Quote:
Originally Posted by Tursiops2  A friend has some Meadow Cranesbill growing in his garden, just now going to seed. I want to collect some for sowing elsewhere - how do I do this?
Cheers
T2 |
Don't worry, tis easy. (might be stating the obvious here but I don't know how much you already know) After the flower has gone you'll see a green seed thingy (technical term) developing. This will go brown- you want to collect the seed when it's turning brown...best to look quite often as this plant's seed develops in individual cups which, when ripe, get flung like out of a catapolt used to lay seige to a castle! This'll make sense when you see the seed pods.
The plant may well be producing new flowers at the same time as producing seed so just have a regular check to see what is going on.
All seed is best collected into a paper or hessian bag, then spread thinly on a tray and left to dry somewhere dark and dry. You can then store it (in a paper bag) somewhere cool and dark or sow it. Probably best to sow some when you collect it and then some in late summer/ autumn, then use the strongest plants to pot on and then transfer into your garden next year.
All the cranesbills use this catapolt system to spread themselves and it's very impressive. This might'v even been where the original idea for catapolts come from....maybe?!
Good luck
