Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Harvest Grass Seed

...
ornamental grass seeds image by Michael Shake from Fotolia.com

Grass seed harvesting does not have to be a complicated task. The most important factor is waiting until the seedhead has matured before detaching it from the plant. Cut too early and the seed will not be viable and will not germinate. Take time to let the grass grow and the seedheads to fully mature, and you will be rewarded with plump mature seeds.

Stop mowing the lawn if you are trying to harvest a patch of lawn grass seed.

Allow the seedheads to develop completely until they are plump and drying out; typically it takes 20 to 30 days for seedheads to ripen after flowering.

Cut the stems of the seedheads 2 to 3 inches below the bottom of the seeds. Hold the seedhead carefully to keep the seeds from falling out.

  • Grass seed harvesting does not have to be a complicated task.
  • Allow the seedheads to develop completely until they are plump and drying out; typically it takes 20 to 30 days for seedheads to ripen after flowering.

Place the whole cutting into a paper bag. Loose seeds will fall to the bottom of the bag. The seeds that stay in the seedhead will continue drying until they are ready to fall out.

Store the closed bag of collected seeds and seedheads in a cool and dark place away from the danger of pests. Shake the bag vigorously after six to eight weeks. Pour out the seeds into a container. Remove the extra plant material and store the grass seed in an airtight container. The seeds should be ready to use the next growing season.

  • Place the whole cutting into a paper bag.
  • Loose seeds will fall to the bottom of the bag.

Tip

Quite a bit of seed can be harvested from a healthy patch of lawn growing in full sun, and it should not take too long in the middle of summer. Treat the grasses like a garden plant. Don't walk on them. Ornamental grasses will go to seed naturally. Seeds will lose their green, fresh look and take on various shades of brown, gold and orange when they get near harvesting time. The seedhead also will take on more of a papery feel as it dries.

Warning

Do not pack the seeds into the storage bag or they could sweat and mold.

Related Articles

When to Plant Grass Seed in West Virginia
When to Plant Grass Seed in West Virginia
How to Spread Buffel Grass Seed
How to Spread Buffel Grass Seed
How to Germinate Grass Seed Using Epsom Salts
How to Germinate Grass Seed Using Epsom Salts
How to Sand Over Grass Seed
How to Sand Over Grass Seed
How to Harvest Adenium Seeds
How to Harvest Adenium Seeds
How to Grow Monkey Grass From Seeds
How to Grow Monkey Grass From Seeds
How to Know When Sunflower Seeds Are Ripe
How to Know When Sunflower Seeds Are Ripe
How to Propagate Lupine
How to Propagate Lupine
How to Plant Winter Rye Grass in California
How to Plant Winter Rye Grass in California
How to Let Grass Grow to Seed
How to Let Grass Grow to Seed
How Long Is the Oat Growing Season?
How Long Is the Oat Growing Season?
How to Harvest Echinacea Seeds
How to Harvest Echinacea Seeds
How to Get Rid of Grass Stickers in a Yard in Florida
How to Get Rid of Grass Stickers in a Yard in Florida
Garden Guides
×