Advice
Collecting and storing seeds
Collecting
Timing: Most seeds germinate best if sown as soon as they ripen, whereas seeds harvested while immature will not germinate. Seedheads can ripen quickly, and must be watched carefully in order to collect the seeds before they are dispersed. Choose a dry day to ensure that the seeds are not damp.
Stock: Don’t collect seed from unhealthy plants as they may be harbouring viruses which can be transferred by seeds. Select plants with the best characteristics to ensure good-quality seedlings.
Method:
Both dry and fleshy fruits are best picked by hand. Seeds
are more easily extracted from pods (see photograph right),
cones and capsules if they are placed in a paper bag in a
warm room for a few days. Collect seeds from fleshy fruits
and berries by mashing them in a fine sieve and then rinsing
the pulp in cold water. Leave the seeds to dry for a few days
on some kitchen paper in an airy room before storing.
Storing
Place dry seed in an airtight container with some desiccant. Suitable materials include calcium chloride (sold in DIY stores for use in dehumidifiers) or silica gel. Put some desiccant in an envelope (approximately 10 per cent of the container’s volume) and place it in the container along with the seeds. Store in a freezer until required. Most seed will remain viable in this way for several years.
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