This year I do not have very many seed pods so I want to make sure to get every single one. In years past, I have always waited for them to brown and open. June to the first of July lots of pods. Then it seemed overnight the next time I checked due to critters or insects, many pods were gone. Most pods I have now are going on 40 days. Is there a point in time (like now) that I could cut the scapes at the bottom? Take the scapes indoors, place them indoors in a vase with water and plant food. I have tried shaking the scapes, I do not think I hear the seeds, but my hearing is not the best!

Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome!

May your blooms be many, happiness overflowing and your troubles non-existent!

It is likely you could harvest some/all the seeds now at 6 weeks/42 days. You don't have to wait until the pods are brown. I have harvested viable seeds at 35 days when necessary.

You could always protect the few pods you have with little mesh baggies that would catch any seeds released (and scare away birds):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078249Y7C/

Never tried this myself, but have been considering it as I also have precious few seedpods. In the scenario of abundant seedpods I do not think it would be very practical. But that is only a scenario I greatly wish to be encumbered by.

Orion...Thank you so much for that idea and link. I have three pecan trees which causes lots of squirrels. They must think of the pods as nuts because they take off with everything.
If I wrapped them they would think I was bagging the pods/nuts for them. Carryout!
Now if they could be trained to plant them in rows.

Dave...I was thinking I could take a chance. However, if seed viability is diminshed, there really is no difference between missing seeds or seeds that did not sprout...end result is zero. Wondering if harvesting the scape which is green, keeping it hydrated buys a little more time. I know that tomatoes once slightly pink take no more nutrients from the plant, but watermelons can not be picked early they have to ripen on the vine. I am hoping seed pods are like tomatoes...but I am looking for confirmation.

May happiness surround you!

Many thanks for the acorn.

I have had pods broken off, put a portion of the scape in water like you suggest and have gotten viable seeds. I don't know just at what stage they were in, but it took another week or 2 before I took the seeds out. I have pets that often knock off pods, usually the ones I especially anticipate

I, too, have put broken pods in water and they produced viable seeds. I have also used mesh to cover pods and protect them from animals. It has worked.

for the acorn and good luck with your pods!

I am feeling like the tomato!

May your day be simply wonderful!

Thank you for the acorn

So glad to see this thread! I think some of my seed pods will be ready to harvest about the time that I am taking a trip. I was wondering about what to do to make sure they didn't drop on the ground.

@SunriseSide, Dave, I didn't know that they could be harvested early. Do you get a pretty good rate of viable seeds when doing this?

Due to the fact that I'm working on lates and very lates in fall there are often very late pods to harvest even if they are not really brown and dry. Usually this is not a problem if the seeds inside the pods are dark black - they germinate without problems in the spring. Only if they are light or medium brown they do not work.

@Nightlily I understand once black they are viable. Do you check the color of the seeds outside while on the scape? If so, how do you do that? Slightly crack it or cut a little piece of the pod away?

Then for the big question.... Have you ever brought indoors scapes with brown or whiter seeds and placed those in water/ fertilizer and eventually gotten black seeds?

What is the procedure for those with lates or shorter growing seasons?

Sometimes I have a brown pod, black seeds, but the seeds have not detached from the pod. I let those dry longer in the house to release. Maybe I am drying them too long.

May today find you healthy and happy!

Altheabyanothername said:@Nightlily I understand once black they are viable. Do you check the color of the seeds outside while on the scape? If so, how do you do that? Slightly crack it or cut a little piece of the pod away?

I usually take them in before the weather gets really nasty and wet - because the will mold if left longer. I open the green pods and pick out the seeds - then I dry them for 2-3 days and put them in the fridge. Brown or pale seeds I just do not use.

Altheabyanothername said:Then for the big question.... Have you ever brought indoors scapes with brown or whiter seeds and placed those in water/ fertilizer and eventually gotten black seeds?

Unfortunately I have no experience with this idea.

Altheabyanothername said:
What is the procedure for those with lates or shorter growing seasons?

Usually I do my last crossings at the beginning of September - the last flowers open in October but it makes no sense to do crossings that late.

Altheabyanothername said:Sometimes I have a brown pod, black seeds, but the seeds have not detached from the pod. I let those dry longer in the house to release. Maybe I am drying them too long.

I don't let the pods dry - I harvest and open them as soon as they look like this:

From pollination to seed maturity is around 47-57 days (that includes an extra day between pollination and fertilization). The seeds are white for 15 days, about 5 days after that they have a brown seed coat. It is a few days after that that the black coat develops. Not sure if that helps any but that is from the anatomy and physiology chapter of the AHS 2002 New Daylily Handbook.

@sooby That is helpful info! I almost pollinated three blooms yesterday...but did not because of the heat. Now I wish I had, because I had the chance of three pods. I could have taken one pod and scape at 15 days, one at 20/21 days, and one at 30 days. Put those in water/ fertilizer. See if they turn black by 47 to 57 days. Refrigerate and later plant out for a viabilty check. Maybe my stars will align quickly I will get a few more reblooms to experiment with.

May every day find you with happiness and good health!

blue23rose said:
@SunriseSide, Dave, I didn't know that they could be harvested early. Do you get a pretty good rate of viable seeds when doing this?

Yes, I have to pick pods before they crack open to go north or they will be "toast" when I return. I leave them in the pod until I have time to open the pod, dry the seeds and refrigerate them.
Only rarely do I find non-black seeds. Mushy and shriveled seeds get tossed

Thanks for the info, Dave! My seed pods are still very green since I just did them on 7/2, but I will definitely either harvest them before I go on vacation in August or get some mesh to capture the seeds.

Wow - this was a great thread full of new information. Thank you all so much.

Karol Emmerich routinely cuts scapes and puts them in water to mature. She says the need to be a good grape sized and you have to make sure they stay in water. Lol I've seen a picture from her greenhouse - buckets filled with scapes