I have a very large perennial garden phlox plant. I was wondering how to harvest seeds from the plant? The plant has been in constant bloom since the end of July (at least!) and is finally beginning to bloom less. Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

Sarah

Sarah, I do the Phlox the same as Coneflowers...cut the dead flowerheads back about 6" - 8" and hang upside down in a paper lunch sack for a week or two. Usually, the seeds fall out by themselves and are easy to capture. You can always "whack the sack" a few times to dislodge any stubborn seeds. Sure saves wear and tear on your fingers.

What do the seed pods look like? And when is a good time to cut them off to dry?

Thanks!

The seeds are in the dried flower "head" that you would cut off just as you would deadhead any kind of dead flower. You won't see a distinctive seed pod. That's not a good definition but I can't think of anything really brilliant to tell you. I keep mine deadheaded to the point that I never have to worry about seeds so I can't even go out and take a picture for you.

Okay, here is a pic of where the flower used to be. Is the thing with long "string" coming out of it, where the seeds will be? It is so tiny!

Thanks,
Sarah

Yes...let those dry and turn brown before you harvest the seeds. You must be growing a different cultivar of Garden Phlox than I have. Mine have never put out seed pods like that.

Here is a link to the plant that closely resembles my phlox. I'm sure that this is a ridiculously stupid question but what is a cultivator?

cultivator

Garden tools

Thanks for the help Bill, but I don't think that's the answer I'm looking for. She was talking about a plant cultivator--like a different variety of the plant I think.

Not cultivator, Sarah...Cultivar. Now you'll have Bill thinking we're both crazy. lol!

A "cultivar" is a variety of a particular plant that has been given its own identity. For instance, Rose of Sharon is the common name for the cultivar Hibiscus syriacus, one member of the very large Hibiscus family.

I bet Bill can come up with a better definition but that should give you an idea of what I was talking about.

BTW, that is the same Phlox I have. I guess I never saw seed pods due to deadheading so early.

Sorry to make you look crazy!! I know I already am just a little crazy! I think that I understand what a cultivar is and I now know exactly what a cultivator is. How do I tell when the plant has finished "working" on the seedpods? Thanks for the help, Tulsa, I really appreciate it!!

Sarah

I usually don't pick any seed pods until they are dried, brown and crispy, so to speak. You can be sure the seeds are ripe at that point.

Sarah, I've always said you have to be a little crazy to make it in this screwed up world we live in. I think my mom might have dropped me on my head when I was an infant. That's my excuse and I'm going to stick with it. lol!

Alrighty, so I've got a while to wait. Most of the phlox are just beginning to turn to brown.

I have to agree with you, you do have to be a little crazy to make it!

Thanks for all your help!!