❤😮❤ I love Black Eyed Susans and have some in my garden. Now, I know how to save their seeds, I will try to have more more more of them. My mother passed in 2020 and her name was "Susan" -this was her favourite flower. When -thanks to you- I am successful in planting more flowers, I will surely think of this day and all the wonderful tips you have shared for growing native blooms to attract a gazillion pollinators. THANK YOU so much "Grow it Build it"!
Your considerable DIY talents are matched by your get-to-the-point editing skills. In absence of a kitchen strainer, consider using yogurt containers with various size holes drilled in multiple lids for sifting. Free and imminently re-useable.
Thank you Jeff. Your homemade strainer idea would work well too. I picked up two from the dollar store, each with a different size. But drilling holes in yogurt containers would definitely work. I cut those up for plant labels too.
Great help for my own flower bed of Black Eyed Susans. When collecting outside, remember: Always get permission from the landowner when collecting on private land, and never collect on public land. Areas destined to be developed or destroyed in the near future provide excellent sites for collecting seeds, provided the landowner has given permission. Never collect seeds from rare or endangered species - collect only from plants that you find growing abundantly in a given area to ensure that you do not eradicate an isolated population. Take at most only one-tenth of the seeds so that enough seeds are left to reseed and perpetuate the stand.
hi, is it illegal to take seeds from common plants growing along the roadside? There is one very common black-eyed Susan annual that grows along the roadside here. I was thinking about collecting a few seed heads for my garden. I've seen very few growing in my city proper because the pollinators have all been killed. See my post above.
My neighbor's adult granddaughter wants to grow these flowers. I told her I would save some seeds for her. I then thought Growit Buildit might have a video on harvesting these seeds. Sure enough, you have one online. I told her I would give her some purple coneflower seeds too. Thank you very much for these videos.
Great video - at last someone who knows what he is talking about. 90% of gardening You Tube videos are made by people who are absolutely clueless about gardening. Thank you !!
I love this method of saving Blackeyed Susan seed without having to pick out those tiny individual seeds from the other plant material. Thank you! I'll definitely do this in the fall.
Thankyou for that video . I’ve been gardening and collecting seed for over 60 years , at last , I’ve seen how to get rid of the chaff and it’s so much easier than hand picking the seeds , brilliant method . Well done and a massive Thankyou for sharing this info . It will save me a lot of tedious hours of seed picking
You are very welcome Sylvie! I'm happy I could help you out. I too found it very frustrating to separate seeds from Rudbeckia. And unless you looked closely, you couldn't differentiate the seed from the chaff too easily.
I am just starting … Today years old in harvesting seeds! Thank you for this and I’ll thank my mother (again) for saving me the plastic box w lid (grapefruit jar). Please explain what chaff is. Thanks!
I really appreciate this!!! I took my small backyard native last year and harvested enough I think I could replant 10 acres. I've planted roadside using the finger method, you know, walking along roughing these up between my fingers one seed-head at a time. I just dug a plastic container just like one out of the recycle bin and have it drying now! Of the 10 to 15 lbs of seed heads of all kinds, I may find something else this method will work with.
Thank you Jim! This method is awesome. My kids and I just spread most of our seed in some disturbed areas that our HOA owns (nobody does anything with it). Hoping that we get some nice color, but worried it will all turn to Japanese Stilt Grass. But that is a story for another video.... I've found that this method can be of help with some members of the Helianthus genus - the perennial sunflowers in particular. But most other 'central disc' or 'cone' species seem to give up their seeds pretty easily. Rudbeckia is just pretty stubborn. You may want to have a look at my last video on sunflowers - I do the 'panning for gold' method for separating chaff. See this clip - th-cam.com/video/ww8BruNX5VU/w-d-xo.html You may find it useful too. Have a good one - happy seed saving!
Very much appreciate this video. One thing , the birds rely on seeds to keep things going in the cycle. of it all. It's important for us to keep them in mind. We need each other. Thanks again.
Hi - you are correct to worry about the birds. If you follow the NANPS guidelines, you take less than 10% of what is available, and in areas where allowed (roadsides, read the park rules, etc). That way you don't harm populations but still can spread the natives to other areas. nanps.org/seed-collecting/
Amazing thank you my Grandmother has had Black Eye Susan's for about 14 years now since 2007. It is Hard to Find Black Eyed Susan Seeds. Now I know how to get them for Free. The Yellow Flowers are starting to come off so in about another week I can collect all of them and do what u did. Thank you God Bless You🙏🙏😊 Also we have found out that every Year they even throw Seeds cause every year they are in new places in the flower Bed. These are my Favorite Flowers🌻🌻🌻
This is brilliant! I collected seeds from flowers growing wild and followed your technique. Thank you. It was so much easier than what I probably would have done.
I wish I'd seen this last week, before I did this year's rudbeckia seed saving! I love the "secret" method, which seems so efficient. I sift & sift & know this chore will be much easier & quicker. I also did echinacea & will watch that video too. I save as many kinds of Vermont native plants as grow on my "varied environment" four acres & this year started a small natives nursery.
There is always next year Lynette! That is awesome that you have several acres, I just have a half (technically). But I do a bit of guerrilla gardening on some HOA land.
So much chaff! This is a really helpful step by step guide to sourcing some rudbeckia seeds this autumn from my garden. Knowing how to separate the seed from the chaff will hopefully help bring some success in growing my own before my plant is mature enough to divide. Really appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Thank you!
