I’ve been keeping an eye on my showy milkweed seed pods, hoping to pick them at just the right time. Two days ago, I didn’t think this one would be ready and then…poof! It became a floofy mess, with silky strands of fluff to act as parachutes to distribute seeds far and wide. I gathered up what I could. Fortunately, other seed pods hadn’t exploded yet.
This is one is perfectly ripe. The center can be pushed open and it’s easy to grab the seeds and twist them off the silks.
I will use the seeds to start new plants in early spring. That tutorial coming in February. Milkweed takes a few years to mature to the point of producing seeds. These plants are between four and five years old. I’m also going to save seed from this narrow leaf milkweed. I don’t think the strange pods are ready to pop yet?
~Debbie