How do I harvest the seeds?

For most species it’s easy to figure out by watching the plant. For many species, the seed turns dark as it ripens (but some seed turns light-colored at that time).  One of the easiest ways to tell if seed is ripe is to watch for the first few seeds that start to come loose from whatever structure is holding them in the pod or seedhead. When the seed starts to fly away in a breeze, or pop open and shoot seed some distance, or just start to fall out, then it’s ripe.

To assess seed ripeness for the plants you’re growing, see individual plant descriptions.

I harvested the seed, now what?

Seed can be killed by mold, heat, or other stresses. Never leave seed in a car or in a plastic bag in the sun; the resulting heat can ‘cook’ the seed. The best solution is for you to keep it in a cool dry place only as long as necessary and turn it in to a garden coordinator as soon as practical.