Harvest Gomphrena Seed

Has anyone harvested Gomphrena Seed? There's a fuzzy "package" around the seed. Do you try to tear the fuzzy part off? I tried to grow some last year with the fuzzy stuff on and had no germination. Yet, I had pretty good self sown plants. I would appreciate any advice.

I germinated Gomphrena haagena 'Strawberry fields'. 3 Years ago I got them in a trade and they germinated for about 20%, but it was enough to grow 3 plants. In 2009 I harvested seeds of it and I published them on my website. But after I found out they didn't germinate well, I thought I harvested them wrong and removed them from my website. This year I traded for these seeds again. I sowed the seeds that I got in this new trade and I tried my 'old' ones (2009) too, to see if there would be any difference. Almost all my seeds from 2009 germinated and the ones I got in trade this year did'nt germinate at all.
Both seeds had the fuzzy 'package' around the seed, but that's normal.
This might implicate that the seeds of Gomphrena will germinate better after more than a year. I'm not sure, but my experiment looks to go in that direction. I know that there are seeds that germinate better after at least a year of rest.
Hope this helps you a bit.

Jonna

Thanks, Joanna, for your experience and thoughts. You are always so helpful, and it is much appreciated. The G. 'Strawberry Fields' does very well on its own outside, but my germination was like yours, only I didn't get any to germinate. I have a few seeds of my original pkg of seeds I purchased at a garden show about 3 years ago. These seeds do not have the fuzzy stuff on them. That's why I was wondering how the heck one cleans these seeds. I may try sowing the old seed I saved last year and see how it does. I will let you know my experience. I really like the flower. It's quite unique and adds interest in my garden. It also looks nice as part of a bouquet of flowers in a vase. Two years ago, I had a garage sale, and many people would comment and ask what that flower was.