Let them dry until the pawpaws are ripe. :)

They need to be super dry for the seeds to shake out. Right now, mine look dry - but they aren't dry enough.

The seed head is made up several hundred tiny tubules - with one or two seeds at the base of each tubule. If you take apart a seed head now you can see how the lower part of the tubules aren't dry yet.

Of course, if the stem is dry enough for the flower head to pop loose from the plant you can always harvest them now and let them sit in an open top jar to finish drying for a few weeks. Then shake and enjoy the bounty.

Lynda

I just snip off the brown flower heads, let them dry in the basement for a few weeks, and put them in a plastic container and shake. You won't get all the seeds, but you'll get plenty.

Thanks Lynda and Tom! I couldn't figure out if I was waiting to long or not long enough. I get all worried about missing some types of seeds. Like my Jolly Bee Geranium. I still can't catch seeds from them either. Anyone know the trick for that?
Glenna