Jonna a book covering flower seeds and all that pertains to seeds would be a great reference book for those of us who are still learning how to save seeds. Especially on ones that are new to us. I would love a book that is easy to understand; a lot of books I've checked out are too technical for me.
I hope you are going to write that book.

Natalie said:

Kent, this is my first year having this plant, since it was already growing here when we bought the property. I still have no idea of how to tell when the pods are close to ready. I really did expect many of them to open around the same time, but some are still rather hard. Not that I'd really know what "almost ready" looks or feels like anyway, but they aren't soft when I squeeze them. I had to make a couple of trips out of state, and the ones that I picked were wide open when I got home.

I know what you are talking about, with the rib. I did try pulling that out, but it was very brittle, and none of the fluff was stuck to it. I made a rather spectacular mess in doing so, and those seeds went floating everywhere! I will try again though, by picking what I think are some pods that may be close to opening. It's so hard to tell on a plant you have never seen before, but I'll give it a try! With the others that I've already picked, I'll try Jonna's method.

Thanks to you all for the help!

While a pod is still on the plant, you can grab it with both hands such that your thumbs are lined up parallel to, and on either side of, the seam where the pod will eventually split open. If the pod is almost ripe, just a bit of outward pressure with each thumb will be enough to cause that seam to open up. You'll then be able to see the seeds inside. If they are brown, they are ready to pick. If they are white, they need a few more days but will most likely go ahead and mature if you leave the pod on the plant (even with the seam opened).

The rib gets brittle after the pods have been open a day or so, but it is strong and flexible prior to that, and the seeds are attached to it quite well. That's part of why it's best to pick milkweed seeds before they open up on their own.

Thanks so much Kent! I'll check them again this evening on my way to see if the Mentzelia laevicaulis is blooming!

It really is surprising to me that I looked and looked at the milkweed plant, and hadn't noticed those huge pods right away!

Sorry, sounds like I offended, the topic is cleaning. I've been sent just chaff before too, but after explaining the difference, usually eventually get some real seeds, or something else. People make mistakes, or just don't realize, I don't mind pointing out the difference and helping straighten things out. The sending from my end is the fun part of a trade to me anyway, and I've learned to ask a few questions and a pic if trading for seeds. But anyway, I never had any problems with these seeds from not cleaning them, messed with them for about 10 years in OH, a few different species, because I was able to get the seeds in trade. In case any there are any lazy-like-me lurkers out there, it's OK to just save them in a paper bag or envelope, pod'n'all. I'd hate to think any milkweed seeds go unshared because the person who could have shared them didn't have the time or patience to de-fluff them. We sure could use more plants out there!

No need to worry Tiffany. I wasn't offended at all. I'm just being overly picky with the two people I'm trading with (very old friends) because of their meticulous attention to cleaning seeds. And, I have extras to share, if anyone here wants any. They may still have fluff on them when you get them, but I'm willing to share them! I agree - we need more of these plants out there!

LOL!!!! Natalie, i would have never expected milkweed seeds to be cleaned because it can be a hysterical thing, all those fluffy helicopters flying around! In fact, I was rather surprised a few years back when I ordered some and the fluff was missing!

Well then Arlene, YOUR seeds will have fluff on them! I wouldn't want you to miss out on all the fun!

We had dry days so I got some seeds! Tomorrow I get a couple other surprises and won't send until Monday so they don't sit around all weekend!

I actually went to the post office this morning to pick up a package and send the seeds, and forgot to take them with me! It's 12 miles round trip, on a washboard dirt road half way, so I'll try again on Monday once my teeth stop rattling! Hopefully by then I can catch some more seeds that are floating around the living room!

Cool, TY! Sometimes we (I) don't come across in writing in the intended spirit. I just hope those seeds don't sprout in your living room, that gave me a good chuckle. Thanks for the offer! AFAIK, I'm all set... it's always a gamble though. Good luck everyone!

Tiffany, if you change your mind in the future, don't hesitate to let me know! Looks like I'll have plenty of seeds for years to come!

Natalie said:Jonna, I think YOU would be the perfect person to write a book on that subject, and I will buy it! There are sites on the internet with good information, but I love books that I can carry around with me.

Well, it will be a project that will take at least 2 years. First I’ll have to find out if there is really no book that teaches beginners everything about seeds: recognizing , collecting, cleaning, storing, longevity, sowing, exchanging, etc. So this autum I will check all the links I got from all over the world, will order some books to see what the real content is. After that I will decide if the book I would like to write is really ‘new’ and will be helpful for newbies. I posted my questions on several websites that use the English language. I want to add a lot of pictures of seeds, seedpods and the plants. If there is interest in it, I have to make more pictures of seeds and seedpods next year. After that I have to write it in English. That’s not my motherlanguage, so I have to find someone who will help me correcting my English. And last, but not least, I’m not a botanist, I do not have experience with tropical plants and can’t make a book about all plants, so my book will be a bit limited. And I will only write about ‘natural’ plants and heirlooms, no breeded hybrids (they will seldom come true from seed). If I’m going to write it, it will be just for beginners. No scientific talk, just my own experience. The idea came up to me because I get a lot of questions about the subjects and I realized I had the same questions when I was a beginner. I tried to find books to help me, but I couldn’t find a book that could answer all my questions.
If I decide to write the book, I will offer it as an E-book first because that will be cheaper ( so many photo’s) , but I will also offer the possibillity to order it as a real book.
Any suggestion is welcome.

Mindy03 said:Jonna a book covering flower seeds and all that pertains to seeds would be a great reference book for those of us who are still learning how to save seeds. Especially on ones that are new to us. I would love a book that is easy to understand; a lot of books I've checked out are too technical for me.
I hope you are going to write that book.

Mindy, thank you for your reply.
See my previous post to see my ideas about the book

An e-book, and hopefully one that can be purchased in print, sounds like a fantastic idea to me, Jonna! I happen to think that your English is great, but I know it would be a concern for you. To me, pictures are more helpful than words, especially for beginners, and being too scientific about things can really take the fun out of seed collecting and growing. Sometimes you just want to grab some seeds and plant them, without too much information to confuse you. You've always explained things so that even I could understand them, and I know I would enjoy anything that you write. Maybe you can find volunteers to help with the photos of seeds. It would be an overwhelming task to get a photo of every seed, but with some help, it could be possible.

And I would bet that a lot of people who have posted photos of seeds here would be happy to let you use their photos for your book. I know I would!

Me too, even though I have posted very few. I do have others though that I'd be more than happy to share. I'm sure that there are others, like me, who have photos but haven't posted them. I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be willing to help with this!

You can use any photos of seeds I have loaded to the db Jonna & since they have icky writing on them, if you just Treemail me which ones you want to use; I will look them up on my photo gallery & email them directly to you so they can be clean photos.

Natalie, love the new avatar! A girl & her father.

I thought it was a girl and her dog!

A girl & her father & her dog! You had that wonderful huge smile even then.