Gardeners can “save a fortune” by collecting seeds from perennial plants this month, according to gardening expert Monty Don. With summer blooms fading and temperatures dropping, October is the ideal time to gather seeds for next year’s display.
Free seeds for next year
In his blog, Monty wrote: “Save yourself a fortune by collecting seeds from perennial plants, using paper (not polythene) bags.” He advised gardeners to label seed packets immediately and store them in a cool, dry place until ready for sowing.
Many perennials die back in winter but return in spring, offering good value as they regrow and provide lasting colour, unlike annuals which complete their life cycle in one year. Collecting seeds allows gardeners to make their perennials work even harder.
How to collect and store seeds
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also encourages collecting seeds from garden plants. It said: “Growing plants from seed is generally straightforward and inexpensive. It is an opportunity to increase the number of plants in your garden for free.”
According to the RHS, seeds can be found in berries (e.g. holly), capsules (e.g. poppy), catkins (e.g. birch), cones (e.g. pine), exploding seedheads (e.g. Euphorbia lathyris), nuts (e.g. hazel), pods (e.g. sweet peas) and winged seed (e.g. Acer, sycamore).
Harvesting tips
Harvest seeds on a dry day once the seedheads have fully ripened, identifiable by a colour change from green to brown or black to red. Remove the seedheads and lay them out to dry. If the seedheads fail to open once dried, gently crush the pods to release the seeds.
Seeds from fruits and berries can be gathered by mashing them through a fine sieve and washing away the pulp, then leaving the seeds to dry thoroughly. Nuts can be gathered by hand-picking when they naturally drop, or by placing a sheet beneath the tree and shaking the branches, removing any surrounding debris.
Once gathered, place seeds in labelled paper packets inside an airtight container with some desiccant to absorb excess moisture, as dampness can cause them to rot. Certain seeds, such as walnuts, oaks and magnolias, are sensitive to drying out and should be stored in a plastic bag with damp vermiculite or sand.