You are very welcome! We've got good info on germinating Rudbeckia. A step by step guide here: growitbuildit.com/rudbeckia-seed-germination-guide-with-pictures/
@@growitbuildit so will we always shake the seed heads twice, first without the nuts 'n bolts, to get rid of chaff, then 2nd time with nuts 'n bolts? Or was that just for demo purpose for this video, that first shaking?
Thanks so much for this! I wasn’t able to transplant my BES this summer because my grass didn’t die off in time 😭😖so helpful because I can still use what I have!
Great video. my neighborhood has a ton of these on the tree lawn. Definitely going to ask the neighbors if i can take some of their seed heads and grow in my yard
I’m not quite understanding what the purposes and separating out the seeds from the chaff. I just broadcast sow it all together…the same with Echinacea. My only tip is to sow the seed in mid spring or so. This way lower percent of it is an eaten by foraging birds and rodents. Seed is so numerous that even 10% germination is more than sufficient for even a large area.
It increases your odds of getting germination. The seeds have to come into contact with the ground and if chaff gets in the way that could be an issue. I separate seed from chaff when I seed share because I know my donation may be split and having chaff would decrease the chances someone gets enough seed.
@@aprelegriffin4548but it’s so much more work! Haha but good to know. I can’t believe some people throw these away in pots and then keep buying them again the next year from home depot garden centers
I only harvest 2 seed heads from my best Gloriosa Daisy plants. The same goes for all my non hybrid flowers. This gives me a lot more seeds than I would ever need to grow new plants. For myself and give to friends. The rest of the seed heads. I leave for any wildlife that eat them.
@@growitbuildit thank you so I just scatter these seeds or do I need to cover them also When's the best time to get the seeds into the garden.... Best regards and stay safe
Well, the chaff and seed are already separated. So the bolt/washer wouldn't help, and could crush them. But you could keep putting it through a strainer or gently blow on the chaff, so it blows away and the seed remains.
You don't have to separate chaff, you can just sow the mixture if you like. I prefer to separate, as it makes it easier to know how many seeds I'm using.
Hi - you can plant in Fall or very early Spring when night temps still get below freezing for at least a couple weeks. You will get a higher germination rate if the seeds receive roughly 30 days of cold stratification.
Hi, would you consider doing a video on saving and sowing Erigeron seeds? Your videos are very informative and concise, and I appreciate how you share this information :)
I can add it to the list. I always have some growing in my microprairie. I just never bothered to document that one before. It probably won't be until next year at the earliest.
Excellent! We have a bunch of BES growing around our property and I'd like to distribute them on different parts on this property. This should work out great
I don't know if that would be ok or not....drying too quickly could possibly have unforeseen consequences like cracking the coat. I really don't know. Usually a week in a garage is enough to dry them though.
Can you still plant the chaff and seeds together? I assume the chaff will just die off, and the seeds hopefully germinate, it just gives you a better volume of seeds.
Curious if you have tested viability from the chaff/seed mix vs post nuts and bolts dislodgement. I imagine the seeds that fell out first are most viable, but mixed with chaff. I’m not nit picking, just curious more than anything. I’m sure just sprinkling mashed up flower heads and a gentle rake in is easy peasy and adequate for larger scale planting. Great vid. I love how in depth you go!
Hi Dink - I have not tested that chaff/seed vs straight seed. I believe you are correct though, mashed up flower heads work great no matter what. I just like to separate chaff whenever I can.
Hi Kelly - if the seeds are fully dry you can store them in a zip-lock bag in a cool dry place & not in direct sunlight. Otherwise, store them in an envelope. You can winter sow these seeds, or plant them in very early Spring. The seeds should have a cold moist stratification period of 30 days (simulate winter), or direct sow at the end of winter / beginning of Spring.
Hi Steven - you can sprinkle them on the ground this Autumn. Some will be eaten by birds and rodents, but not all. Or, you could either winter sow the seeds this fall or winter, or just sprinkle/plant them in very early Spring when the evenings are still getting down to the 30's or 40's. You may want to watch this video, where I go into detail on the grow/care of this plant - th-cam.com/video/vyKbB6BEBEE/w-d-xo.html
Hi there!!! I’d like to say a bit thank you from England!! I’ve really enjoyed your video and learned lots from you.. I was wondering if you had a bag of seeds that I could buy? I’d love to see the journey of your work over into England. Best wishes to you, cheerio
Hi Andrew - first let me say thank you for the compliment and kind words. It really means a lot. But for shipping seeds internationally, I looked into it, and it looks to be a bit of a problem. Since a seed would be considered 'agriculture product' I need to get permits from both USA and UK. So I don't think we should pursue a deal. I'm sorry about that, because I do have the seed! But this company I'm linking to might be a good solution (I can't see if they are allowed to ship to UK, but they are a large seed company based in USA). I've bought many seeds from this company before, and they have good quality. I actually bought about $50 worth just this year of different species. amzn.to/2Ygo3iF They mainly deal in true native varieties. If there is any problem, their customer service is great. Sorry again, but good luck sir!
Hi - you need to keep them in a moist towel in a bag, or winter sow them. By far the easiest way is winter sowing. I have videos on both - Paper towel/ fridge - th-cam.com/video/JIgYeduDiM4/w-d-xo.html Winter Sowing - th-cam.com/video/SKXY6dl-5Tk/w-d-xo.html
Hi Helen - for Garden phlox, you can cut the seed heads just before they turn brown. Then take them indoors and place it on a plate. The large seed will naturally release. Then place them in a sealed bag into the fridge until you Winter sow it. For smaller Prairie Phlox, I place a mesh bag with draw string over the seed heads. Then check it every few days, collecting what falls out. These are the only two phlox I have at the moment.
