Summer, Indian or otherwise, is well past and already the characteristic signs of autumn are all around us – soft light bathes the red, bronze and golden foliage before the leaves begin to fall and the bare bark becomes increasingly conspicuous. It is time for harvesting, tidying up and for making plans for 2024.
One endeavour that will directly connect this year and the next is collecting seed and propagating it yourself. As every gardener knows from the hundreds of little seedlings that will appear on every patch of open ground over the course of the next six months or more, this is how nature works. Whether invasive weeds like alexanders and crocosmia or prettier profuse self-seeders such as poppies and foxgloves, they all follow the same life cycle.
By collecting your own seed and raising it, you will not only save money but you'll also be the smuggest gardener in the neighbourhood. Many annuals and some perennials set masses of seed every year, which within reason, is there for the taking. However, don't assume you can just help yourself in public gardens or in wilder settings, as many of the plants may be protected.
Harvesting seed is something of an art form in itself. At the outset it's important to note that not all seeds are viable, while as many again may not come true. F1 hybrids, for example, the kind of seeds that are sold at garden centres, will offer uniformity, good yield and strong stature but the next generation will not perform as well, if at all. That's why you need to be selective in what seed you harvest, with the species of the aforementioned poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and foxgloves (Digitalis), alongside the likes of evening primrose (Oenothera), Verbena bonariensis and Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) being especially suited to unfussy propagation. Lupins, aquilegia, honesty, sunflowers, scabious and hellebores are also a safe bet.
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But obviously not all seedheads ripen at the same time, so it's important to do a bit of research and keep an eye on the source plant to ensure you maximise the potential of the seeds. As a rule of thumb, it's recommended gathering your seed between 6-8 weeks after flowering. However, some seed, such as that of wood anemones (Anemone nemorosa) and calendula are best harvested while green. Berries, hips and haws will need to be collected before the birds or the frosts get them.
Always choose a bright, dry day to start collecting, removing seed heads carefully and placing them gently in a (preferably) paper bag. Place them flat in a dry, warm area making them brittle and easier to extract the seeds from the capsules or pods. For plants that disperse their seed with a series of little explosions, place a paper bag over the seedhead and give it a shake.
Some seeds, like hellbores, are best sown immediately after harvesting as their viability begins to decrease once they're removed from the plant. Otherwise, store your bounty until next spring, using labelled paper packets placed in a sealed container.
The propagation process from here pretty much mirrors that of shop-bought seed. If you want to test the viability of your stored seed, scatter a dozen on a damp paper towel and see how many germinate.
