When to collect nasturtium seeds?

I have a small flower bed near the house. This year I planted a very beautiful terry nasturtium there. I want to leave the seeds for next year. Tell me when is it better to collect nasturtium seeds so that they do not lose their germination?

Nasturtium is mainly an annual plant with beautiful large flowers of various colors, although there are also perennial varieties. Since the flower does not tolerate wintering in the open field, it is grown in a flower bed as an annual. The most commonly used types of nasturtium are:

• terry;
• ampelous;
• curly;
• bush;
• climbing.

All species reproduce by seed and need replanting every year. However, it is enough to purchase high-quality varietal seeds once, and you can provide yourself with seed for several years in advance. The main thing in this matter is to collect them on time.

When to harvest nasturtium seeds?

Nasturtium seeds are a small box with an uneven relief surface. They are harvested after full maturation, before the onset of the first frost. The exception is foreign nasturtium: its seeds should be cut off green and put to ripening at room temperature.
The period during which the seeds reach full maturity is 40 to 50 days. It should be borne in mind that this process is uneven, and the countdown comes not from planting or flowering, but from the moment the petals fall. That is why the collection is carried out in stages, as it ripens.

Seeds that are already ripe change in color - from green they turn yellowish.

But it happens that early frosts did not allow the seeds to ripen. In this case, there is no choice but to pluck them green. Such seeds need to ripen in a warm room, which lasts up to two months.

How to collect seeds?

Ripe seeds are easily separated from the wilted flower and therefore fall to the ground under the bush. You can collect them from under the bush by picking them up from the ground. Some growers, in order not to lose especially valuable seeds, spread them under the bushes nasturtium old newspapers. So the seeds will not be lost and will be clearly visible.

If the required amount of seed has already been collected, and there are still many faded inflorescences on the bush, they are removed. This will help prolong the flowering of the nasturtium.

Before storing seeds, dry them on a windowsill by sprinkling them on a sheet of paper.

How to store seeds?

Dried nasturtium seeds are stored in cardboard boxes or paper bags. They can be used for reproduction for three to four years after collection. All this time, the seeds perfectly retain their germination.

Growing nasturtium, caring for it and collecting seeds - video