when i dabbled in collecting hosta seeds.. i presumed.. when the bottom most pod opened ... then the rest of the pods above were mature .... and i cant say i was proven otherwise ... i just collected the husks.. and let them dry ...

so if part of your plant has mature drying seed pods.. why would you not assume they are all mature .. they did all bloom at basically bloom at the same moment in time didnt they ...

also.. the hardcore hybridizers used to use jewelers bags to capture seed ... that must not be the right term.. but this is the idea:

https://www.theseedcollection.com.au/fruit-protection-bags

you could probably use old nylons also ...

good luck.. and have fun

ken

ps: they also used those bags to insure the bees didnt interfere with planned pollen application ...

Old pantyhose tied around the fruit works. In case you don't happen to have any lying around, maybe small zip-loc baggies. Also, how about hair nets?... the kind that food preparers have to wear. They probably come many to a box.

id stay away from plastic.. aka.. mini greenhouses ... that might trap moisture... with fruit you dont want to speed rotting... and with seed you dont want them to sprout ... they should be kept dry ...

ken

I too have heard of people using pantyhose.

Window screen would be a little harder to work with, but could work if you happen to have a piece somewhere. Handy to have around for covering drain holes in pots too. Keeps slugs, worms, other inappropriate guests out of pots.

davidrt, take a pic of the scene when you're at the cash-register buying the pantyhose....

do they still sell the ones in the egg .. lol ... that was always my favorite one in the easter basket ...

ken

yeah .... i thought of that babs ... back in the day.. real men had sewing machines.. and made their own bags ... lol ... the mesh you speak of was sort of a heavy gauge cheese cloth ...

anyway .. these days.. who's going to look twice at some dude buying pantyhose.. lol .. just die your hair purple.. and put your nose stud in ... draw on a few fake tattoos .... and bobs your uncle ... lol

ken

ps: babs keywords.. got me closer on the search.. who would have though wedding party favor bags ...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/MyCraftSupplies-Premium-Organza-Bags-3x4-Inch-30-Pack-for-Favors-Gifts-Jewelry-white/193275745?athcpid=193275745&athpgid=AthenaItempage&athcgid=null&athznid=si&athieid=v0&athstid=CS055&athguid=cbRxfOamICEHKbTPrxnMqlnVHNicTYp9tR-F&athancid=null&athposb=0&athena=true

I've made lots of little seed catching bags from an old tee, twist tie. And yes, pantyhose too. The toe works especially well ;0)

Barb, I actually have a roll of tulle I bought for the cicadas but was too lazy to apply so I'd tucked it away and totally forgotten about it. Tulle it is!

I saw some Tulle on walmart website. Under $2 for a roll that is 25 yards long. Pink or white.

Could you tape a brown paper bad around it, or does it need to be exposed to sunlight?

doubt it needs sun ... but paper might create and trap moisture .... they are hanging out there in ambient dryness.. so i would try to work with that thought in mind ...

Did you get any seeds yet?

Yes! I only did a few because a lot had split by the time I got to the project, but I now have about 9 seeds to try. These are off 'Aida', which is the hardiest C x williamsii. Again they are just open pollinated...I will probably sow them outside and see if they can fend for themselves.

I gave a ton of cuttings of 'Aida', 'Korean Fire' and 'April Remembered' to McLean Nursery, so those will be available for sale locally, in Baltimore, in a couple years. Somewhere else on GW is a thread from about 10 years ago where I debate the approach I will take to pruning camellias. Well, I have made my choice. In my very humble opinion from 30+ years of growing them, camellias, deep down, want to be trees. The Korean Fire at Udel is a huge shrub and shows no sign of stopping its skyward journey...neither does mine. YMMV though, I'm not quite sure this is a gardening technique I would advocate, per se. Still I'm aggressively pruning them to have single trunks if they were already big; smaller ones I will now start training when they are planted. Here is my KF getting a chop (well chainsawin' anyhow) to one of its stems.