How Do I Naturally Dry Flower Seeds So I Can Store Them for Winter?

Overview

If you're looking to recapture your garden's beauty for next year, there's a cheaper way than purchasing new seeds every spring. Saving your flowers' seeds through the winter to use again next year is a simple and thrifty way to duplicate last year's gardening success without having to start over. This simple process is well worth the minimal time it takes to ensure that next year's garden is as beautiful as the year before it.

Step 1

Cut flowers off at the stem before the petals begin to fade and wilt.

Step 2

Tie a string around the stems and hang the flowers in a cool dry place.

Step 3

Allow the flowers to air-dry for 24 to 48 hours.

Step 4

Remove the flowers from where they are hanging and shake them over a bowl to capture the seeds. Some pods may need to opened up with your hands to release the seeds.

Step 5

Spread the seeds out over paper towels and leave them to finish drying in a cool dry place for at least a day. If you want to speed this process up, spread the seeds across a baking sheet and place them in the oven at 100 degrees for 6 hours.

Step 6

Place like seeds together in airtight containers and label them accordingly.

Step 7

Place the containers in a cool dry place until next spring.