Collecting and storing seeds

It's a satisfying and economical thing to do, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

MANY plants that flowered earlier in the summer will have gone over now and their seedheads either ripened or in the process of ripening.

Collecting and storing seeds of favourite varieties is a great way of making sure plants grow where you want them to be (rather than letting Mother Nature scatter them where she fancies) and it will also save money.

Seeds are usually ripe around two months after flowering, when the seedheads or pods change colour from green to brown, black to red.

Collect them before the pods open and the seeds disperse, and only collect from healthy, vigorous plants.

Either shake seeds straight into a pot or envelope or lay the seedheads on paper somewhere warm to dry out.

Large seeds, such as honeywort (Cerinthe) are easy to collect as they fall easily into a cupped hand or container when the plants are shaken.

Once the seeds are collected, store them in a labelled envelope somewhere cool, dark and dry until sowing.