seed pod harvest time frame

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:37 pm

I know this has been discussed before, but I forgot the answer. I guess it would also depend upon the genus, and possibly even the species within the genus. I have about 30 pure Notocactus uebelmannianus seed pods. How do I know when they are ripe? I don't want to pull them prematurely, and by the same token, I don't want to wait too long. I also have numerous crossed up Gymnocalycium seed pods. How can you tell when Gymno pods are ripe? I remember last year I had some seed pods I didn't know about the time frame. They finally ruptured and the wind blew the seeds to kingdom come.. i don't want this to happen again this year.. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated..
Bill in SC

Turtleman · Post by **Turtleman** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:28 pm

Bill, as a rule that I use, I pull my pods just when they start to become dry, the pods wont have any soft/flesh to them, but there not "hard", then I cut them open or toss them in a blender. For me I've always had better germ rates with fresh seeds that dried ones. Usally a ripe pod will be able to fall off the host with a easy twish, some Notos will take a slight tug to pop them off.. The best way to make sure is pop one pod off cut it open and see if the seeds are black and plump.. if so rip the rest off and toss em in a growing media

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:20 pm

I harvested all the Notocactus uebelmannianus pods.. They were FULL of black seeds.. I harvested another Noto X cross, but the seeds were brown and immature. I forgot I just pollinted it a few days ago..

Bill in SC

Ken1983 · Post by **Ken1983** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 11:34 pm

I remember i plug the pods out when it starts to turn yellowish or losing its red.

Hmm, do you intend to sell those seeds?

Turtleman · Post by **Turtleman** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:26 am

I forgot I just pollinted it a few days ago.

LOL... yeah I forgot to mention to let nature take its course... get yourself a catalog,, start recording dates/months/conditions for harvesting, here in our heat Noto's take around 15 days or so to germ

faslimy · Post by **faslimy** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:29 am

if i can't pull the fruit off with very gentle force i usually leave them on the plant

Post by **daiv** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:28 am

faslimy wrote:if i can't pull the fruit off with very gentle force i usually leave them on the plant

That has been my experience too and I have been quite successful getting seeds to germinate. My problem is once they are happy little seedlings, I kill them off.

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 4:57 pm

Ken, hit me with a PM and I will send you some.. Probably send fine in an envelope. I need to extract them from the pods and let them dry good first though..
Bill in SC