Step-by-Step Guide to Harvesting and Storing Wildflower Seeds for a Thriving Wildflower Garden
Seed saving is a fun and sustainable way of collecting seeds you can plant again next year. Lots of gardeners keep their fruit and vegetable seeds, saving money and preserving their favourite varieties. You can do the same with wildflower seeds, from your garden and in the wild. We save a lot of seeds from our wildflower meadow and will be using them next year for more planting. Our guide shows you how to identify when seeds are ready for harvesting, how to store them, and a few hints and tips for successful wildflower seed saving.
When to collect wildflower seeds
Late summer and early autumn are the best times to collect wildflower seeds, although some flowers that flower earlier in the year could be ready by July. Choose a dry day to collect your seeds to avoid any excess dampness that can damage the seeds during storage.
How to tell if seeds are ready to collect
There is a wide variety of wildflowers that are native to the UK and they will all look different, especially at seed-saving time. Mostly, the flower heads will turn crispy and light brown – this is a good sign that the seeds are ready to be collected. Poppy seed heads are easy to identify – their common seed heads look completely different from their flowers but are easily recognised as poppies.
Should I label my wildflower seeds?
If you have been lucky enough to have an abundance of wildflower seeds to collect, you can store and label them separately so you know exactly what seeds you have and how many. You can also collect and store them all together as a wildflower mix, as long as they have been dried properly.
Where can I collect wildflower seeds?
You can collect as many wildflower seeds as you like from your garden or land. It is perfectly legal to collect a few seeds for your own use from public areas like parks or grass verges, although you should take care not to take too many. It’s always good practice to leave some behind for self-seeding so only harvest about a fifth of available seeds from public areas.
How to collect wildflower seeds
You can pick or pull off the individual seeds from the flower heads, but cutting off the whole flower head is quicker and easier with a small pair of scissors. Collect your seed heads in a breathable fabric bag or paper bag. Even when harvesting seeds from your garden, don’t take them all – leave more than you take so that the area can naturally self-seed, and that small birds and other wildlife can enjoy a nutritious snack. Birds eating seeds is a natural seed dispersal method, so let them have their fill.
How to preserve wildflower seeds at home
Once you have collected your wildflower seeds, you should spread them out on a surface and leave them to dry out completely before storing them. Laying them out on newspaper is a cheap and effective way to dry them. Don’t put them anywhere like an airing cupboard – it is too warm and could damage the seeds.
Once the seed heads are completely dry, you can remove any plant matter like dried leaves or flower petals and save the seeds themselves. You can crush the seed heads gently in your hand or put them in a jar and shake them out of seed pods. Don’t worry about getting every little bit of plant matter out – the seeds will grow just fine with a bit of dry plant matter mixed in.
Storing your wildflower seeds
You can store wildflower seeds in a cool, dry place at home in paper envelopes or cotton bags. Don’t store them in plastic, as this can lead to condensation, making the seeds damp and mouldy. If the seeds are sufficiently dry they can be stored in glass jars – we suggest throwing in a silica gel packet (like those you might get in boxes of new shoes) to absorb any moisture.
The wildflower seeds can be sown next year in the spring or even planted in autumn ready to flower next spring. If stored correctly, some seeds can last for a year or even longer, but their viability will decrease over time, so for the best results, sow them within a year of collecting.
If you want to start your own wildflower meadow, we have a wide range of wildflower seeds and kits in our shop. Choose the right size for your plantable space and select the Shady Area or Long Season mix depending on the natural light levels. Also, check out our wildflower planting guide for detailed instructions on how to grow a wildflower meadow at home.
