I realize this isn't a Datura forum but since Datura and Brugs get mixed up all the time I'm hoping someone can help me.

I grew 2 nice Purple People Eater that I started from seed and had in the ground mid May. They got between 3 and 4' tall and bloomed all summer.

Mid June I let one seed pod from each plant start to develop. The seed pods are not spiny. The pods are purple and green in color and perfectly smooth with a turtle like pattern and about the size of a golf ball.

Its the middle of November with a big snow storm due tonight but the pods are still green with no sign of drying out.

Any idea why they're not spiny? Should I have let the seed pods develop right from the start instead of waiting until partway thru the summer? Will the pods dry out if I bring them in the house?

I've never grown Datura before. Other flowers I start closer to fall to start saving seed.

I'm stumped!

Meri - I've only grown the ones with the spiny seed pods. Let me redirect a few MAGers over and see if they can assist.

This site has a picture of Datura metel pod that is smooth and turtle shell like
https://nhgardensolutions.word...
There are a couple species of Datura with different amounts of spines. (metel, stramonium, inoxia, wrightii)

How it grew wouldn't affect the amount of spines. Whether the seeds are far enough along to save and grow.. I dunno. June till now seems long enough for them to mature.

There are no guarantees that this will work, but you could try cutting a foot long, or so, length of the stem with the pod and some leaves attached and put it in a vase/jar with water, like a cut flower. Then place it in a bright window during the daytime so that the leaves can continue to photosynthesize and finish ripening the seeds. Depending on the type of plant, some cuttings will end up rooting while others seem to divert everything they have into ripening the seeds and leaves and stems shrivel and die in the process. I've not done it with Datura, specifically, but it's often worked for me with other plants that had pods that were near being ripe but not quite.

Of course, the other option is to dig up the roots and store them somewhere cool that stays above freezing since Datura is actually a short-lived tender perennial. If you left the stem with the seed pods attached to the roots, then you may buy enough time to ripen the seeds and have the stored roots as well.

Whatever you do, be sure to keep the sap out of your eyes and wash up well after handling the plant.

I've grown those double purple datura.... And the lack of spines is normal.
The length of time for ripening is also normal. Next time, try not cutting anything off.
I would not try cutting stems, or digging the plant.... I would try to keep the plant alive by covering with a bed sheet during light frosts and graduate to a quilt when the frosts get heavier.
Sadly, even when I was able to collect tons of pods, I had trouble getting mature seed to germinate, and eventually didn't have that datura in the garden.
Next time.... Maybe grow the datura in a large pot.... As slow growing as those things are, I had far more blooms on a second year plant!

Edit:
Oops.... South Dakota.....
Better cover with a quilt before the storm.... And after the storm? Maybe an electric blanket?

@mnmat

Probably too late now, but I would try Danita's advice above. You can easily dig up and repot a Datura and they winter over indoors easily. I have done it several times. Datura is actually a perennial. I have over wintered in Z 5B in my garage and basement.

Thank you all for the help. Unfortunately, I forgot about this post so its too late to do anything now. I even forgot where I put the seed pods. I have more seeds in the fridge so I'll try again next year. The seeds have been in there since 2005 and this year I had 3 of 6 germinate. 50% viability doesn't seem too bad for an 11 year old seed!

Next year I will put them in a pot so I can over winter it in the house. The widest pot I have is 14". Would that be big enough?

Here's a pic of a bloom

@mnmat You can start the seeds indoors over winter so as to get a head start.

Unless your plant is truly huge, 14 " will be more than adequate. I have over wintered them in gallon containers.

I have ~ 6 plants in a 14 " container - currently in my garage, though I may move them to the basement.

David, This is my first year with a basement. If you put plants down there do you have to keep a light on them? Its awfully dark otherwise. I don't have a garage or any sheds as they were so old and falling down that I had to get rid of them.

And do I water them?

Meri.

Yes and Yes. Some things can handle dark, most cannot. It is a matter of what you have and how dormant they will become. I have lights on ~ 12 hours. I have 2 400 watt metal halides and several banks of T-8 fluorescents.

Watering is delicate. That again is a function of the plant. I have to water some things virtually every day - large Brugmansias and an Oleander.

There are lots of threads here and tons of info on the Net.

Where I am at now is a function of years and years of practice. There is no magic way of doing it.

To me it is worth it cause I have so many tropicals and plants that I would rather try to over-winter rather than buy each year - e.g. Lantana.