The pods will turn a light tan color and will start to split open. The seeds will be black and papery when ripe.

Thanks kywildcat2 for the information.
Kay

Hi,

I always have trouble with getting to them just at the "right" moment..when they are starting to split goes pretty quickly to SPLIT, and then the seeds are lost. How do you catch it just right without hovering over the plant every day? I tried putting paper bags over drying blossoms/seed capsules with mixed results.

My main question though is about hosta seed. I see people offering hosta seed to swap. What will you actually get from a hosta seed? I thought the named varieties are all divided, to keep the characteristics of the parent?

Adam

I collect stockings (hose)from the thrift store and pull them down over the stalks were the seed pods are,tie them at the bottom and then wala......
Sharyl

You will not get parent named variety from seed. I like growing them from seed, but I seldom get anything but plain green, even from traders that swear offspring will be blue or variegated. It's still fun.

I have read on GW somewhere (probably hosta forum) that only 1 in 1000 offspring from seed will be variegated. Still, it can't hurt to try---SOMEONE has to get that 1000th seedling...
AdamM321, another great little thing to try is the organdy pullstring gift bags that hold wedding and shower favors and can be purchased in the craft department near the bridal items at WM. They can be used over and over and the drawstrings keep the seed pod snugly in the baggie until it splits and spills it's seeds right into the bag!

Takes a varigated pod parent to get varigated seedlings. Seedlings are not true to the parent..thats the fun with hosta seedlings..you never know what you will get, but 90% will be plain jane green.