Very small seed saving

Got a question on some very small seeds, not really the saving part, but how to remove the extra plant material. Earlier this year I started some Coleus from one of the "mixed variety" seed packets available. They did great this year and the ones that we really like I'm going to save for next year. So, I've harvested them and have a paper plate here full of mostly seed but there's a large amount of extra dried plant material along with the seeds. I use decreasingly smaller sieves to get down to the point where it's mostly seed, but, there's always material about the same size as the seed that makes it through. I've really wondered this for other small seeds as well (snapdragon comes to mind).

Oh, the real question here, how can I get that last bit of dried plant debris, or at least most of it, say 75%, out of there? My inclination would have something to do with the fact that the seed is heavier than the plant material, but who knows. At this point my McGyverism is at a low and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Better question on the debris in there... Should I even care?

I've seen many say that they can't be bothered with the people who do care if there is a tiny bit of debris with seeds! It doesn't matter to me, though I do try to get out as much as possible.
One thing I noticed that may be helpful is a coffee filter. I keep them around for when I'm transplanting seedlings inside the house while watching tv, b/c it's a great idea to not upset the homeowner (aka "Mom") by spreading dirt around via an unfiltered pot. So I happened to use one of the filters with very small seed, and I found that because of the rough papery texture, the chaff/debris would mainly stick in place while I lightly tapped on the filter to move the seeds. I think it's worth a look into finding some kind of rough paper that could be used to separate out more chaff while not hindering the seed from rolling down the paper.
Hope that helps you :)

~Gina

I use a couple of different size sieves to either remove chaff from the seed or the seed from the chaff.
I'm not really keen on the using the wind and allowing the pant debry to blow away.
Only other thing is if i dont have the right sieve is to shake and allow the debry to flow to the top and remove by hand. You can get rid of alot but not all like that.
My problem is how to get seeds out of the pods easily. Not all pods open on there own and when i collect seeds i collect hundreds. Some are really tough and kill my fingers opening pods for 2-3 hours.
Mike

I do a little at a time in a very fine sieve. The seeds fall through and the chaff remains in the strainer. Have been very successful doing this with Lobelia Cardinalis and Lobelia Siphilitica, both very tiny seeds. I also put down a very large sheet of white paper under any seeds I am working with. That way, if I lose some, I'll see them and be able to recover them.

Isn't it amazing that we can get literally 'thousands' of seeds but everyone of them is a keeper?!?! This is in reference to blpender commenting on recovering 'lost' seeds---been there, done that :)

Jan

LOL, maybe I wouldn't care so much for some of the more common seeds, but boy, let a blue impatiens seed try to escape, and I'm after it in a flash.
blpender

Gina_Rose: I'll see if I can get a pic of it up here, it's not just a little debrit, it's almost as much as the seeds. For whatever reason, the Coleus flowers (if you want to call them that) all but fell apart when I dropped them into a baggie to collect the seed. I flopped them around a bit to get out the seed that refused to give in (they did give in) but as a result ended up with more dried plant crud. I'm not real picky about a little, when I gather up Basil (of any kind) I always have some extra presents with the seed, no matter, I'll add that as "organic material" next year (shhh). But in this case there's a 50/50 ratio of crud to seed... Oops ;-)

blpender: now, what do you define as a "small" sieve? I've used various combinations of one purchased at kitchen centers as well as wire-screen mesh from my local hardware store. In this case the debrit is almost the same size as the seed...

mike_freck: I save a whole bunch of pepper seeds, ornamentals and whatever else I can grow. I've never found anything easier than my fingers either for those. The worst are the small ones, medusa and black pearl come to mind immediately. For larger pods, Hostas especially, I use a 1" dowel rod about 10" long and very carefully roll out the pods to expose the seeds. But, in fact, after that I do use my fingers yet again. 'Bout all I can say there is find a good movie and zone out to seeds-in-the-fingers. If you find something easier I'd love to hear it.

blpender: glad to hear it! I'm real picky about the seeds. I mean, if I started the seed way back when, transplanted them, fed 'em, watered 'em, transplanted them again then more food, water, and whatever else. I figure that one seed that fell IS MINE. I earned it. Period. I mean, really, you never know, that could be the one that turns out better than all the other next year right?

