From my perspective, a carnation plant, my entire existence builds towards one magnificent purpose: reproduction. My vibrant, fragrant flowers are not for your enjoyment alone; they are my sophisticated advertising system. I use color and scent to attract my perfect partners—bees, butterflies, and other pollinators—to ensure my genetic legacy continues. Once a pollinator visits, transferring precious pollen from another flower to my stigma, the magic begins. The fertilized ovules within my ovary begin their miraculous transformation into seeds, each one a tiny capsule containing the blueprint for a new carnation life. Allowing this process to complete is the most respectful thing you can do for me.
After my petals have wilted and fallen away, my work is far from over. The base of my flower, the ovary, begins to swell. This is the seed pod, my fruit, developing. It is crucial that you do not deadhead me at this stage! If you cut me down, you terminate my entire reproductive mission. Leave the spent flower heads on my stem. Over several weeks, this small, green pod will mature, changing color, often to a light brown or tan, and it will begin to dry and harden. This indicates that the seeds inside, my children, are nearing maturity and preparing for dormancy.
When my seed pod is thoroughly dry and papery to the touch, and you can hear the seeds rattling faintly inside if you shake it, the time is right. This is the moment of harvest. Carefully snip the entire pod from my stem. I have spent my energy packaging these seeds perfectly for survival. Place the pods in a simple paper bag or envelope; never plastic, as any residual moisture could cause my seeds to mold, ruining them. Gently crush the dry pods between your fingers to release the small, dark, disc-shaped seeds. Separate them from the chaff (the pod fragments) to ensure purity.
My seeds are now dormant, a state of suspended animation. They require a cool, dark, and absolutely dry environment to remain viable until the next growing season. Place them in a new paper envelope or a glass jar, and clearly label it with my variety and the date. Store this container in a place like a pantry or a drawer. The constant, cool temperatures of a refrigerator are ideal, as they mimic the natural winter conditions my seeds would expect before sprouting. This careful storage protects my genetic material, preserving the potential for a new generation of my beauty.