Hirta is biennial or sometimes annual. When you see it blooming, that will be it. Goldstrum and laciniata are perennial. Goldstrum is very easy to divide in Spring too.
I have watched numerous TH-cam’s on collecting seeds from the black eyed Susan vine. I have tried removing that green pod at different stages and I have yet to find a seat either it has the little green thing already in it that the seeds gone or the flowers starting to grow in it but I have never found one that I could fine to sit in it can you help?
@@growitbuildit I'm in my 4th year in new home, and 2nd year with B-E Susans! I had just walked around my garden yesterday when I looked upon them and decided to do some research. I'm so grateful to have found your video! I am always looking for plants/flowers that I can propagate by collecting seeds and last year, I had no clue I could have had more! I've learned how to collect seeds from my 'Sweet Williams' and my 'Rose of Sharon', but my B-E Susans catch my eye every day that I walk out into my backyard. Your video inspired me to go out in my robe this morning and clip the heads and they are now in an air-tight container in my utility cabinet for a few days. (smile) I look forward to filling some empty spaces with BE-Susans next Spring! And I'm assuming I can do the same with my Echinacea right? Anyway, thank you so very much for schooling this old lady and inspiring me to bring more color to an almost entirely green backyard! God Bless you!!!!!!
@@ShermVibes I'm so happy to hear that I am helping you out - and yes, you can do the same with Echinacea. I have a video specifically on that - you don't need to do the 'nuts & bolts' thing - just shake them in the container. But I have a lot of seed saving/propagating info you may enjoy. And happy gardening!
Hello, I picked a whole bunch of seed heads this last September and accidentally left them in a pail in my garden shed. I am in zone 5B (upstate NY) are they going to be any good?
Hi, yes the seeds need to be winter sown or cold stratified in the fridge. See here -growitbuildit.com/illustrated-guide-to-winter-sowing-with-pictures/
I have no idea. I know that about 10 years ago archeologists in Wisconsin discovered some pottery from Native Americans, and inside were squash seeds. Well, they germinated them and 'rediscovered' a variety of squash from seed that had been stored for at least a hundred years.
Hi Kathy. I'll be doing videos on several Aster species in the coming months. But I'll see if I can do a short one on saving Aster seed later this week. It won't be pretty, just straight info. And thank you for the kind words! It means a lot.
A very short video on saving Aster seeds should be out in 15 min or so. Also, this has some pics and description of the process too. I hope it helps you! Let me know if it is ok. growitbuildit.com/how-to-grow-new-england-aster-in-your-garden/
Hi Alice - I store them in envelopes or if they are completely dry, a zip-lock bag. Keep them at room temp and out of direct sunlight. Refrigerating them would probably keep them viable longer, but I haven't found it to be necessary.
I would disturb the soil with a rake or just kicking/scraping with my boot, then sprinkle, and walk on it. That makes good contact with the soil, and usually leaves enough exposed. Just do it in late Winter, or very early Spring, when you will have at least a few weeks of cold evening temperatures.
Can the seed be germinated immediately, or does it need to go through a cold cycle, such as putting in the fridge for a few weeks? I know some seeds need that to occur or germination is not as successful.
Hi - I've actually never tried germinating this seed fresh. Typically you would stratify this seed for 4 weeks or so in the fridge or winter sow. So, answer for this, and any other member of the genus is that it needs roughly 30 days cold stratification. But I am reminded of another plant species, Columbine that needs 30 days stratification. But, if the seed is sown fresh, it will germinate in approximately 1-2 months. And I know this because I have a pot with a large columbine, and it self seeds into other 'new' pots with new soil. I've been plucking some seedlings of that one out now. But, if you are in a warmer climate, you could try germinating some of the seed fresh. If you are successful, let me know. I would love to hear about it. Good luck!
Hi Krista - Black Eyed Susans need to go through a cold-moist period known as stratification in order to break their dormancy. You can winter-sow the seed, or cold-stratify them in the fridge before planting out in the Spring. I show how I plant them from seed in this video here - th-cam.com/video/vyKbB6BEBEE/w-d-xo.html And I have a detailed guide on winter-sowing here (my preferred way to sow seed). growitbuildit.com/illustrated-guide-to-winter-sowing-with-pictures/ Hope this helps!
Very interesting. I will do this in the fall. Will "winter sowing" work with Black Eyed Susan? I'm going to try that this winter. My goal is to have a big plot of same this summer.
Hi JR - these can be winter sowed. You might want to hold off sowing until late winter though, as that should mean less chance of birds/rodents eating seed.
@@growitbuildit TY. The winter sowing I saw on youtube was seed sown in containers and left in the garden all winter. Made for very healthy plants in spring. The idea was that the cold "conditions" the plant. I look fwd to trying that.
I'll be putting my own video on winter sowing out in a few months. But I've been winter sowing with both 1020 trays and jugs for years. It's really easy. This is the guide I wrote on it. It let's you do something gardening related in the dead of winter. growitbuildit.com/illustrated-guide-to-winter-sowing-with-pictures/
But how exactly did you separate the seed from the chaff? You have it on a plate but I can’t figure out how it got there! Does the strainer let the chaff out only?
Hi Karin - the first 'shaking' when it is just seed heads releases most, or all of the chaff. Then the second shaking, putting the seed heads back into the container and adding a washer/nut/bolt will hit the seed heads harder, releasing more seed. So the second shaking will basically yield pure live seed. The first shaking loosens mostly chaff. Put the results of the first shaking on one plate (chaff and seed), and the second shaking on another.
