Strawflowers are an eye-catching addition to any garden, with their vivid colors and unique texture. Cultivating these plants can be both a rewarding hobby and a practical means to create beautiful landscapes. Learn how to harvest strawflower seeds, to ensure a continuous supply of these beautiful plants, year after year.
Harvesting strawflower seeds is a relatively simple process that even beginner gardeners can master. An understanding of the plant's characteristics, ideal harvesting time, and methods for collecting is important for saving and preserving viable seeds.
This article is a guide on how to harvest strawflower seeds, ensuring a successful propagation for years to come.
Understanding Strawflowers
Strawflower Life Cycle
Strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum) are annual or short-lived perennial plants known for their vibrant and long-lasting blooms. The flowers are loved for their unique straw-like and papery texture. They make wonderful cut flowers, both in their fresh and dried forms.
The lifecycle of a strawflower begins with germination of it's seeds, followed by vegetative growth into a mature plant. When the flowers begin to bloom, they gradually open up their papery bracts to reveal the central disc of the bloom.
During this stage pollination occurs, and if successful, leads to the production of seeds. As the seeds grow and mature, the flowers begin to wither, and produce a white fluff attached to the seeds within the disc.
When the seeds are mature they are released from the plant, and some are carried off in the wind by their fluffy tails. This continues the life cycle of the plant, to grow on in subsequent seasons.
Optimal Conditions For Seed Production
For maximum seed production, it is crucial to provide strawflowers with optimal growing conditions. When the plants are provided with the ideal requirements for growth and blooming, you will likely achieve a very successful harvest of strawflower seeds.
The plants thrive in a full sun location, with well-drained soil, and moderate temperatures. Although strawflowers are drought tolerant, consistent watering will be beneficial for seed production.
Plant spacing is also important, about 10 to 12 inches apart to encourage proper air circulation and to minimize the chance of disease. Powdery mildew is common in high humidity locations, which can be harmful to seed production.
Learn more about how to grow strawflowers here.
What Do Strawflower Seeds Look Like?
Strawflower seeds are small, at approximately 2-3 mm in length. The seeds are cylindrical in shape, medium brown in color, and fairly uniform in appearance.
Depending on the size of the strawflower, each bloom can produce many tiny seeds, which can be saved and sown in the garden for next year's display.
Some strawflowers however may also have lots of fluff, but limited amounts of seeds. The pollination process, health of the plant, and growing conditions will determine the success of seed production.
Harvesting Strawflower Seeds
When To Harvest
Timing is important when harvesting strawflower seeds. The best time to collect seeds is when the flowers have faded, and the center disc has become very fluffy, like dandelion seed heads.
At this point the seeds are mature, and easy to remove from the flower head. In fact if you are not careful, you may not get to them on time, before the fluffy parts lift from the plant, and the seeds are released back into the garden.
Although you will not be able to see the seeds until they start to lift up from the seed head, allowing them to mature on the plant will likely produce viable seeds.
How To Harvest
It's very easy to harvest strawflower seeds.
Harvest on a dry day, to prevent moulding of the seeds. Select a day with low humidity and no rain, ideally in the morning when there is minimal dew.
Bring some containers with you to the garden, depending on how many varieties of strawflower seeds you will be harvesting, as well as some sharp snips or scissors. Also take some labels and a marker, to identify and label the seed types.
For containers, you can choose baskets, trays, bowls, or even paper bags.
Choose flowers that show signs of maturity, and those which are healthy and free of disease.
Using a clean and sharp pair of scissors or pruners, cut the flower from the stem directly below the seed head, and place it into your container. Just a few flowers will likely produce loads of seeds to save and store.
Cleaning And Drying The Seeds
Once you have successfully harvested your strawflower seed heads, follow these steps for drying and extracting seeds:
1. Air-dry: Lay out the harvested seed heads on a screen or paper towels in a well-ventilated area. Allow them to air-dry for 7-10 days to ensure seeds reach optimal dryness.
2. Extract the seeds: After drying, gently rub the seed heads between your hands or roll them between your fingers to release the seeds from the dried bracts. You can also pluck them individually from the white fluff.
3. Clean the seeds: Separate the seeds from the debris and chaff, ensuring clean dry seeds for storage. There can be quite a bit of chaff, however the seeds are easy to identify and separate out.
Storing The Seeds
Humidity and high temperatures can significantly reduce the lifespan of seeds. Light can also degrade seeds over time.
To ensure the longevity of your strawflower seeds, it is important to store the seeds under ideal conditions. This includes a cool, dark, and dry environment for best results.
One popular storage option is to use airtight containers, such as glass jars or plastic bags with zip closures. To further safeguard your seeds from moisture, consider adding desiccant packs inside the containers.
Another option is to use paper envelopes or paper bags, which will help to wick away any residual moisture in the seeds.
Remember as well to label your containers with the seed name and harvest date.
Long-Term Seed Viability
Strawflower seeds, like many garden seeds, have a specific viability period, which is the time frame in which they can be expected to germinate successfully. For strawflower seeds, under optimal storage conditions, they can remain viable for up to 3-5 years.
The germination rate may decrease as the seeds age, so it's a good practice to plant more seeds than you think you'll need if you're sowing older seeds. Testing a small sample for germination before planting extensively can also be a useful approach to gauge seed viability.
To test seed viability through germination, take a small sample of seeds (approximately 10) and follow these steps:
- Moisten a paper towel.
- Place seeds on the moist paper towel.
- Fold the paper towel, covering the seeds.
- Place the folded paper towel in a plastic bag.
- Seal the bag and place it in a warm location.
- Check the seeds after 7-10 days for germination.
If a majority of the tested seeds have sprouted, it indicates that the stored seeds are likely still viable. Make sure to keep track of the seeds' age and perform this germination test before planting. By doing so, you can ensure a successful strawflower seed harvest and enjoy these vibrant flowers for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Strawflowers Self Seed?
In some climates, and warmer climates in particular, when left on the plant to mature, strawflower seeds will release on their own, back into the garden and self seed.
Can You Propagate Strawflowers Using Seeds From A Mature Plant?
Yes, strawflowers can be propagated using seeds from a mature plant. To harvest the seeds, wait until the flowers have fully bloomed and started to dry on the plant.
When the flower heads are fully mature, carefully remove them and place them in a dry, airy location to finish drying. Then collect the seeds, which can be used for propagating more plants.
How Do I Know If My Strawflowers Have Produced Viable Seeds?
To determine if your strawflowers have produced viable seeds, examine the seeds after they have been harvested. Viable seeds are typically brown in color, firm, and of a consistent size. Discard any seeds that appear shriveled, misshapen, or damaged.
Flower heads sometimes do not contain many, or even any seeds.
To further test the viability of the seeds, perform a germination test. Place a few seeds between moist layers of paper towels, and store them in a warm location. Check the seeds periodically over the next 7-10 days for signs of germination.
A high germination rate indicates that the seeds are viable and ready to sow.
Conclusion
Harvesting strawflower seeds is more than just a gardening task. It's a journey into the heart of sustainability and self-sufficiency.
By following the steps outlined, you're not only preserving the beauty of strawflowers for seasons to come, but you're also taking part in an age-old tradition of seed saving, that connects us to generations of gardeners before us.
The simplicity of the process, combined with the joy of watching your very own flowers bloom from seeds you collected, is immensely rewarding.
As well, each year that you plant the seeds harvested from your garden, the plants become more adapted to your very own environment and climate conditions.
May your strawflowers bloom more brightly with each passing year, a vibrant reminder of the beauty and resilience of nature—and your role in nurturing it.
Have you ever tried to harvest strawflower seeds? Be sure to leave a comment below to share your experience!
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