Harvest Your Own Coneflower Seeds!

@powers_plants

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Why it worked

The video provides practical, actionable advice on a common gardening task, using clear visuals and explanations. The creator's personal experience and tips, such as only taking a third of the seeds and explaining the germination code, add value and encourage viewers to try it themselves.

Summary

The video demonstrates how to harvest coneflower seeds. The creator explains that coneflowers are not long-lived perennials and that collecting seeds helps refresh the patch. They show how to identify ripe seed heads by looking for hardened spikes and the presence of white seeds at the base, contrasting them with unpollinated flowers. The creator also mentions that the seeds have germination code A, meaning they don't require a cold period and can germinate in warm soil. Finally, they explain their method of collecting seeds, drying them, and sowing them in late fall or early winter for spring germination.

Structure

1Introduction to harvesting coneflower seeds
2Explanation of why collecting seeds is beneficial
3Identifying ripe seed heads (hardened spikes, white seeds)
4Demonstration of seed collection and drying process
5Explanation of germination code A and planting timing
6Method for sowing seeds in bare soil for spring germination

On-screen text

Harvest Your Own Coneflower Seeds! Did you know you can collect seeds from your coneflowers They are so easy to grow from seed And remember, coneflowers like a lot of native perennials they're not long-lived each individual plant for about three to five years So we always wanna be dropping seeds into our area to keep the patch constantly refreshed with new, healthy plants So any flower that still has petals on it this hasn't been pollinated and there's no seed in here to be collected Once the plant is pollinated it'll start to drop the petals off This one's just starting this one's completely gone What we're looking for is hardened spikes Be careful, they can be kind of sharp And at the base of this spike this is the chaff and at the base in here are these white Do you see these little white That's your seed right there The seed is at the base of these brown spikes and that's what you want to collect Here's another example that is loaded with lots of seeds at the base And the rule of thumb with any seed that we're collecting is we wanna wait until the plant has completely ripened the seed before we pull it off So when the seeds pop off easily and the seed heads are brown and dried up then they're ready These are too soft no seeds at the base yet, not ready This one, watch what happens when I f- oh two little white seeds popped off That's when you know the cone is ready to harvest And you can see this has been by those beautiful American been pecking the seeds off And here's one where a seed That one's been worked over and here is a seed that fell off while the birds were in here eating So nature naturally reseeds itself into that area That's the seed we're looking and here's the exact seed that we're looking for And it's about to storm which is why I'm out here collecting these seeds now I wanna make sure I get a handful before and I'm gonna need to leave them to dry out That's gonna be the easiest way for you to get your seeds off So I'm gonna collect them now I'm gonna bring these in the house leave them on the counter let them dry out then I'm gonna shake all those seeds off So I haven't let them dry out yet just to show you I put them in a paper bag give them a lot, a lot a lot of shaking And when you dump them out, see they're not quite dry I'll do that again in a few days but just wanted to show you that's the white seed We wanna separate the seed from those dark brown spikes or the chaff I try to only take a third of the seeds from my area okay the rest go to the birds they're about to migrate they need the healthiest most nutritious food possible and that's the seeds in your native garden Coneflowers have germination code A That means they don't need any cold period They'll just germinate in warm soil So I don't drop mine now I'm gonna hold onto them in an envelope in a cool dry location in the house I'll come out and spread these on bare soil, no mulch press them into the soil in, like, late November, December and then they'll germinate for me in the spring

Original caption

It is so easy to harvest your own coneflower seeds. It’s also really easy to grow these from seed. They are not a long lived perennial so it’s a good idea to constantly refresh your patch of Coneflowers by spreading new seeds so you’ll always have young vigorous plants coming up to replace the ones that die off. I’m a Garden Coach in the Chicagoland area and I love this community — if you know the answer to someone’s question in the comments, please jump in and help! I can’t always respond personally, but together we can figure anything out. 🌱 Visit powersplants.com to learn more about booking a coaching session with me, and for just $5/month you can subscribe for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, videos, and live Q&As where you can ask me anything directly! #nativeplants #coneflowers #gardening

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Transcript

Did you know you can collect seeds from your coneflowers? They are so easy to grow from seed. And remember, coneflowers like a lot of native perennials, they're not long-lived. Each individual plant for about three to five years. So we always wanna be dropping seeds into our area to keep the patch constantly refreshed with new, healthy plants. So any flower that still has petals on it, this hasn't been pollinated and there's no seed in here to be collected. Once the plant is pollinated, it'll start to drop the petals off. This one's just starting, this one's completely gone. What we're looking for is hardened spikes. Be careful, they can be kind of sharp. And at the base of this spike, this is the chaff. And at the base in here are these white. Do you see these little white? That's your seed right there. The seed is at the base of these brown spikes and that's what you want to collect. Here's another example that is loaded with lots of seeds at the base. And the rule of thumb with any seed that we're collecting is we wanna wait until the plant has completely ripened the seed before we pull it off. So when the seeds pop off easily and the seed heads are brown and dried up, then they're ready. These are too soft, no seeds at the base yet, not ready. This one, watch what happens when I f- oh, two little white seeds popped off. That's when you know the cone is ready to harvest. And you can see this has been by those beautiful American been pecking the seeds off. And here's one where a seed, that one's been worked over, and here is a seed that fell off while the birds were in here eating. So nature naturally reseeds itself into that area. That's the seed we're looking, and here's the exact seed that we're looking for. And it's about to storm, which is why I'm out here collecting these seeds now. I wanna make sure I get a handful before and I'm gonna need to leave them to dry out. That's gonna be the easiest way for you to get your seeds off. So I'm gonna collect them now. I'm gonna bring these in the house, leave them on the counter, let them dry out, then I'm gonna shake all those seeds off. So I haven't let them dry out yet just to show you. I put them in a paper bag, give them a lot, a lot, a lot of shaking. And when you dump them out, see, they're not quite dry. I'll do that again in a few days, but just wanted to show you, that's the white seed. We wanna separate the seed from those dark brown spikes or the chaff. I try to only take a third of the seeds from my area, okay? The rest go to the birds. They're about to migrate, they need the healthiest, most nutritious food possible. And that's the seeds in your native garden. Coneflowers have germination code A. That means they don't need any cold period. They'll just germinate in warm soil. So I don't drop mine now. I'm gonna hold onto them in an envelope in a cool, dry location in the house. I'll come out and spread these on bare soil, no mulch, press them into the soil in, like, late November, December, and then they'll germinate for me in the spring.