when do fern spores mature?

Does this depend on the fern or is there a certain season this happens? I am wanting to try to propagate ferns via spores using the brick method.

kerry, I started fern spores last Sept. about 7 different kinds. they all sprouted for me. I didn't know it would be so easy. I use the clamshell plastic containers, like the ones you get at the grocery store with donuts in them. I sterilized my soil. and poured hot water over the container. I read that everything needs to be sterile. I put them on a heat mat around 70%F within a few weeks they germinated. whoops I forgot a step. I took cuttings of ferns with brown mature spores on them. then placed them on white typing paper overnight in the morning the outline of the leaf frond was spores. then I took the paper and let the spores fall in the garbage can, then turned the paper over on the soil and snapped it. if you skip the one step you will have zillions of baby ferns, way too many to work with. lol hostajim1

Wow that sounds too easy. I too have heard that the environment must be sterile or they are over taken but molds and fungi. Since you are 2 zones warmer than me perhaps they might mature a little later here.

What kinds of ferns did you start and how large are your babies now? I've read they can take quite a while to get any size on them. I can't wait to start.

kerry, that's correct about being sterile. my babies are in my greenhouse in 2" pots I started Athyrium naponicum pictum ( by far the fastest growing, Asplenium scolopendrium, Dryopteris affinis crispa gracilis. there are others I have that I want to do, when they have spores on them. Dicksonia antarctica, Pteris longipes, Adiatum venustium, lol hostajim1