Every day i look into the seed container there's a bunch of gnats or something in it. Should i just close the container and let them die in the seeds or keep killing them until gone. Worried about mold
I would probably try to put the seed on a plate and dry them out in a garage (out of direct sunlight). Once the seed is dry/separated, I would think the gnats would leave.
You have a very underrated channel relative the level of content you produce and info you share
Thank you Jared! I really appreciate this compliment.
❤😮❤ I love Black Eyed Susans and have some in my garden. Now, I know how to save their seeds, I will try to have more more more of them. My mother passed in 2020 and her name was "Susan" -this was her favourite flower. When -thanks to you- I am successful in planting more flowers, I will surely think of this day and all the wonderful tips you have shared for growing native blooms to attract a gazillion pollinators. THANK YOU so much "Grow it Build it"!
Thank you SO MUCH Cathy! I really appreciate it! Good luck to you!
Your considerable DIY talents are matched by your get-to-the-point editing skills.
In absence of a kitchen strainer, consider using yogurt containers with various size holes drilled in multiple lids for sifting. Free and imminently re-useable.
Thank you Jeff. Your homemade strainer idea would work well too. I picked up two from the dollar store, each with a different size. But drilling holes in yogurt containers would definitely work. I cut those up for plant labels too.
Great help for my own flower bed of Black Eyed Susans. When collecting outside, remember: Always get permission from the landowner when collecting on private land, and never collect on public land. Areas destined to be developed or destroyed in the near future provide excellent sites for collecting seeds, provided the landowner has given permission.
Never collect seeds from rare or endangered species - collect only from plants that you find growing abundantly in a given area to ensure that you do not eradicate an isolated population. Take at most only one-tenth of the seeds so that enough seeds are left to reseed and perpetuate the stand.
hi, is it illegal to take seeds from common plants growing along the roadside? There is one very common black-eyed Susan annual that grows along the roadside here. I was thinking about collecting a few seed heads for my garden. I've seen very few growing in my city proper because the pollinators have all been killed. See my post above.
@@sphillips6357I think it would be fine to collect a few, I usually do anyway!🤣
One of the best comprehensive video about how to recognize and separate Rudbeckia seeds. Thank you very much!
You are very welcome - glad you enjoyed it
This is one of the most helpful videos on saving seed I've ever seen! Feverfew is another seed I have a hard time with. Thank you!
Thank you Julie! I've never tried saving feverfew seeds. I don't even think I've seen the plant though.
My neighbor's adult granddaughter wants to grow these flowers. I told her I would save some seeds for her. I then thought Growit Buildit might have a video on harvesting these seeds. Sure enough, you have one online. I told her I would give her some purple coneflower seeds too. Thank you very much for these videos.
Excellent Lar - I'm glad I could help you out! That is very kind thing for you to do for her too.
Great video - at last someone who knows what he is talking about. 90% of gardening You Tube videos are made by people who are absolutely clueless about gardening. Thank you !!
Thank you Vic! I try to make my videos useful!
This is the best method I've seen for harvesting Black Eyed Susan seeds. Wow. I wouldn't have thought of that trick. Nice.
Thank you sir
Thank you for your thorough, clear, beautifully photographed, and inspiring guidance!
Thank you so much for the kind words Venice!
I love this method of saving Blackeyed Susan seed without having to pick out those tiny individual seeds from the other plant material. Thank you! I'll definitely do this in the fall.
Thank you for the compliment! I was very excited about this too. It is a good solution to an annoying problem.
Thankyou for that video . I’ve been gardening and collecting seed for over 60 years , at last , I’ve seen how to get rid of the chaff and it’s so much easier than hand picking the seeds , brilliant method . Well done and a massive Thankyou for sharing this info . It will save me a lot of tedious hours of seed picking
You are very welcome Sylvie! I'm happy I could help you out. I too found it very frustrating to separate seeds from Rudbeckia. And unless you looked closely, you couldn't differentiate the seed from the chaff too easily.
I am just starting … Today years old in harvesting seeds! Thank you for this and I’ll thank my mother (again) for saving me the plastic box w lid (grapefruit jar). Please explain what chaff is. Thanks!
Chaff is plant material that gets mixed in when collecting seed. It's just waste, and makes finding seed harder
@@growitbuildit Thank you!
Wow brother, every time I watch one of your videos, more blessings come. Thank you and God bless you.
Thank you Steven! God bless you too.
I would never have thought to add something hard to bang against the seed heads to knock seed out. Thanks!
You are very welcome CG! It is an amazing trick I discovered. I had no idea the seedheads were holding onto so much more.
I really appreciate this!!! I took my small backyard native last year and harvested enough I think I could replant 10 acres. I've planted roadside using the finger method, you know, walking along roughing these up between my fingers one seed-head at a time. I just dug a plastic container just like one out of the recycle bin and have it drying now! Of the 10 to 15 lbs of seed heads of all kinds, I may find something else this method will work with.
Thank you Jim! This method is awesome. My kids and I just spread most of our seed in some disturbed areas that our HOA owns (nobody does anything with it). Hoping that we get some nice color, but worried it will all turn to Japanese Stilt Grass. But that is a story for another video....
