Yes, cut the spent flower stems right back to the new growth at the base. I have a few more flowers appearing! :-)

I don't see why you shouldn't collect seeds, although they're very tiny. I'd put a whole flower head in a paper bag and let the seeds drop out naturally.

thankyou again :) I'm going out to do it now :)

I like to leave them for the winter frosts, they take on added interest, you could do some small divisions of the clump, very easy to increase your stock.

there are so many seeds dropping now ..they are tiny arn't they.Can I sow them indoors and when could I do this?

Why bother with seeds?, they spread like wildfire, just split the clumps in spring. derekm.

Not indoors, no. You have a choice. You can sow them in the autumn, cover them lightly with compost and leave them in a coldframe. They should germinate in 4 - 6 weeks. Or - sow them in the spring, cover with vermiculite at a temperature of 20 degrees. They'd germinate within 10 - 15 days.

Because the seeds are so tiny, it's easier to mix them with some silver sand to sow them.

Divisions/basal cuttings, its a lot less bover than seeds.

I don't cut them because the goldfinches go mad for the seeds later on. I've had 20 or more on them, and then they disappear.

Had the same thing happen the other day, goldfinches on the teasels.

Well, Kate did ask - so I told her! ;-/

thanks everyone for your comments..I'm all very new to this and it's my 1st winter of learning 'what to do ' with what Iv'e got ;) lol