I have my First Lilly seeds! The last couple of days the pod had started to soften and look a paleish (scientific word there, lol) green. So today I picked and opened it. I hope I did right! I am letting them dry on a paper plate currently. Here are some pics, can you tell if they are any good? I think I can see an embryo in most of them (that's what it is called, right?). I put the light white ones to the side as they look no good.



Thank for any help!!


(Edited for Spelling)

Plaish is a place in Shropshire?

Seeds are exciting! Was the pod parent an LA? Did the pod start to split open?

There are probably as many different ways of harvesting as there are seeders, but generally the pod is left on the plant until it shows signs of splitting. As soon as my pods crack open a little I pick them and put the whole pod in a large enough (to contain it! ) envelope to keep drying indoors. My family has to fight for space on the table!

But I like the seeds to dry in the pod. When everything is dry it is easier to shake out the seeds, and I find them easier to handle that way. But that's just me.

I can't tell how viable your seed might be just from looking at the pics. They look a 'typical' colour and weight... I can see endosperm. But the shots aren't close enough for me to see embryos. But lilies are so vaired in their pods and seeds. Sometimes the funniest looking seed will germinate. Many good hybridists recommend sowing the chaff and all, because sometimes you just don't know what will happen! And 'typical' is a big range! Seeds vary in their tans, browns, blond colours; size etc.

Happy seeding adventure, Cat. You might get addicted!

I was trying to leave it until it turned brown but when it turned this palish green it started to get soft. I kept trying to wait but I got nervous that there was something wrong. I have other pods with seeds. I should just leave them until they turn brown even if they start getting soft? I think I am already addicted!

Leave them until they turn brown. It "softens" a little as it starts to dry due to the liquids leaving different parts of the pod. When it turns brown eventually it will get to the point where the pod starts to crack. When that happens, take it off and place somewhere to dry. I've made the mistake of putting it in a plastic bag or something else that doesn't allow free airflow and the pods can and will get moldy. Just finish letting them dry and break open to get your seeds. Good luck!

Great! Thanks!

Congratulations on your first foray into the world of lily seeds, Cat!

I prefer to let the seed dry more slowly within the pod (and preferably still on the live stem). But it probably doesn't make much difference with lily seeds; if they were already turning brown inside the pod, then there certainly won't be any repercussions. Sometime if you look inside a just opening pod, you will find brown or tan seeds and white ones. The white ones aren't dry yet, and will turn brown or tan when they do.

It's pretty hard for an untrained eye to see a lily seed's embryo without backlighting. These are Lilium concolor seed, and the darker brown central area you see is the endosperm (the store of food for a growing embryo). Even I can only make out few faint embryos in the pic.


But if you show a light through the back, then you can usually see the embryos. Unfortunately, I don't have a pic of the same seeds, with and without backlight, but these are backlit Lilium formosanum seeds. The circles within the seeds are the same darker brown that you see in the upper pic. The lines within these circles are the embryos.

@Leftwood Wow! Very Interesting! for posting that information! I will look at them tomorrow under a light just to see if I can tell. It will only help me learn. This is the very first seed pod from any crosses I tired. I am excited just to have gotten seeds! It is all a learning process so any information is so helpful!

Just curious, Cat... Do your pod and pollen parents have names?

No unfortunately this one is a cross of 2 NoID's . I do have four or so pods growing from a cross of Lily (Lilium Lily Looks™ Tiny Padhye) x Lily (Lilium 'Tiny Spider') that I am waiting on also.

Tiny Padhye and Tiny Spider should make for an interesting cross!

I hope! I am not trying to haphazardly cross lilies or daylilies or anything else for that matter. I hate it that I have any NoID's. I am trying to be more responsible in keeping track of my plants. Especially now that I have started trying to cross any of the lilies and daylilies. That is another reason I love this site, wish I had found it a lot sooner! I am still very excited that I was able to perform a cross and get seeds. I know I still have to see if they even grow but as I said earlier, I am learning and this is all very interesting and exciting to me! I hope to learn so much and wind up with some lovely plants in the process.

Well, I took a couple of pics with a light underneath. Guessing these are no good...




Sorry the pics aren't more clear. My camera broke and using my cell until my new camera comes next week.

I think there is a good chance of seeds from that other cross. If this failed cross involved something like LA and Asiatic then there is a greater chance of incompatibility. I think almost all of the lilies in our data base here have their division designated so you can check there before making crosses.

Okay, Thanks for the information! Bad thing with the NoID's I guess.

Even if they are NOIDS, you can usually tell what division and type they are by foliage and flower character and color, blooming time frame and so on. Try to cross pollenate within the same Division for starters. And keep the seed pod on the plant until it has fully ripened and begins to split open at the end. Shell out and dry seeds for away from sunlight a few days, then freeze until ready to plant. I usually plant in late January but most lily seeds can be planted any time in the early Spring. Planting seeds in baggies or pots inside and grown under lights for 3 months before moving outdoors is almost always much more successful than sowing directly in the ground.

The two the seeds were from did look alike as far a s foliage type and flower shape just different colors. They also bloomed at the same times. I figured I picked it to soon after posting yesterday.

When you have a NIOD, post a picture of the foliage as well as the flower, front and side views. Most often, we can help you identify it. Yup, you picked your first seeds too soon. let the second bunch get good and ripe, usually after the leaves fall and the pod turns brown--or begins to turn brown at least.

Live and Learn... Thanks!

When does the embryo develop? Early or late do you know?

It starts developing almost immediately after fertilization occurs. It continues to develop and grow until the green pod softens and then matures within the fading green pod until the pod turns brown at which time it is considered 'ripe' seed.