how to collect seeds from perennials

How To Collect Seeds From Perennials For Free Plants

Collecting seeds from perennial flowers, herbs, and vegetables in your garden is a simple way to get free plants year after year. Growing new plants from the seeds of your existing perennials allows you to propagate more of your favorites at no cost. It’s also a great way to preserve heirloom varieties and share special plants with gardening friends.

Harvesting and storing perennial seeds is easy if you know how to do it. Just follow a few simple steps, and you’ll be able to get healthy seeds to plant in no time. Find out when and how to get seeds from perennial plants by reading on.

Why Save Perennial Seeds?

Here are some of the top benefits of saving seeds from perennials:

• It’s inexpensive. Purchased perennials can cost $10, $20 or more per pot. Saving your own seeds lets you grow more plants for free.

• It propagates adapted strains. The offspring of your healthiest perennials will thrive in your garden conditions.

• It preserves heirlooms. You can keep treasured varieties going that aren’t available commercially.

• It allows sharing. Trade seeds with other gardeners to get new varieties.

• It’s fun. Collecting and sowing your own seeds is rewarding.

• It’s easy. Many perennials naturally produce abundant seeds that are simple to harvest.

While starting perennials from seed does require more time than buying plants, the savings make it worthwhile. The seeds you collect can supply free plants for many years to come.

What Perennial Seeds to Save

Nearly any perennial can be grown from seed, but some are easier than others. Great choices for beginners include:

• Popular perennial flowers like coneflowers, rudbeckia, lupines, daisies, liatris, balloon flowers, poppies, and sea holly.

• Culinary and medicinal herbs such as sage, thyme, oregano, catmint, lemon balm, and echinacea.

• Common perennial vegetables like asparagus, rhubarb, artichokes, and sorrel.

Don’t collect seeds from sterile varieties, plants that spread quickly, like mint, or perennials that easily cross pollinate, like hollyhocks and delphiniums. Play it safe by only saving seeds from open-pollinated heirlooms.

When to Harvest Perennial Seeds

Timing is critical when gathering perennial seeds. Monitor plants closely and collect seeds as soon as they are mature to prevent loss. Signs seeds are ready include:

• Dry, brown flower heads and seed pods. These change from green to tan or dark brown.

• Opening of seed capsules and pods. Mature seeds become visible.

• Seeds detached from pods and heads. Some perennials naturally release seeds when ripe.

• Hard, plump seeds. Immature seeds are soft and shriveled.

Over most of the years, seeds are ready to be planted when plants are dying off. But pay close attention to harvest at peak ripeness. Mark your calendar for key perennials.

How to Collect Seeds from Perennial Plants

Use these simple techniques to gather viable seeds from your perennials:

Wait for pods and heads to fully dry and turn brown before harvesting.

Use sharp pruners or scissors to snip off entire mature seed heads or pods.

You can also pinch or shake out seeds as pods split open.

Place seed heads and pods into labeled envelopes or bags.

Further dry the seeds for 1-2 weeks indoors.

Crush pods and shake bags to separate out the seeds.

Remove any debris like stems and pod pieces (called chaff).

Let seeds finish drying before storage.

Some seeds like hollyhocks are ripe while still green. Learn your plants’ unique seed habits. With practice, you’ll master recognizing seed maturity.

Storing Perennial Seeds

After harvesting perennial seeds, proper storage is key to maintain viability:

Allow seeds to fully dry for a few weeks after collecting.

Place seeds in envelopes or jars labeled with the plant name and year.

Store in a cool, dark place. Add silica gel packs to absorb moisture.

Most perennial seeds will last for 2-3 years if stored correctly.

Germinating and Growing Saved Seeds

When ready to plant your collected perennial seeds:

Conduct a germination test by sprouting a sample before planting.

Discard any seeds that fail to sprout to avoid wasting time and space.

Direct sow hardy perennial seeds in fall or early spring. Or start indoors and transplant later.

Take care not to let seedlings get pot-bound before moving them into the garden.

Expect variable germination times, often 2-6 weeks.

Be patient for plants to mature and bloom, which may take 1-3 years.

With attentive harvesting at the right stage followed by proper drying, cleaning, and storage, the perennial seeds you collect will remain viable. Then you can perpetuate beloved plants, propagate more specimens, and share treasured varieties with other gardeners. Saving perennial seeds is easy and rewarding.

Tips for Success Collecting Perennial Seeds

Follow these tips to get great results harvesting your own perennial seeds:

• Learn the ideal harvest times for each of your perennials. Mark your calendar to remember.

• Check seed heads daily as maturity approaches to catch them at the perfect stage.

• When in doubt if seeds are ripe, wait a few more days until pods and heads are brittle and brown.

• Use paper envelopes or breathable bags for initial seed drying to prevent mold.

• Label everything carefully with plant names and the year collected.

• Save seeds from your very best, healthy perennial specimens.

• Only collect seeds from open-pollinated plants, not hybrids.

• Share extras with gardening friends. Perennial seeds make great gifts!

With some practice, patience, and proper care, the seeds you gather from your own perennial flowers, herbs and vegetables will provide a bounty of free plants for years to come. You’ll discover the joy of growing garden gems from seeds you harvested yourself.