley for pesto. And the Charentais melons were just incredible. Sweet & firm with a complex flavor like no melon you can buy in a store. (I'll never buy a store melon again, I'm a true convert to seasonal & fresh from the garden now. No contest!)

I have a handful of beautiful leeks still out there, and will be getting the garlic in hopefully today or tomorrow. I'm running a bit late, but that rain this weekend threw me off... again!

And good for you too, getting out there despite the bad disc & the fake joints. I'm a firm believer in "who cares what the neighbors think!" And when you're a possessed gardener, you do whatever it takes to get out there in the dirt, sun & air, battling the elements & bugs to get a perfect bloom or tasty delight. (Or one more seed!) It's what we do!

What were your triumphs or tragedies?