best method for cleaning seeds?

I have a ton of purple coneflower seed heads this year. I've spent alot of time cleaning the seed. Is there something that will help with this process? Some type of screen or another way??

Angela

Angela -- Uggg, i did all mine by hand too. Just did a bit every day until it was done.
i spread my seeds on wax paper so it was a bit easier to separate the seed from the 'extra' stuff that comes along with it.

so -- i actually have not found a good way yet...

It's been said before, ah yes, here's a similar conversation.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/761803/

A good trick would be to find a couple of things that can be used to strain out the good or the bad.

I've gone to the dollar store, and bought a mesh circle to put over a frying skillet to keep the popping grease from going everywhere. You can use that to separate the good and bad.

Also, I've used a plastic mesh filter that little window air conditioners use. This provides for a different size for smaller things to pass.

But, after all that, I'm still picking out seeds with tweezers too. :^(

Ah - I know EXACTLY how to do this. First, find someone you love dearly - preferably someone who is a good reader. Second, find a great novel for them to read aloud while you sort seeds by hand.

Trust me, this is great . . . and kind of romantic, if you have the right reader!

The seeds are poured into large aluminum pie plates (like the pies you get from Cosco) and I just sort them, while DH reads. My seeds are very clean, I am entertained, and my DH is a great reader. He even did Angela's Ashes with an Irish accent just for me!

Currently, he is reading me the entire Sharpe series.

Seander---What a man you have!!! I could never get my husband to read a novel to me. He has read a couple of articles to me, and I fall asleep. He reads in monotone!! Hold on to that guy and tell him how much you appreciate his reading.

I just did - and I read him your post. Poor DH is actually blushing!

If you don't have a Dear Other who can read to you as Seandor does :) try checking your local library online - they may have audio books you can "check out" to your computer - and listen to while sorting. I'm currently listening to Shelby Foote's Civil War series. I find it easier to listen to non-fiction while doing something like this, the fiction gets too engrossing!

Thanks for the great ideas. I have gotten alot of mine done lately but still have some to go. I will try the audio books now. You guys are great..

Seandor: :) :)!

Love the reading ~ not to be at my house. LOL I sort the coneflower seeds on a metal tray with a raised edge. I start with seed and fluff on one side. Tilt it slightly and tap the bottom lightly. The heavier cones will slide easily to the bottom where I remove them to a container.

Hmmm... perhaps your DH would read stories on "seed sorting" tapes.

There's a thought! Actually, we have tried taping him reading Harry Potter, but we go through soooo many cassette tapes. What I really want to find out is how to record him digitally on the laptop - and save to CDs. I think it would be a nice gift to future grandchildren to hear grandpa read to them at night - even if grandpa is on the other side of the continent :-)

I wish my DH would read to me. I'm printing this thread out to give mine a little hint of what your DH does, Seandor. Now that's togetherness!
Angela, your question is a good one. Seperating the seeds from the heads is alot like shelling peas. It's more enjoyable (and faster with a helper) if someone is sitting with you to talk to. I still haven't found the best way for me yet.
Anyway, here's my method:
I place all my seed heads in brown paper lunch bags and mark the name of the seeds. Throughout the winter months I'll take a sack of coneflowers and lightly crush the bag and shake it until I hear lots of seeds. Most of the big seeds that have kept the cone intact have been dislodged. I shake & pour out the seeds and chaff leaving the cones for now. I get a better satisfaction on seeing lots of seeds rather than having picked them out one by one from the cone. A piece of window screen over a bowl catches the most of the chaff and I dump the seeds into another bowl. The cones that are left in the bag can more easily be broken apart to get the remaining seeds on the second crush & shake of the bag.

I bought some wire "cloth" - i.e. fine mesh squares in several sizes. If anyone wants to test some extra-fine mesh, let me know.

I also got some nylon mesh from a fabric shop (2 fairly coarse sizes), and a 7" embriodery hoop. However, the nylon mesh works fine over an empty quart yogurt container (plastic), held with a rubber band. Don't stretch it tight like a drum, let it sag in the center. I stir the mix with the wooden handle of a paring knife.

Corey

I have given this method to several people and they are happy with it. Especially, since they don't have the Echinacea seed torturing their fingers!

I cut the flower head off leaving about 3" of stem. Holding the stem over a white piece of paper I start jabbing at the dried head with a smooth object, usually the eraser end of a pencil. As I jab, seeds fall out. As I get closer to the center of the flower head, I can actually see the seeds. Then I can jab where they are seen.

I have used this method with any flower head with hiding seed.

Good Luck!

CarolM.

Good Luck!

Carol M.