How to Harvest Portulaca Seeds
Portulaca is the name for several flowering plant species. The most common species planted is Portulaca grandiflora, which is also known as moss rose. This annual plant is quite drought tolerant, making it a great addition to all gardens, especially in the hotter garden zones. The flowers produce seed pods called capsules after pollination, which can be collected to harvest seeds. These steps will help you properly harvest Portulaca seeds in your garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Watch the bases of the flowers for development of a seed capsule (pod). They will swell as the seeds form. They are ready to harvest when they dry up and turn brown.
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Use your fingernails or a pair of garden shears to snip off the seed capsule. If you pull off the seed pod directly outside, it may open and spill the seeds.
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Hold the capsule over a paper plate and gently squeeze. The capsule should break in half neatly, revealing the seeds inside. Shake out all the seeds onto the plate.
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Dry the seeds on the paper plate for 24 hours. Place the seeds into a storage container such as an envelope, plastic bag, or small jar. Place the container in a location that has little light, dry and cool.
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Tips & Warnings
The seeds are especially tiny, so you may want to mix them with some sand to make planting easier.
Handle the seed capsule gently, as it may open easily when fully mature.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Flickr user B~
