OK, I need some help on when to pick seed pods..I brought my brugs in and have some nice pods coming....they are no where near getting brown or what ever is the next step....Ive heard some say to pick them green some say to wait but not too long..can I get some feedback here?..they arent the long seed pods...they are from my isabella and Miss Anna..I have more coming but these are the ones that are quite big...Judy
How to know when to pick my seed pods...
Judy, You will notice a change in color on the pod and it becomes tender when you pinch it. They don't always turn brown but do turn darker in color for me. Im a novice and this thread maybe of more help to you.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/552446/
Thanks for the link Kin...I think I may have quite awhile before they get ripe..I was hoping to keep the whole plant trimmed and ready for dormancy but it looks like I may have to keep it the way it is......Judy
kin, thanks for the link....judy, best of luck on your pods.
=)
Oh thanks, Kin!!! Mainly if it is hard and green it is not ripe. When it starts to yellow or to soften then it is ripening. I usually let them show me they are real ripe, by then it is obvious.
well these pics may be very weird. LOL. Looks so small. They are OK when enlarged.
This message was edited Oct 31, 2005 11:15 PM
Here is the adventure of one ripe pod when picked and cleaned.
wow, kell. kinda CREEPY, too. (the 2nd photo of last post). ALIEN STUFF.
I think they look like brains before they are washed and split up. We are still in the halloween mood. lOL
Lololol..I thought the they looked like brains too...thats too funny....Judy
Judy, this is what Susie and Vicki told me about how to tell when they are ripe. The stem of the seed pod will start to turn a yellow color. The seed pod itself will begin to soften up and what I really look for, the skin of the pod will try to slip off. If it is doing that you know it is ripe.
But keep a close eye on them though. Last fall I had a pod on Creamsickle that seemed to take for ever to ripen. It wasn't until April that it got ripe. And when I opened the pod the seeds had already begun to germinate!!! Some even had roots about 1-1 1/2 inches long. I had to end up planting every single seed.
Thanks davidwv..this is a perfect description for me to look for..my plants that are in the breezeway are taking over since i havent trimmed them yet...I also took a cutting of one with a pod on it and it is now rooted and hopefully the pod will grow...this is too cool....now I guess I will see if I can get some of the seeds to root but wont be able to tell the parentage..will have to just call them hybrids..Im hoping to get a beauty from even just one.....Judy
flower
pod ready sent flower pic. Don't see it .
Looks like it needs to be picked..Am I right?...Judy
LOL Judy, YEA!!! LOL. A bit over ripe. But I have had them still germinate if they haven't dried out too much. .
I always wonder how they do out in nature when people aren't there to pick them. Mine pods will get like Tony's there and everyday the pod gets smaller and smaller and tighter and tighter until it is a itty bitty thing and it still hangs on. I wonder if it has to do with crosses that never would be made in nature. But they sure do not open up and disperse their seeds on the ground to keep the species going. I wonder why not. Only a very few open up for me. GL is good about it.
Here is one I forgot about evidently and saw the other day when it was suddenly bare. I come across the old dried ones a lot esp when the foliage is lush. Too bad too, it would have been a great cross.
Kell, the brain pod just kind of shrunk to almost nothing huh?..lol...Im wondering in the wild the brugs must be helped by the birds to get new baby brugs going or maybe it has to do with hybrids like you said...All I know is that I want mine to hurry up..I dont ahve the room for these huge pots in with all the rst of my plants...I still have quite a few in the garage to move in here...Judy
I had two long skinny pods on my M&H they lost the covering way early, one pod felt so soft and the stem had turned yellow so I picked it, yesterday I opened it up and the seeds were not ready, they were completely white, and not completely formed, the Brug is in great shape so am wondering now about the other pod that is soft, I have not picked it yet, and I have 4 pods on Isobella where the Pod cover is very brown and looks ready to fall off but pods are still hard, and green.
Doris
Welcome to the world of brugs Judy, they are forever in your way. LOL
Doris, are you talking about the calyx being ready to fall off? The calyx does brown early and has nothing to do with the ripeness of the pod itself. Sometimes I just peel it off if it ruining the looks of a pod I particularly enjoy manhandling. Some I just have to pet each time I walk by!
Sounds like that pod for some reason died before it was ripe. The peduncle will yellow also when it has died prematurely.
I find once they start to ripen they go fast. So you can wait a few days to make sure a pod is ripe, it will decline rapidly and it becomes obvious. No need to worry you will miss it, just check your pods at least once a week after the first 3 months. And once I see signs, I check them daily or so.
Thanks Kell I too think they look nicer without that cover on them, (the calyx) I was dissaponted that one of the pods on M&H did not ripen right, the pod was very soft, I was afraid it had gone bad, I hope the other two make it ok they are getting soft but will not pick them. I will wait till they drop off.
Is M & H the one you cut the limb off with the pods hoping it would hold the pods while it rooted? I remember there was talk of that. Or did you dig it up roots and all and pot it for your sunroom?
It is such a disappointment, I know. Esp those pods for they were so cool looking. And your plant was so spectacular in full bloom.
This one I dug up kell, there are still 2 skinny pods on M&H
and these are the pods on Dr. Suess
This one is almost to dark to see I had a hard time getting to her, this is Isobella with 4 pods
