MrBrownThumb garden blog.
Marigolds are common and inexpensive garden annuals, but that doesn't mean you can't, or shouldn't, collect seeds from your Marigold flowers for next year. This year was the first year in a really long time that I grew Marigolds in my garden. I grew them alongside a few vegetables and herbs as companion plantings. Over the weekend I found myself doing some cleaning in the garden and a took a few minutes to save a few seeds from my potted Marigolds for next year. Marigolds don't produce large or round seeds- which can make figuring out where the Marigold seeds are confusing for the beginner gardener or first time seed saver.
One of the last few Marigold blooms in my garden, past its prime but not yet ready to give up any seeds. How to Collect Marigold Flower Seeds.
Marigolds don't produce seed pods that make it easy to identify where the seeds are and the uninitiated gardener/seed saver may wonder if the seeds have fallen out and been lost. The seeds here are a long ways from being ready for harvesting.
I generally wait until the flower heads look brown and dried like the two Marigold heads in this picture. When they look like these two, the seeds are ready to be collected and saved for next year.
To remove the seeds of the Marigold pinch the ends with your thumb and index finger of each hand, then pull apart and the seeds will slide out without any problem.
The Marigold seeds are on the left, they are long slender, black and the points of the seeds are very sharp. You can sow the seed directly where you'd like for them to grow next year in the garden or you can bring them indoors and dry them before storing them.
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10 comments:
Oh wow the seeds look so neat :-) Now I could look out for those brown/dried marigolds to get some seeds like you have done here. Your pictures really helps to show how to obtain those seeds. Have another wonderful day!
Nice post! That's exactly how I do it and store it away in paper bags.
Excellent tutorial MBT!
I meant to add marigolds to the veggie garden this spring, but never got to it. I usually plant them around tomato plants. . . maybe next year! If I do, I'll definitely be saving the seeds. I never used to save seeds, but have been in the last couple of years, especially since so few plants self-sow in the shade garden with its heavy pine bark mulch.
Saving seeds is fun, and sure is a money-saver. I enjoy planting my own saved seeds, and enjoy sharing the extras with gardening friends.
Stephanie, Glad you liked it.
Urban green, Storing them in paper bags is a good idea.
Garden Girl, I know Marigold seeds are so inexpensive, but the frugal gardener in me just can't help but save some when I'm growing them. It beats adding them to the list of seeds to buy in the spring.
I've never collected seeds before, but your post makes it look so easy I'm going to try it with my marigolds first thing in the a.m. Thanks for the lesson. Cheers!
Hi Avis,
What? You've never collected seeds before? As a balcony gardener you have a huge advantage because conceivably you could collect the seeds for all your plant every year making your gardening expenses pretty low.
Do it! Do it! Do it!
I have saved marigold seeds for several years, it was one of the first I saved, besides zinnias. However, this year the freeze got them, but I am not sure the seeds were fully mature yet. I guess I will still save them and try them out next spring...it was a particularly lovely large puffy orange type. It would be a shame to lose them to the frost.
GardenMom,
Hope your seeds matured before the frost got to them. Hope they sprout for you in the spring.
Brings back memories, I used to gather the seeds and sprinkle it around fields when I was young.
Hi Anna,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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