How do I collect seeds from my Cosmos plants?

I've deadheaded my Cosmos this afternoon, and some of the flowers were "deader" than they usually are when I snip them off! Due entirely to this site, I'm now inspired to collect the seeds and have a go at growing my own!

Trouble is, I can't decide just what ARE the seeds! Attached photo of a deadheaded flower, and the things that may or may not be the seeds. Are the seeds the little things on the left, or the more substantial things on the right?

Once I've got that established, I then need to know, (please!) what to do with them, how to dry(?) them, store them and when to sow them!

Can you tell I've never done this before? However, I'm very excited at the thought of growing my own, so please be gentle with me!

Asked on 23 Aug, 2009 by

Jan65

Location: North East England, United Kingdom

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collecting seeds

Answers

Tulsalady26

Sorry jan Idon't know the answer but you gave me a much needed laugh thank-you x

23 Aug, 2009

Jan65

So glad that I gave you a laugh - now can someone please answer my question?!! I AM serious! I really DON'T know which are the seeds! Help!

23 Aug, 2009

Tulsalady26

Have you tried cutting open one of each to see if there are any seeds ?

23 Aug, 2009

Jan65

Hmmm, well I'm game for a laugh! Can't cut the smaller ones as they're too insubstantial. Tried cutting one of the larger ones - it's a bit like an outer shell, like a husk, with a pale moist kernel inside. I suspect then that this is the seed. Unless anyone else knows different?! Please feel free to put me right!

23 Aug, 2009

Moon_grower

What you have there are seed heads that have not had time to ripen. Sorry but you will not be able to save viable seed from them, you need to wait until the seed pod is ripe (i.e. the seed is just ready to scatter naturally) before collecting if you want to sow and grow.

23 Aug, 2009

Jan65

Thanks Moongrower. There are still lots more flowers left on the plants which I can leave to go to seed; however, I'm unsure how to tell that the seed pod is ripe and the seeds are about to scatter naturally. Please could you give me some pointers?

23 Aug, 2009

Usernut

the seed pod will go brown and begin to open up to drop seeds and they will probably swell up too, collect them just before they drop off ( the full pod) and place them into a paper bag and hang up somewhere till they dry out.

23 Aug, 2009

Jan65

Thank you Usernut! Much appreciated.

23 Aug, 2009