Sweet William

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
behillman Plantersville, TX(Zone 9a) May 20, 2010

I am trying to save seed from the sweet william. They are finished blooming & the flower is dried, & still on the stalk. Some of the flowers have green bulb like growth. Are these the seeds that have to be left on the plant to mature? I have picked some of the flowers immediately after they are finished blooming. I guess I should wait? Did i pick them too early?

Post #7810890
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 20, 2010

Yes, the seeds need to be left on the plant to mature. If the flowers just finished, the seeds probably haven't even started to form yet so you definitely need to wait.

Post #7812052
Quote
altagardener Calgary, AB(Zone 3b) May 22, 2010

Yes, the green bulb-like growths are the seed capsules - the seeds are inside. You need to leave them on the plant until the seed capsules are dry, and then you'll be able to shake the seeds out.

Post #7818784
Quote
2zeus (Zone 7b) May 27, 2010

When Sweet William seeds are mature, the seed pods will open.

Post #7833569
Quote
behillman Plantersville, TX(Zone 9a) May 27, 2010

Can I snip the flower off when it has dried. And let the flower dry further in the box, until the pods dry & open? Thereby spilling the seeds out in the box where I can collect them later.

Post #7833910
Quote
carly_dog May 27, 2010

The pod needs to be yellow and starting to dry as the seeds are not mature until this happens. If you snip the pod while it is still green, you'll have immature seed that won't germinate.

Post #7834138
Quote
2zeus (Zone 7b) May 27, 2010

When the seeds are mature, the pod will have changed from a green to a papery brown, and pop open. I've found that they produce such an abundance of seed, that even if I don't get to it right at the first sign of maturity, there will still be plenty of seed left to gather.
Because there will be ripe and unripe pods on the same head at the same time, I go around every few days with a small paper bag, and carefully shake the stem to collect the seeds.

Edited to add a link to a picture of ripe seed pods for Sweet William - third picture down.

http://www.atastefulgarden.com/2009/08/simple-seed-saving.html

This message was edited May 27, 2010 6:37 PM

Post #7834958
Quote
behillman Plantersville, TX(Zone 9a) Jun 03, 2010

There are drawf and tall sweet william. I read that they have to freeze before they will sprout, so I froze some seed for a month. I have planted them. I wonder if they will grow

Post #7855623
Quote
dirtdigger2010 Bristol, VA(Zone 7a) Jul 05, 2010

The Sweet Williams in my garden went to seed in early June and have already sprouted new plants. In my zone, a cold treatment isn't necessary.

Post #7945860
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP