Collecting Seeds

[Mackay]

I would like to collect seeds from my isicle radishes... They were planted asa fence to keep volls out of the garden and it worked great!

I will be planting hundreds of these next year to protect my garden.

The pods are formed and green on the vines and have been there over 1 month. What should I do? If I split them open and take them out now they look fresh, like tiny tiny green peas.

or should I pick the pods an bring them in and let them dry out in the pods?

 

[journey11]

I always like to let the pods on things like that stay on at least until they start to yellow or longer if the weather isn't too wet. Then you know the plant is done sending energy to the seeds. At that point, I collect the pods and lay them out on a screen to air dry some more and when they are good and dry, then I'll shell them, put them in a baggie, label, and stick them in the fridge 'til next year.

 

[digitS']

I cut my radish seed pods yesterday. And, we've had rain all day, today.

Those plants were grown from seed sown back in the spring. It always amazes me how long it takes radish to mature seed. After all, they bulb up really quickly, even bolt quickly, but flowering seems to go on and on.

I do just like Journey but grab the whole stalk. After they have dried under cover - lay them out on a tarp and walk on them. Tapping them with the butt end of a board helps. Then, separate out the straw, get everything in a bucket, climb to the top of a ladder, and dump everything back down on the tarp on the ground on a breezy day. Really breezy, don't climb too high . . .

Do that a few times and your seed will be fairly clean - the trash will blow away. (I find it best to mow the lawn after I've scattered chaff all over the grass - that will hide evidence. ) You may need to set the seed back where it can dry another couple of days.

Steve

 

[Mackay]

thanks guys. Think I will just collect them all tomorrow and set them to dry. Those that have turned yellow, some are moldy inside... we've had so much rain.

 

[hoodat]

I always wait till they are dry enough for some of the pods to split by themselves but I don't have to worry about rain getting to dry pods and causing the seeds to mildew. Here in San Diego you can almost predict the weather by the callender.

 

[RickF]

Hey Hooday! Did you get any rain down there this week? We got a fair amount to water things pretty well here in the LA area on Tuesday/Wednesday..

 

[hoodat]

We had three days of slow rain. It was less than 2 inches total but it sure made a difference. Maybe we'll have an early rainy season this year.