Tonight I used my most efficient tool when I was separating some tiny Catchfly seeds: my fingernails! I just turned on the tv and went at it. :)
I usually test my seeds by squeezing them, or pressing them on paper and kind of rolling my fingertips over them, as if massaging them. It sounds alot more sensual than I mean it to, and the point of it is actually to test the quality, yet it does help to crush the debris down further to make it a little easier to pick out the seeds while avoiding picking up debris with it. But -in the end- the seeds will be placed in dirt anyhow. I think that's irony!

The other day I put some zinnia's in a plastic glass and the chaff started popping around the sides of the glass. I cleaned it off the sides, very easy. Then I took my hand and put over the glass top and turned the glass upside down. Then I turned it right side up and chaff was sticking to the sides again. I kept doing that until all the chaff was gone. Don't know if it will work with small seeds or not, but it would be worth a try.

Thank you, lilyhostaky!

I'm going to try that. I've been thinking about how to use electrostatic separation, but can't find my VandeGraaf generator anywhere. I think the cat must have taken it.

I'll also try pouring mixed seeds and chaff over the outside of a plastic glass. I know that some industrial electrostatic separators use drums or belts in a continuous operation.

Corey

I discovered something interesting today while cursing the ridiculously small Speedwell seeds I was attempting to separate: when placing them into a plastic ziploc, the "junk" readily stuck to the sides while the itty bitty seeds immed fell to the bottom. It must be the static. I haven't had a chance to play around with this discovery further but Im throwing it out there, maybe somebody can perfect this method!

Hmm, maybe Saran Wrap?

Saran Wrap wrapped around an oatmeal cylinder?

How about putting a tiny hole
in the corner of the bag to let
the tiny seeds pass thru to
a second bag.

Pauletta

Just harvested seed pods for the butterfly bushes, my question is what is the best way to package these tiny seeds. Leave them in the pods, or put them in plastic bags which they stick to the bag, wrap them in paper seed packet, wrap in tissue?? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks, Shirley

Shirley... it's ironic... i was just browsing this thread looking for those tiny Glassine Envelopes.

but what i've been doing is making little envelopes out of wax paper -- so you dont get that static cling like you would with plastic 'craft' baggies.

this is the site i used to make these little envelopes, then i pop them into larger seed envies [i use a lot of the ones on DG, though it's a lot of cutting, folding and pasting]

http://www.carnivorousplants.org/seedbank/Envelope.htm

then the link to DG seed envies.... http://davesgarden.com/files/seedpackets/

hope this helps,

Terese

Terese thank you so much for the great suggestion, I will package them in wax paper. Great idea!!

LOL.. i actually have to buy more wax paper today... just about finished up my roll. ...but it does work great for the tiny dust seeds.

Terese

After searching the web for months to find a cheap source of glassies, I finally had to make a big buy to save on shiopping. So I have more than I can use.

(around 2x2.75", flap on the narrow edge but no glue)

If you'd like 100 or 200, I can tuck them into a bag that's going your way anyway.

Corey

Corey.... where did you find them? I'm not willing to pay $59 at Uline.

Oh and wouldnt ya believe it... rough day at Wallyworld -- I will NOT go on a Saturday again... but i forgot the wax paper!!

Glossy magazines? The covers are stiffer than the pages.

Holiday wrapping paper?

If you can wait, I really would be happy to send you 100-200 glassines. I bought hem with "trading" as one application.

This is what I paid (now can I find WHO I bought them from?)

The shipping was much more until I ADDED some ziplocks to the order,
to bring the base price over $40. Then the shipping DROPPED.
20 x 50 glassine $31 1.75 x 2.75"
10 x 100 ziplock 2x2" $9.50
shipping $8.90
------------- $49.40

I think it was Clearbags - 20 packs of 50 for $31.

1 3/4 x 2 3/4 Glassine Open End Center Seam Envelope (50 pack) [G1]

http://www.clearbags.com/stationery/envelopes/translucent-envelopes/glassine-envelopes

If I recall, Wal-Mart was cheaper than ClearBags for standard 2x3 zip-locks.
But some Clearbags ziplocks seem to have denser, clearer plastic, that probably slows down humidity transfer more than thin soft plastic/

Corey