How to harvest morning glory seeds

Morning Glory in bloom before seed pods develop.

The twining vines and bold flowers of annual and perennial Morning Glory are a classic plant in the later spring, summer and, in some climates, the fall garden. Known botanically as the genus Ipomoea, Morning Glory seeds form in pods that develop in the location where a flower bloomed, was pollinated and then died back. The seedpods develop and mature on a continual basis as flowering progresses, so you can harvest seed repeatedly over an extended period of time. The plant readily self sows and easily propagates by seed.

Things You'll Need

• Large, light colored bowl

Instructions

1. Harvest the mature morning glory seedpods in the later summer and fall.

2. Pick the individual pods off the vines when the pods become dry and brittle but before they burst open, shedding the internal seeds.

3. Separate the outer pod coating from the seed by gently rubbing the pods between your fingers over a wide bowl with a light colored interior, as this makes it easier to see the small and angular black seeds.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not plan to immediately plant the seeds, store them in a dry place out of direct light and in a moderately cool environment until planting time.

References

• Palomar College; Wayne's World Morning Glories; Wayne Armstrong; 2007
• University of Minnesota SULIS: Collecting Wildflower and Prairie Seed
• University of Minnesota SULIS: Propagation
• Palomar College: Wayne's World - Morning Glory Blossom; "Ololiuqui" Morning Glories From Mexico