Lettuce Seed

Lettuce plants bolting. 

Here are a couple different types of Lettuce plant flowers. I will let them dry completely before collecting the seeds. Or, maybe I will hang them up and collect seeds when I need them.

This is a Cilantro (Pakuchi) plant that bolted last year. I treat it the same way as I do Lettuce.

This is from a Sunny Lettuce plant that I collected two years ago. The Lettuce I'm growing now is from these seeds. It is still hanging there, but if you look closely there are not many seeds left. One plant can generate thousands of seeds. I could remove all the seeds and store them in a bag, but they are kind of pretty, so I let them hang.

Shikuwasa Seeds

Shikuwasa Seeds.

Shikuwasa Seeds

It is Shikusawa season and I got a few fruit from a local farmer. I have several trees and do not plan to start any more, but I get a lot of requests for seeds so decided to prepare a few for folks that ask for them.

Pakuchi (Cilantro, Coriander)

I planted some Pakuchi (Cilantro, Coriander) seeds today using seeds I collected from my October 2020 planting. There is still a small plant to the right, but it is flowering, so will get some more seed.

I planted these about a week ago. I sprinkled tons of seed and hope I get tons of Pakuchi.

I clipped these Pakuchi and Lettuce plants today and hung them upside down to dry. We are getting into rainy reason, so do not want to leave them outside too long. The Pakuchi seeds would have been fine, but the Lettuce seeds would have just washed away.

These are some seeds I gathered on 1 May. The plants had been hanging upside down for about a month to dry.

Passion Fruit (Yellow)

I planted Yellow Passion Fruit seeds last summer. The vines grew slowly until recently. I ran a rope along the beams to allow the vines to climb. I do not expect any fruit from these vines this year, but I should get plenty next year if the typhoons do not damage them too badly. 

I collected these Yellow Passion Fruit seeds a few months ago. I planted a few in a container on the side of my house, which are different from the vines shown above. I will add the leftover seeds to my seed stock. Yellow Passion Fruit seeds are quite large, a little smaller than a Watermelon seed, with an interesting texture. In fact, I think they are beautiful. 

Okra Seed

(01/10) I try and let a few plants grow to seed so I can collect the seeds for future planting. This is an Okra that started to split. You can seed the black round seeds inside.

Just this one Okra produced 43 seeds, which is enough for a whole season's planting. 

 

Blackberry Lily and Pink Caprice Seed Pods

Curious to notice how similar the seed pods of the Pink Caprice (left) and Blackberry Lily (right) appear.

Apple Mango Seed

(7/17) I planted this Apple Mango seed today.

Iris Flower (Seed Pod)

Today I noticed a seed pod of my Iris Flower plant. Iris flowers are so beautiful, so I plan to plant more using these seeds.

The seed pod should be left on the plant to brown and dry to ensure the seeds are mature. After removing the seeds from the pod, lay on a dry surface for a few days to ensure the seeds are completely dry before storing. To plant the seeds, soak in water for three or four days. Change the water everyday to prevent any fungal or bacteria growth.

Red Daikon Radish Seed Pod

I never collected the seeds from Radish (left) or Cauliflower (right) plants, but noticed today that not only due the flowers look similar, but the seed pods as well.

Nasturtium Flower and Seeds

Nasturtium are beautiful and easy to grow, not to mention every part of the plant is eatable. It tastes like Japanese spicy mustard, called Karashi.

Seeds grow in clusters of three. The seeds are a little more potent and taste similar to Wasabi. I eat them while working in the garden.

Bees love Nasturtium flowers. I wonder if the Honey is spicy?

Pakuchi (Cilantro, Coriander) Seed

My Pakuchi (Cilantro, Coriander) plant bolted and flowered. It now have seeds and will collect them once they dry and turn brown. I planted more Pakuchi from seed I gathered last season and placed the planter in my Herb garden. Pakuchi seeds can be dried and stored for future planting or powered and used as a spice. 

Tip: Cilantro seed pods actually contain two seeds. To encourage the seeds to sprout quicker, place the dry seeds in a towel and use a roller to break them up.  

Swiss Chard

Last weekend I bought some Swiss Chard seeds and plan to plant them in the planter I recently made. It is hardy, tasty and healthy, not to mention the color it adds to stir fries.

Swiss Chard tastes a bit like Spinach. but healthier. It is an excellent source of magnesium, potassium, calcium and other minerals that help control blood pressure.

Bitter Melon (Goya, Nigauri) Seeds

I was shocked to learn that the pod surrounding the seeds of Bitter Melons that have ripened are sweet. Of course, you don't want to eat the seeds, but instead of washing off the red seed pod, you can eat them. They are very sweet with no particular flavor. Then keep the seeds for planting.

Bitter melon seeds can be planted immediately or years later. They are a hardy plant.