how to tell mature ripe seeds after plant has dried???

I did a lot of deadheading to keep things blooming; not thinking to let some go for seed collecting. Now I have decided to try saving some seeds this year; but unsure about what is mature and what is just dried from the cold temps. If the blooms did not actually mature and complete their ripening process naturally to a dry state, but just got nipped by frost and now appear dry; will seeds be viable? Does this make sense?

I don't think that flowers cut down or nipped by frost have seeds that are mature enough to germinated.

To know what is ripe and what isn't look at the stem where the fading flower is attched. If the stem has turned brown, or just isn't green anymore, the the seed are mature. Plants halts nutrients going to stems that have mature seeds growing on them thus they loose the green color. At this point, you can harvest the seeds.

so there can be seeds that appear dry (from frost) and fall out; but are not actually matured enough to germinate....THANKS for your help.

how about if the seeds had formed, but did appear to be fully ripe, would they continue to ripen after a frost or freeze ?

mjsponies, I would check the viability of seeds if you question their ripeness. I had this situation with yellow Datura seeds. Frost came before the pod was ready to be picked. I harvested any way. Allowed the seeds to dry, then checked. They did not even sprout, although I tried with several seeds at different times.

Here is my post on how to carry Daturas over the winter in fridge.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1051779/

This message was edited Feb 16, 2010 1:52 PM

Yeah, that's what happened with my purple double/triple datura..good thing I had a few rooted cuttings. So at least I have some.