>> sometimes dont know what the seeds look like
I have that same problem almost every time. At worst, I clean them, then do a fast germination test on different parts. Just wet coffee filters in stackable glass bowls, but sandwich baggies are as good as bowls.
Often, what I think is chaff still has lots of viable seeds.
(Here's a "trick" that didn't occur to me for ages. Did you save any seeds from the original packets? That's what they look like! So it really WAS useful to save almost-empty packets, or to label carefully whatever was left over.)
Can I find that website that publishes tiny pictures of many seed varieties? No, but I CAN find the Stickies in the Seed Forum!
The Ultimate Resource for Seed Collectors
http://theseedsite.co.uk/db1.h...
Thank you,
@Joannabanana!
>> or when they are ready.
Yeah. One rule of thumb is "let them ripen on the vine as long as possible". Expect the seed head or seed pods to look brown and fairly dead when fully ripe. In my climate, I wait until the Fall drizzle starts, then everything rots, then ripeness doesn't matter.
Since you have a variety of plants, I'd suggest picking a few where you have a fairly good idea what the seeds are, or the heads better be ripe because they sure look dead. Grab one head from each of those varieties, and fiddle around with dissecting them to see what you can see. Take your time rather than push the first year.
During this time, you'll learn which varieties look innocent for weeks, and then all drop their seeds overnight and giggle at having fooled you. THOSE jokers are for next year, maybe with organza bags, maybe not until you want more of a seed-snatching-challenge.
Maybe, when you see a variety looking brown and sad, pluck one seed head and dissect it. If anything is small, dark and hard or plump, they might be ripe seeds. Collect a few more heads.
Once you're fairly sure of 1-2 varieties, and they do seem ripe, collect a bunch and continue drying indoors.
But if you have no rain expected and no heavy dews, why not let them ripen a little longer?
Many plants will plain fall apart when the seeds are ready, to get them started roaming.
If you have to pull at something to release it, it might not be ripe, or it might not be a seed.
Sometimes you'll hear them rattle in their pods when "ripe".
Often seeds change color from pale to dark (maybe they have an agreement with the birds that spread them, to leave the pale ones alone for a few more weeks).
If they drop when ripe, well ... wait until they drop and then collect them just a few days earlier.
Or watch closely, every day, and grab them all as soon as a few "pop". Or bag some with organza bags to catch the seeds when they drop. Or put out plates or boxes or something to catch some when they drop.
I think it's a learning process, but more experienced people may have better advice.
Do you have any Delphiniums? I grew some Pacific Giants. They held the seeds in little cups forever, and I let them sit there forever. . I knew they were plenty ripe because I brushed against it and they rattled like a baby rattle. I put a big cardboard box under the flower spikes, leaned them over one at a time and just POURED the seeds out into the box. Black, hard, plump shiny seeds without a trace of chaff.
Can't beat that with a stick!