I've found that this method can be of help with some members of the Helianthus genus - the perennial sunflowers in particular. But most other 'central disc' or 'cone' species seem to give up their seeds pretty easily. Rudbeckia is just pretty stubborn. You may want to have a look at my last video on sunflowers - I do the 'panning for gold' method for separating chaff. See this clip - th-cam.com/video/ww8BruNX5VU/w-d-xo.html
You may find it useful too. Have a good one - happy seed saving!
Very much appreciate this video. One thing , the birds rely on seeds to keep things going in the cycle. of it all. It's important for us to keep them in mind. We need each other. Thanks again.
Hi - you are correct to worry about the birds. If you follow the NANPS guidelines, you take less than 10% of what is available, and in areas where allowed (roadsides, read the park rules, etc). That way you don't harm populations but still can spread the natives to other areas. nanps.org/seed-collecting/
Thank you for sharing this method. It looks like a great way to separate the seed from the chaff!
You are very welcome Laura! This is by far the best method for getting clean, pure seed.
Amazing thank you my Grandmother has had Black Eye Susan's for about 14 years now since 2007. It is Hard to Find Black Eyed Susan Seeds. Now I know how to get them for Free. The Yellow Flowers are starting to come off so in about another week I can collect all of them and do what u did. Thank you God Bless You🙏🙏😊
Also we have found out that every Year they even throw Seeds cause every year they are in new places in the flower Bed. These are my Favorite Flowers🌻🌻🌻
You are very welcome Jeremiah! You will now have seeds every year forever!
This is brilliant! I collected seeds from flowers growing wild and followed your technique. Thank you. It was so much easier than what I probably would have done.
You are very welcome! It is by far the easiest method I've found for getting clean seed.
I've been looking for this since I grew my first rudbeckia this year. Thank you for taking the time to post this!
You are very welcome Angie - I'm glad I could help you out. Good luck!
Thanks so much for this instructional video. I have Black Eyed Susan's growing voluntarily in a pot this year and wanted to save the seeds.
You are quite welcome Nancy.
I just found your channel and am really enjoying all the learning. Love that you also focus and methods that are clean and efficient!
Thank you! I'm glad you are enjoying my videos.
I wish I'd seen this last week, before I did this year's rudbeckia seed saving! I love the "secret" method, which seems so efficient. I sift & sift & know this chore will be much easier & quicker. I also did echinacea & will watch that video too. I save as many kinds of Vermont native plants as grow on my "varied environment" four acres & this year started a small natives nursery.
There is always next year Lynette! That is awesome that you have several acres, I just have a half (technically). But I do a bit of guerrilla gardening on some HOA land.
So much chaff! This is a really helpful step by step guide to sourcing some rudbeckia seeds this autumn from my garden. Knowing how to separate the seed from the chaff will hopefully help bring some success in growing my own before my plant is mature enough to divide. Really appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Thank you!
You are very welcome! We've got good info on germinating Rudbeckia. A step by step guide here: growitbuildit.com/rudbeckia-seed-germination-guide-with-pictures/
@@growitbuildit Thanks for the link. Some really helpful info, especially as I plan to winter sow. Much appreciated, again!
@@growitbuildit so will we always shake the seed heads twice, first without the nuts 'n bolts, to get rid of chaff, then 2nd time with nuts 'n bolts? Or was that just for demo purpose for this video, that first shaking?
@jonathan Northrup the first shake is only the seed heads. No nuts or bolts.
The second shake is with nuts n bolts
This popped up in a planter I have in the VM back yard. Ty for three lessons so that I now have a new fav. In the backyard💯🤗
Excellent - you are quite welcome!
Beautiful display at the beginning. You made it very clear I enjoyed your video!🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽
Thank you Angie!
Just subscribed. Love how you get to the point. Good job.
Thank you Eleanor - I'm very happy you enjoyed it.
Great method! Thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to give it a try!
You are welcome Connie! It works great for harvesting seeds.
Thanks so much for this! I wasn’t able to transplant my BES this summer because my grass didn’t die off in time 😭😖so helpful because I can still use what I have!
You are very welcome Jeanine! I hope you are able to get some seed!
Great video. my neighborhood has a ton of these on the tree lawn. Definitely going to ask the neighbors if i can take some of their seed heads and grow in my yard
Thank you - good luck starting some from seed
I’m not quite understanding what the purposes and separating out the seeds from the chaff. I just broadcast sow it all together…the same with Echinacea. My only tip is to sow the seed in mid spring or so. This way lower percent of it is an eaten by foraging birds and rodents. Seed is so numerous that even 10% germination is more than sufficient for even a large area.
To sell seeds?
It increases your odds of getting germination. The seeds have to come into contact with the ground and if chaff gets in the way that could be an issue. I separate seed from chaff when I seed share because I know my donation may be split and having chaff would decrease the chances someone gets enough seed.
@@aprelegriffin4548but it’s so much more work! Haha but good to know. I can’t believe some people throw these away in pots and then keep buying them again the next year from home depot garden centers
Thank you for this information. I never knew to do it twice.
That was the magic trick to releasing tons more seed and having a cleaner operation.
I only harvest 2 seed heads from my best Gloriosa Daisy plants. The same goes for all my non hybrid flowers. This gives me a lot more seeds than I would ever need to grow new plants. For myself and give to friends. The rest of the seed heads. I leave for any wildlife that eat them.
Fantastic... Thank you... I'm going to start harvesting wildflower seeds...
You are very welcome!
@@growitbuildit thank you so I just scatter these seeds or do I need to cover them also When's the best time to get the seeds into the garden.... Best regards and stay safe
just found your video, Love your method of saving the seeds! Thank you! I have learned a lot! Awesome!
