From my perspective, the entire point of my vibrant, sun-seeking blooms is to attract pollinators and ultimately produce the next generation. Once my flowers are pollinated and begin to fade, the real magic starts. At the base of each spent flower, a small, green, oval-shaped ovary begins to swell. This is my seed pod, and my gift to you for the next season. You must wait patiently for it to mature. It will turn a papery, tan or brown color and will feel dry to the touch. The most crucial sign of readiness is when the tiny lid, or operculum, at the top of the pod begins to detach and you can see it starting to gap open. This is me telling you that my seeds are ready.
Harvesting my seeds requires a gentle and timely approach. I recommend you check on my seed pods in the late afternoon on a dry, sunny day. The heat will have caused the pods to open wider. Hold a small bowl, envelope, or piece of paper underneath the pod. With your other hand, simply snip the entire pod off its stem and let it drop into your container. If a pod is particularly dry and open, you may only need to gently tap the stem, and my tiny, dark, round seeds will sprinkle out like fine dust. Be careful, for I hold thousands of these minuscule seeds in a single pod, and they are eager to find new soil.
Even if the pods seem dry, I advise you to spread them out on a paper towel or a fine screen in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight for about a week. This ensures any residual moisture is gone, preventing mold from spoiling my future children. Once thoroughly dry, you can gently crush the papery pods between your fingers over a white sheet of paper to separate the seeds from the chaff. My seeds are tiny, black, and round, resembling fine poppy seeds. The white paper provides a good contrast, allowing you to see them clearly. You can then carefully funnel or pour the seeds into your chosen storage vessel.
My seeds possess a natural dormancy, a built-in survival mechanism to wait for ideal growing conditions. To preserve this viability, you must store them correctly. Place my completely dry seeds in a paper envelope or a small glass jar. Paper is ideal because it allows for any remaining minute moisture to wick away. Please label the container with my name (Portulaca) and the date of collection. Then, store this container in a cool, dark, and dry place. A cupboard or a drawer away from heat sources is perfect. Here, my seeds will sleep soundly through the winter, waiting for the warm soil and sun of next spring to signal them to wake up and grow.
