Saturday, October 29, 2016

Flower Power: Harvesting Marigold Seeds


Marigolds -- the last thing standing in the vegetable garden. We planted them there to help keep pests at bay; and besides, they just look and smell nice. 

If it hadn't been for the warm dry weather in which marigolds continue to thrive, and for this post by Janet, I would have made a very silly mistake: I would have finished cleaning up the garden throwing away whatever's left of marigolds -- pods and all.

For some reason it never occurred to me that I can harvest seeds from my marigolds. Well, lesson learned. Here're the pods I've collected today, and there's plenty more where that came from:


Each of these pods is full of seeds. And I could've wasted them!

I'm going to let the pods dry a bit for a few days, although most of them are pretty dry already. Then off to the fun part of fishing the seeds out. I'm curious how many seeds one pod contains on average...

Any guesses? 

Will keep you posted.

Happy harvesting!

Live for the Love of it,
Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)




8 comments:

  1. Ha! I have no idea how many seeds would be in a pod! Interesting. One thing i should mention is that not all marigold seeds are re-plant-able and I don't know why! The seeds that I collect from the marigolds I started with seeds, are the ones I can collect and reseed. The other kind from the greenhouse will not grow from salvaged seed. I've tried it and would be very interested in knowing the difference.
    Did you start these from seeds or transplants from a greenhouse?

    I love marigolds because they so keep pests away and attract butterflies! Here the marigolds are the last to go as well.

    Here's to next year's blooms!

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    1. I did start them from seeds! I didn't particularly enjoy planting: as tiny seedlings they were so flimsy, I didn't think they would make it. But they did very well.

      I think next year I'll plant the seeds directly in the ground. I might germinate a few to be on the safe side, but most of them I'll just throw here and there, and see what happens. :)

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    2. Oh, good! they should work then! I remember my grandma starting the seedlings and you're right, they are SO teeny and flimsy! If they come up way too thickly after planting in the gardens/beds they can always be thinned then , right?

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  2. You reminded me that one year I planted giant marigolds by my tomatoes... and they were bigger than the tomato plants!

    I've some seeds from the Canna Lily - I was told I could plant/germinate the seeds, but the seeds need some help - you need to cut an x in the round seed. I also read that the round seeds can be used as beads.

    One is supposed to take in the Canna 'bulbs' but if they are in a protected place they seem to do OK. I've got some seeds from my Gerber Daisies I wonder if I should take some inside and try to plant some next year? I guess I'll have to look that up ;)

    I think some Marigolds are edible. Or is that Pansies. But then if you take any flower petal and coat it with sugar I suppose it is edible enough ;) Kind of like chocolate covered insects.
    Though in some parts of the world the insects aren't masked at all!

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    1. I like the idea of experimenting in the garden. But when it comes to eating flowers and insects, I'll pass :)

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    2. :) agreed! any flower I've tasted smells better than it tastes. I've always replied 'no thanks' to offers of chocolate dipped crawlies.

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  3. Oh...I forgot my guess... about 25 or even 30 seeds per pod - I remember playing with dried marigold seeds once...

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