Methods for Saving Milkweed seeds

[ButterflyLady_IL]

I now have Tropical Milkweed making seedheads.
(HURRAY!)
I want to know experiences of anyone saving these seeds.
I want to be sure I have some next year.
I could let it go to seed and self seed, but I'd also like to move it to another spot.
Other folks that have seen the waystation sign, and been shown the milkweeds have asked for seeds for next year. The Tropical Milkweed is certainly a very "showy" plant as a border in the large flower bed. I think that's why I've gotten so many comments from others wanting to grow it.
The small caterpillars love the buds and blooms! I have found alot feasting on the buds and blooms. The big caterpillars also seem to like it.
I also need to know the best way to handle the seeds- such as drying seeds, cold treatment, paper envelopes, ziplock bags, etc.
Thanks in advance.

[Keith Petrosky]

I took mine when the seed pods opened and put them in the fridge for 5 months, then planted them in a pot and soon they started to grow.

[Jim]

Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) will not self-seed in IL as it is cannot survive the winters that far north and is therefore an annual there. Is this the species you have:



or do you have another milkweed? Either way, check out our "Harvest and Storage of Milkweed Seeds" article from the July 2005 Update:

http://www.monarchwatch.org/update/2005/0728.html#7

Please note that Tropical Milkweed does not need a cold treatment in order for the seeds to germinate. There is more information about milkweed propagation at

http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/prop.htm

Good Luck!

[ButterflyLady_IL]

Hi Jim,
I do have the Tropical Milkweed pictured, and know that some "annuals" will self seed here- hence the question.
Dwarf marigolds have self seeded for up to 4 years in the same spot without replanting...
Thanks for the link- I'll check out the article.

[John Beaulieu]

I have now finished harvesting seeds of the varous milkweeds that I grow in the garden. I have found that picking the pod as soon as it first starts to split will allow me to easily pull and separate the seeds from the silk, as seen in the photos attached. If I don't get to the pods soon enough the separation is not as easy, so I put the opening pods in a bucket and shake and swirl it, causing the seeds to remain in the bottom and the silk usually flies out the top of the bucket.

After letting the seeds dry by sitting out on a sheet of paper for a few days, I put them in spice jars (labelled with the species name) and store them in the fridge.

John
http://photobucket.com/albums/a240/JohnBeaulieu

[ButterflyLady_IL]

Thank You John,
I will try your methods. I love the photos too. Your explanation and photos are very easy to understand.
I knew I'd get some good suggestions from this forum.

[Pat]

My tropicals did self-seed last winter. The pesky things came up through a section of my lawn early this summer. Had more in the lawn that I did in the garden.

[ButterflyLady_IL]

Thanks Pat,
It's good to know that maybe I'll have plants come up.
This seed saving part of the Milkweed gardening has been a real downer. I've tried and not been very successful in the past.
But I'm a bit of a stubborn gardener.. and will try again.
Plus the seeds you sent did so well I'm encouraged to be persistent!

We've had a hard frost now. I doubt I'll get any more blooms or pods. So I have gathered pods and will try John's method for saving the seeds. Wish me luck.
Rhonda