stilldew said:Found this thread interesting because I have had problems getting Tithonias to germinate for me. Sounds like I'm not alone. May try them again this winter. I did love the one I was able to grow.
I have been watching Tithonia dry up on the plant. It seems you have to let them really dry out, and make sure the flower remains so it is pollinated. And, make sure you get them before the Goldfinches do!
The seeds are very "tickseed" like, with little hooks on the side-- I suppose like Tickseed, they like to get stuck on animals so their propagation will go far and wide.
This year, I made sure the stems were brown, and the flower pod super dried up before I picked them. Also, viable seed will have a little "pregnant, bumpy area" as I call it.
Good luck.... would love to trade seeds for the yellow variety. I haven't got that one yet. But, today, at the start of Hurricane week here in NJ, I have a big job tomorrow in staking my Tithonias back up!
Pat, Fair Haven, NJ Zone 6
