What do I do with a seed pod?

8 years ago

Well, after many years, I finally have a seed pod! I think two, actually? They are still bright green and I just cut them off today. They are 180 degrees from each other, straight horns, more or less. Now, my question is, what do I do with it/them? I assume let it dry and then what? I'd like to plant the seeds and see what I get, eventually because I have several different varieties that could be the donor. LB

Featured Answer

tunatony

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Please see my thread with the subject line "Candy Stripe and seed pod". I'm sorry to report that the seed pod needs to stay on the plant until it matures and splits open. In the Northern hemisphere that means late summer/fall. So if you cut the seed pod off of the plant while bright green, as you say, it's game over...no viable seeds for you.

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Comments (6)

Kawagoe(Home of SF 49ers Santa Clara CA)
8 years ago
RIP....Sorry.
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Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia
8 years ago
How old were they before you cut them

off of the mother tree??

Laura
lbinupland_zone_9
Original Author
8 years ago
The pods are from last season, I didn't notice it until the leaves started falling off. This is a tree that suffered pretty severe frost damage about 5 years ago. Half of the branches were exposed and the other half were under a porch eave. That side never came back. But, it's potted, so I just turned it 180*. If it wasn't pushed against, and supported by a railing, it might have tipped over by now? The conformation is ugly but it's a great bloomer, so I don't mess with it.

If I screwed up, I might have to wait another twenty years, I'll only be 95. Looking forward to planting new seeds then; am marking my calendar.

BTW, thanks for the news!

El Bee

PS, I have a Silk Floss grew from a seed I pilfered from the arboretum. In these many years, it has had many flowers but only one seed pod. I planted them and now have about twenty "babies" that are 5-6 years old. Win some, lose some, they say?
lbinupland_zone_9
Original Author
8 years ago
Well, do not laugh but I figured, why not try it? First I cut off the very tip of a developing branch, cut off the developing claws. I dug out the center about a foot deep and stuck the seed pod stem down into it. Then, I wrapped it about 3 inches with a plastic cling like Saran Wrap. I also used several feet of 3M electrical tape to sort of support the stem until next year when it will drop off. So, it's like a splice. And, frankly, I think it might have a 50/50 chance of working. Hold off on seed planting advice for a while, okay? But when will I know if it's looking promising? What to look for, if anything? LB

I need to figure out the photos BRB
lbinupland_zone_9
Original Author
8 years ago
terrible photo, I know. But if you knew how long it took me to come up with such a crummy pic, you would forgive.