Excellent! Glad you found it helpful
Wow great idea idea to separate the seed from the chaff
Thank you Cathy!
Great method I’m definitely going to try this, thank you.
Thank you! This is by far the best way I've ever saved Rudbeckia seeds. Definitely the cleanest. Good luck!
But don’t forget to leave some for the Goldfinch. 😊 Thanks for sharing how to separate the seed from chaff.
I've got the fattest gold finches in the county at my yard!
Thanks for sharing your very informative video!
You are very welcome! And thank you for the compliment. I'm glad you found it helpful.
Thanks very useful the most important is you go straight to business. ❤❤❤😊
Thank you Vicky! Glad you found it helpful
Excellent video, tells me exactly what I need to know!
You are very welcome!
Great idea. Why wouldn’t you put the chaff/seed plate back thru the shaker with the bolt and washer?
Well, the chaff and seed are already separated. So the bolt/washer wouldn't help, and could crush them. But you could keep putting it through a strainer or gently blow on the chaff, so it blows away and the seed remains.
So you have to separate the seeds from the chaff ( in the larger pile) by hand? A BIG job!
You don't have to separate chaff, you can just sow the mixture if you like. I prefer to separate, as it makes it easier to know how many seeds I'm using.
I learn so much from you , Thank you !
You are very welcome! Glad you are enjoying the vids
Nice video. Do u plant the seeds in fall or spring...I live in wisconsin..thanks
Hi - you can plant in Fall or very early Spring when night temps still get below freezing for at least a couple weeks. You will get a higher germination rate if the seeds receive roughly 30 days of cold stratification.
very informative. such a beautiful flower- thank you!
Thank you Liz - glad you enjoyed it. And it is a beautiful flower!
Hi, would you consider doing a video on saving and sowing Erigeron seeds? Your videos are very informative and concise, and I appreciate how you share this information :)
I can add it to the list. I always have some growing in my microprairie. I just never bothered to document that one before. It probably won't be until next year at the earliest.
@@growitbuildit Thank you! I look forward to it.
No one in the United States grows this😮
@donnabarbour I disagree! Everyone grows Erigeron (fleabane daisy), whether they want to or not!
Thank you for the great tutorial
You are very welcome - glad you found it helpful
well done thanks for the tips there a beautifull flower. Greetings from Wales UK . a fellow tuber lol.
Thank you Indiana - glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent! We have a bunch of BES growing around our property and I'd like to distribute them on different parts on this property. This should work out great
Perfect - this will get you maximum seed with minimum chaff. Good luck!
Excellent!! Thanks so much !!
You are very welcome sir! I'm glad you found it helpful!
I subscribed that your video is very nice and clear help me understand better. Thanks for being awesome, Teacher. 🤗🎉🤗💯👍🌻
Thank you! I'm glad you found this video helpful
Excellent video! Right to the point.
Thank you!
Hey Joe, posting to increase engagement and say thanks!
Thank you!
Can you dry them out in a dehumidifier type think like used for beef jerky?
I don't know if that would be ok or not....drying too quickly could possibly have unforeseen consequences like cracking the coat. I really don't know. Usually a week in a garage is enough to dry them though.
Can you still plant the chaff and seeds together? I assume the chaff will just die off, and the seeds hopefully germinate, it just gives you a better volume of seeds.
Hi Amanda, yes you can do that
Wonderful tutorial!!! Thanks so much for sharing all your knowledge!
You are very welcome Wendy! Happy Planting!
I wonder if a rock tumbler with small ball bearings could work to help shear/brush the seeds of pods without crushing or damaging them.
I have had good germination rates using this method. But using a chunk of wood or a few coins, and not shaking it excessively probably helps a lot.
Curious if you have tested viability from the chaff/seed mix vs post nuts and bolts dislodgement.
I imagine the seeds that fell out first are most viable, but mixed with chaff.
I’m not nit picking, just curious more than anything.
I’m sure just sprinkling mashed up flower heads and a gentle rake in is easy peasy and adequate for larger scale planting.
Great vid. I love how in depth you go!
Hi Dink - I have not tested that chaff/seed vs straight seed. I believe you are correct though, mashed up flower heads work great no matter what. I just like to separate chaff whenever I can.
Loved it!!! Thank You for this great info and video. 🌻
You are very welcome Trish! I'm glad you found it helpful.
I have alot of blackeyesusan and want to feed birds in winter. Is it necessary to separate chaff from seed? Will birds eat all?
Hi, if you're trying to make your own birdseed, then you may want to separate the chaff. In general I believe that they will only eat seed.
Thanks for a great video,
Andy in the UK.
You're welcome - good luck in the UK!
Cool!! So, how do you store and then when do you plant the seeds?
Hi Kelly - if the seeds are fully dry you can store them in a zip-lock bag in a cool dry place & not in direct sunlight. Otherwise, store them in an envelope.
You can winter sow these seeds, or plant them in very early Spring. The seeds should have a cold moist stratification period of 30 days (simulate winter), or direct sow at the end of winter / beginning of Spring.
When do I plant the seeds?
Do I have to wait until spring, or can I sprinkle them into the ground in the fall?
Hi Steven - you can sprinkle them on the ground this Autumn. Some will be eaten by birds and rodents, but not all. Or, you could either winter sow the seeds this fall or winter, or just sprinkle/plant them in very early Spring when the evenings are still getting down to the 30's or 40's.
