Bleeding Heart seeds

Can anyone answer a question please...I think I really goofed my seeds.

It's the first time I've collected Bleeding Heart seeds (first time mine seeded). I collected a bunch and put them in a little tub (with lid off) while collecting them. I planed on separating them to dry out asap, but got side tracked...when I went back to the container, the bottom of container was still all damp and looked like it had a little fuzzy (mold?) bit of stuff (mainly on the "pods").

Can I still save my seeds?!!!?

Should I clean them off with something?

Thanks to all.

First of all the seeds of the Bleeding heart must be ripe before you collect them. It's a lot of work, because they don't ripe all at the same time. Collect them as the seedpod starts to open. Or put organza baggies around the seedpod, so they fall in it when they're ripe.
Reading your post you might have collected them too early, because they're still in the pods.
If there's mold on it, you'd better throw them away.
If there are still seedpods on the plant, I advise you to collect those the way I described.

If you want to dry seeds, put them in an open paper bag on a sunny place and shake the bag every day. Or you can put them in a sieve to dry.

Jonna

Many pods were dried and I saved just the black seeds. Others were not totally dried out (dropping seeds), but were opening. I collected those as well.

My container was filled with seeds and plant bits (some pods, stems, etc) and the small fuzzy mold looked to be on the plant bits not on the seeds, but wasn't sure if I could/should still try to use the seeds?

If the real black seeds are shiny (like a just waxed car) I suppose they're viable. Just keep the seeds (and not the other parts of the plant) for a week or two on a sunny dry place to dry completely. After that store them in plastic on a cool, dry and dark place, not longer than a year.
If you only collected them for your own use, you'd better leave them on the plant. It self sows. Here I find at least 25 seedlings every year although I collect a lot of seeds of it, because I also trade and sell the seeds.

Jonna, just curious, did you make the above statement because Bleeding Heart seeds are only viable for a year? I ask because I've tried to start BH plants numerous times, without success, but always used slightly older seeds... thanks

rockgardner, the seeds of the Dicentra's are indeed short viable. They also profit from a cold period. So the best is to sow in autumn or to winter sow seeds that are harvested in the same year.
If you want to give it a try again: I'll have fresh seeds in a few weeks and I would love to trade them for something else.

Jonna

Jonna... thanks for the info. I knew about the cold treatment, just didn't know about it's short viability. The seeds I tried WSing last year were from 2006. I would be interested in trading for some fresh seeds from you if there's anything you're interested in my tradelist... I need to upgrade it first as some items have expired and some new harvests will be added. We've got time, meanwhile you can check my list anyway. Btw... what does it cost to send a 1oz bubble envy to Belgium?

rockgardner, the most envelopes with small tradings that arrive here in bubble envelopes have a postage of $ 1.44.

I would like to trade for fresh (this year harvested) seeds of the Lilium formosamum. If you have no fresh seeds, I'll wait untill your list is updated, since all the other ones I already have or are not interesting for me.

I made a note in my Tradetracker to remind me if the seeds of the Dicentra spectabilis is ripe.

Jonna

I harvested the seeds of the Dicentra spectabilis.
Do you have fresh seeds of the Lilium formosamum? And did you update your tradelist?

Jonna