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Baptisia leucophaea seed pods
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Posted by kaufmann 4 (My Page) on Mon, Aug 2, 04 at 1:02
The last time I collected the seed the pods were almost black and many of the seeds gone already. Now (Aug 1st) the pods are nice and green. At what point would the pods be least likely invaded by bugs and prime for collecting?
nick kaufmann |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Baptisia leucophaea seed pods
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| well for other baptisia sp. the book "growing and propogating wildflowers" by Harry Phillips... it states to harvest the pods when they are black or show signs of opening along the top suture. (i usually look for the pod to start to open) the book also states to comb the seeds from the pod, discarding the smaller shriveled ones. it also discusses removing insects from the seeds as is fairly common for these seeds to be eaten by insects while in the pod... he talks about a no pest strip and a sealed container - which i think might be a little overboard... i try to stay away from chemicals, but thats just me - i think if you get them out of the pod - let them air dry and then refrigerate that should be enough to get rid of the bugs before they eat too much... if you have lots of pods it might not be a bad idea to pick one now and look inside to see the seeds now and then compare them to what the seeds look like when they are mature ... just as a get to know your seed pod kind of a thing... |
RE: Baptisia leucophaea seed pods
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| I've found that weevils seem to go for the seeds of this species and others in the genus. There have been times that entire plants loaded with pods would not yield a single viable seed. A few years ago I did try growing it with some success by gathering the pods when they were just turning brown and opening them up right away. I think that I filed the seeds and then moist stratified them for 30 days. The seedlings need lots of light but otherwise it's an easy plant to grow. |
RE: Baptisia leucophaea seed pods
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| I believe it's probably impossible to rid these plants of weevils. The eggs are apparently deposited in the flower and the seed pod forms around them. The newly hatched bugs dine on the developing seeds and are safe from predation. My Cream Indigo crop varies each year. Burning does not make a impact. Sometimes there are NO seeds and once every 4-5 years I get a good crop. I noticed a corresponding variance in price and availability of these seeds at different seed nurseries. |
RE: Baptisia leucophaea seed pods
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| i don't know if it is the exact same variety i experience, but i can never get pods. the deer eat them before they fully develop. |
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