You may want to watch this video, where I go into detail on the grow/care of this plant - th-cam.com/video/vyKbB6BEBEE/w-d-xo.html
Hi there!!! I’d like to say a bit thank you from England!! I’ve really enjoyed your video and learned lots from you..
I was wondering if you had a bag of seeds that I could buy? I’d love to see the journey of your work over into England.
Best wishes to you, cheerio
Hi Andrew - first let me say thank you for the compliment and kind words. It really means a lot.
But for shipping seeds internationally, I looked into it, and it looks to be a bit of a problem. Since a seed would be considered 'agriculture product' I need to get permits from both USA and UK. So I don't think we should pursue a deal. I'm sorry about that, because I do have the seed!
But this company I'm linking to might be a good solution (I can't see if they are allowed to ship to UK, but they are a large seed company based in USA). I've bought many seeds from this company before, and they have good quality. I actually bought about $50 worth just this year of different species. amzn.to/2Ygo3iF
They mainly deal in true native varieties. If there is any problem, their customer service is great.
Sorry again, but good luck sir!
do you have to put seeds in freezer for a month or so to simulate winter ?
Hi - you need to keep them in a moist towel in a bag, or winter sow them. By far the easiest way is winter sowing. I have videos on both -
Paper towel/ fridge - th-cam.com/video/JIgYeduDiM4/w-d-xo.html
Winter Sowing - th-cam.com/video/SKXY6dl-5Tk/w-d-xo.html
Thank you !! I DO LOVE this. Ok how about phlox ?
Hi Helen - for Garden phlox, you can cut the seed heads just before they turn brown. Then take them indoors and place it on a plate. The large seed will naturally release. Then place them in a sealed bag into the fridge until you Winter sow it.
For smaller Prairie Phlox, I place a mesh bag with draw string over the seed heads. Then check it every few days, collecting what falls out.
These are the only two phlox I have at the moment.
Thank you for excellent ideas
You are very welcome Mariana
Excellent- to the point. I subscribed!!
Thank you!
Can you put seeds down in fall or wait till spring
You can do so in Fall or very early Spring. Sow heavily, as birds/rodents like to eat them.
Pretty effective. But what harm does the chaff do if planted with the seed?
It is no harm at all to have chaff mixed in with the seed. I just remove it to keep it cleaner.
Hi what’s type of rudbeckia that is biennial? I got goldsturm, hirta at laciniata. Thank you ❤️
Hirta is biennial or sometimes annual. When you see it blooming, that will be it.
Goldstrum and laciniata are perennial. Goldstrum is very easy to divide in Spring too.
@@growitbuildit thank you. Bees love the rudbeckia mostly the laciniata. I will divide mine this lautumn like what I did with echinacea purpurea.
Can you plant the seeds along with the chaff and have success? Newbie here
Hi Yambag - yes, you can scatter the whole lot of it and it will grow.
I have watched numerous TH-cam’s on collecting seeds from the black eyed Susan vine. I have tried removing that green pod at different stages and I have yet to find a seat either it has the little green thing already in it that the seeds gone or the flowers starting to grow in it but I have never found one that I could fine to sit in it can you help?
Hi Sandie, I'm sorry, but I have never grown Black Eyed Susan vine. I am not familiar with the plant.
This is amazing info! Thank you!!!
You are very welcome - glad you found it helpful!
@@growitbuildit I'm in my 4th year in new home, and 2nd year with B-E Susans! I had just walked around my garden yesterday when I looked upon them and decided to do some research. I'm so grateful to have found your video! I am always looking for plants/flowers that I can propagate by collecting seeds and last year, I had no clue I could have had more! I've learned how to collect seeds from my 'Sweet Williams' and my 'Rose of Sharon', but my B-E Susans catch my eye every day that I walk out into my backyard.
Your video inspired me to go out in my robe this morning and clip the heads and they are now in an air-tight container in my utility cabinet for a few days. (smile) I look forward to filling some empty spaces with BE-Susans next Spring! And I'm assuming I can do the same with my Echinacea right?
Anyway, thank you so very much for schooling this old lady and inspiring me to bring more color to an almost entirely green backyard! God Bless you!!!!!!
@@ShermVibes I'm so happy to hear that I am helping you out - and yes, you can do the same with Echinacea. I have a video specifically on that - you don't need to do the 'nuts & bolts' thing - just shake them in the container. But I have a lot of seed saving/propagating info you may enjoy. And happy gardening!
@@growitbuildit thank you so much!!! I'll have to check out your other videos! ❤️
THAT was absolutely wonderful 👏 ❤
Thank you!
This is super helpful! Thank you! 😊
You are very welcome!
Hello, I picked a whole bunch of seed heads this last September and accidentally left them in a pail in my garden shed. I am in zone 5B (upstate NY) are they going to be any good?
Hi - if they stayed dry then I think they will be OK. Fungus n mold would probably be the biggest risk
will those seeds need a freezing period before they will germinate? thanks
Hi, yes the seeds need to be winter sown or cold stratified in the fridge. See here -growitbuildit.com/illustrated-guide-to-winter-sowing-with-pictures/
And here is how to cold stratify. These seeds should be stratified for 30 days. th-cam.com/video/JIgYeduDiM4/w-d-xo.html
Can you do this with cone flowers also?
Yes. You actually can just shake them up once. See the video here:
th-cam.com/video/51Kf4jhtihg/w-d-xo.html
Which flowers have the longest seed storage life?
I have no idea. I know that about 10 years ago archeologists in Wisconsin discovered some pottery from Native Americans, and inside were squash seeds. Well, they germinated them and 'rediscovered' a variety of squash from seed that had been stored for at least a hundred years.
