It states on Plantfiles that the seeds do not store well and you have to plant them where you want to go as soon as possible. It also says to let the pods dry on the plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lily of the Valley Plantfiles

Thanks evonnestoryteller!

Andrea

You are very welcome!

I just bought some lily of the valley in pots that have green berries on them. I had never seen berries on a LOTV so I googled and found that the berries will turn red. I'm so surprised. I had them growing up but never saw that. I love LOTV and cannot wait until next spring to see them flower. I guess I will plant the seeds once they've dried on the racene (raceme?). Hope no critter eats them as they are poisonous.

I have tried many, many times to save seeds from my pink LOV. I leave them on the plant to dry and some critter always gets them before I do. I've read that you can tie a paper bag over the berries until they ripen. Has anyone tried this?

I'm doing that right now. I'm using the left-over bags from wedding favors (the white, gauzey kind that you put jordan almonds or mints in). I'm liking them so far because I can see through them to know when the seed is mature but bugs and birds can't get in. And they breathe.

We'll see if I get any seed!

Diana Lynn

Please let us know if you get seeds with the bags over them. I have a ton of orange berries on mine now.

Andrea

Follow-up:

I got seed! I didn't get back over to that garden (I don't live there) until around January, so the berries were all dried out and shrivelled. I cut off the stem and brought them inside, where I found that the berry was impossible to break open. So I dropped the berries in warm water until they were soft, and then took the seeds out. There were about three seeds in each berry. I'm giving them to someone who wanted to try them, so I won't find out if it works for quite a while (if ever). But at least I know the baggies worked!

Diana Lynn