How to Harvest Fresh Morning Glory Seeds
Morning glory is a quick-growing vine that when planted in spring can cover a trellis with a blanket of colorful blooms by mid-summer. The foliage of the morning glory plant is dense enough to add privacy, act as a windbreak and even offer a bit of shade on hot days. Morning glory is a cinch to grow and is happiest in poor soil. It isn't difficult to harvest morning glory seeds. Simply select a few of the biggest, healthiest blooms at the end of the blooming season, then harvest the seeds for planting next year. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Allow a few morning glory blooms to remain on the plant when the plant begins to fade at the end of the season. Wait for the bloom to wilt and turn brown. When the petals fall off you will see the seed pod at the base of the bloom.
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Harvest the seed pod when the pod turns brown and dry. Drop the seed pods into a bowl or a paper sack.
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Use your fingernail to split the seed pods. Each pod will have about five wrinkled, oval-shaped seeds. The seeds will be light or dark brown, depending on the color of the bloom.
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Spread the morning glory seeds on a tray. Set the tray in a warm, well-ventilated space for one to two weeks, or until the seeds are completely dry. Dry seeds will be hard and will crack when you split them with your thumbnail. If the seeds are still pliable, allow them to dry for a few more days. Be sure the seeds are dry, otherwise they may mold during the winter.
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Place the dry morning glory seeds in a small paper bag or a paper envelope. Don't store them in plastic, as plastic won't provide air circulation. Write the type and color of the flowers and the date the seeds were harvested. Store the them in a dark, cool place until spring.
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References
- Photo Credit morning glory image by Florin Capilnean from Fotolia.com
