Collecting
Make a point of picking only plants
growing in prime locations. Individual plants with many insect holes
and obvious poor health are probably located at the extremes of their
preferred growing conditions and may also have distinctly atypical
biochemistries as a response to their compromised growing conditions.
Always check around the vicinity after you have located a desired
plant.; in fact, it should be stated that the best collector has
scouted the area weeks ahead of going to collect seed – this needs
to be a thoughtful and deliberative process. However, there may be
times when there isn't any 'wiggle' room – in that case, still
maintain a considered posture. Remember, a thoughtless collector can
wreck havoc on an ecosystem. There may be a whole field of your
desired plant over the next rise or around the bend in the road. On
the other hand, this plant may be the only one in the
whole valley – and should absolutely be left alone.
Furthermore, a plant common in one state may be a rare, protected
plant in the next state, or even the next county, so check with a
local California Native Plant Chapter first if in doubt.
Certain conservation practices are
always necessary. If a plant grows in large stands, never take more
than a third of the plants' seed. If it is a large, solitary bush or
tree, never pick more than a fourth of the seed. If the plant is an
annual, do not exceed these suggestions – perennials will have the
chance to set seed again next year, but even then, leave ample seed
behind.
Wherever you gather, presume that you
will come back the next year to the same place and find the plants
still healthy. Don’t make a common mistake of looking many days
for a plant, finding it at last, and taking a whole load of its seed
back with you – it’s like you are punishing the plant (indeed the
species!) for your frustration. And most seed collected in gobs and
gobs, mark my words, will go to waste. Do not collect beyond your
ability to deal with the result.
z Know a
few plants well, know what you will need
z Don’t
try for the record amount of seeds never planted (and in a year,
designated 'uncertain germination percentage').
Drying
Dry your seeds promptly upon return.
Lay the seed on screens away from direct sunlight in a dry place and,
above all, away from rodents and insects. Fear of insects and
rodents have spurred me to use my food dryer to do the job as quickly
as possible. Dry your seed as promptly as possible and, once dry,
place in paper envelopes or in glass jars.
Storing
Store your seeds in a dark, dry and
cool location, the darker, drier and cooler, the better. Make sure
your seed stock is insect free before storing. It can be terribly
disconcerting to find your stored seed has become insect larvae feed
and you have nothing to show for your work.
david