Can you recommend a way to harvest aster seeds? I love your videos and find them quite informative.
Hi Kathy. I'll be doing videos on several Aster species in the coming months. But I'll see if I can do a short one on saving Aster seed later this week. It won't be pretty, just straight info.
And thank you for the kind words! It means a lot.
@@growitbuildit Awesome thank you so much!! I will keep an eye out for it!
A very short video on saving Aster seeds should be out in 15 min or so. Also, this has some pics and description of the process too. I hope it helps you! Let me know if it is ok. growitbuildit.com/how-to-grow-new-england-aster-in-your-garden/
@@growitbuildit Thank you so much!!
Fantastic, thanks!
Wow, thanks for this!
You are very welcome
Do Black Eyed Susan seeds need to be subjected to freezing temps before they will germinate? Thanks!
Yes! They either need cold stratification or to be winter sowed. See here for how to do it via refrigerator:
th-cam.com/video/JIgYeduDiM4/w-d-xo.html
excellent video sir. thank you !!
Thank you Brenda!
Question- do I have to store the seed in the freezer?
Hi Alice - I store them in envelopes or if they are completely dry, a zip-lock bag. Keep them at room temp and out of direct sunlight. Refrigerating them would probably keep them viable longer, but I haven't found it to be necessary.
Can I scatter the seeds to get them growing or do I need to cover the seeds with soil....
I would disturb the soil with a rake or just kicking/scraping with my boot, then sprinkle, and walk on it. That makes good contact with the soil, and usually leaves enough exposed. Just do it in late Winter, or very early Spring, when you will have at least a few weeks of cold evening temperatures.
Thanks for the video!
You are quite welcome Donna!
Can the seed be germinated immediately, or does it need to go through a cold cycle, such as putting in the fridge for a few weeks? I know some seeds need that to occur or germination is not as successful.
Hi - I've actually never tried germinating this seed fresh. Typically you would stratify this seed for 4 weeks or so in the fridge or winter sow. So, answer for this, and any other member of the genus is that it needs roughly 30 days cold stratification.
But I am reminded of another plant species, Columbine that needs 30 days stratification. But, if the seed is sown fresh, it will germinate in approximately 1-2 months. And I know this because I have a pot with a large columbine, and it self seeds into other 'new' pots with new soil. I've been plucking some seedlings of that one out now.
But, if you are in a warmer climate, you could try germinating some of the seed fresh. If you are successful, let me know. I would love to hear about it. Good luck!
So helpful! Thank you!
You are very welcome! I'm glad you found the video helpful!
Awesome! Thank you!
You are very welcome!
This may seem like a dumb question but when is the best time to plant the seeds after doing this. I am in zone 5
Hi Krista - Black Eyed Susans need to go through a cold-moist period known as stratification in order to break their dormancy. You can winter-sow the seed, or cold-stratify them in the fridge before planting out in the Spring.
I show how I plant them from seed in this video here - th-cam.com/video/vyKbB6BEBEE/w-d-xo.html
And I have a detailed guide on winter-sowing here (my preferred way to sow seed). growitbuildit.com/illustrated-guide-to-winter-sowing-with-pictures/
Hope this helps!
Very interesting. I will do this in the fall. Will "winter sowing" work with Black Eyed Susan? I'm going to try that this winter. My goal is to have a big plot of same this summer.
Hi JR - these can be winter sowed. You might want to hold off sowing until late winter though, as that should mean less chance of birds/rodents eating seed.
@@growitbuildit TY. The winter sowing I saw on youtube was seed sown in containers and left in the garden all winter. Made for very healthy plants in spring. The idea was that the cold "conditions" the plant. I look fwd to trying that.
I'll be putting my own video on winter sowing out in a few months. But I've been winter sowing with both 1020 trays and jugs for years. It's really easy.
This is the guide I wrote on it. It let's you do something gardening related in the dead of winter. growitbuildit.com/illustrated-guide-to-winter-sowing-with-pictures/
@@growitbuilditTY so much. I saved this,now look fwd to DOING it. Nice project :)
But how exactly did you separate the seed from the chaff? You have it on a plate but I can’t figure out how it got there! Does the strainer let the chaff out only?
Hi Karin - the first 'shaking' when it is just seed heads releases most, or all of the chaff. Then the second shaking, putting the seed heads back into the container and adding a washer/nut/bolt will hit the seed heads harder, releasing more seed.
So the second shaking will basically yield pure live seed. The first shaking loosens mostly chaff.
Put the results of the first shaking on one plate (chaff and seed), and the second shaking on another.
@@growitbuildit Thank you so much!
Questions!.... Can you eat them like chia seeds !
I have absolutely no idea. I've never heard of anyone but birds or rodents eating the seeds.
Every day i look into the seed container there's a bunch of gnats or something in it. Should i just close the container and let them die in the seeds or keep killing them until gone. Worried about mold
I would probably try to put the seed on a plate and dry them out in a garage (out of direct sunlight). Once the seed is dry/separated, I would think the gnats would leave.
@@growitbuildit thats smart. Ive learned the chaff really messes with your allergies also
love your work ❤NEW SUBSCRIBER
Thank you!
Great idea! Thanks
You are quite welcome. This method really gets you crazy amounts of seed.
Very helpful...thank you!
You are very welcome! Glad you found it helpful.
Ok.. you are super cool 😎 and you’ve saved the day
Haha - Thank you TT. I'm glad I could help you out.