From our perspective, the journey to creating seeds is our ultimate purpose. We begin as a vibrant, composite flower head, which you see as a single blue bloom. In reality, our flower head is a community of many tiny individual florets. The outer, larger ray florets are sterile and designed to attract your attention, and that of pollinators, with their brilliant color. The inner, tube-like disc florets are where the real magic happens. Each disc floret contains both male and female parts. After pollination, typically by bees and butterflies drawn to our nectar, each successfully fertilized disc floret will begin to develop a single seed, known botanically as an achene.
Timing is critical. You must learn to read the signs we give you. As the flowering season wanes, our vibrant blue petals will fade, wither, and drop away. The flower head itself will begin to change. It will turn a brownish or straw-colored hue and feel dry and papery to the touch. This is not a sign of decay, but of maturity. The green, fleshy base of the flower head, the receptacle, will also dry out completely. Most importantly, observe the seeds themselves. The fluffy white pappus (the parachute-like structure) attached to each seed will begin to emerge and expand from the center of the old flower head. When the entire structure is crispy dry and the seeds appear loose, that is our signal that we are ready. Harvesting too early, while we are still green or damp, will result in immature seeds that cannot germinate.
To collect our future generations, choose a dry, sunny afternoon when any morning dew has completely evaporated. We are most brittle and ready then. Using sharp, clean scissors or pruning shears, snip the entire dry flower head from our stem, placing it carefully into a paper bag or a wide bowl. Be gentle, as the seeds are now only loosely held. You may notice that some seeds already have their pappus fully extended. This is our natural design for wind dispersal. To separate the seeds from the chaff (the dried flower head debris), you can simply rub the flower head between your hands over your collection container. The seeds, which are smooth, hard, and oblong, will easily dislodge. The chaff and the fluffy pappus are much lighter.
Once the seeds and chaff are mixed in your container, you need to clean them. The simplest method is winnowing. On a breezy day, slowly pour the seeds and chaff from one bowl to another in front of a fan or outdoors. The light chaff and pappus will blow away, while the heavier seeds will fall into the second bowl. You may need to repeat this process a few times. After winnowing, spread the cleaned seeds in a single layer on a paper plate or towel. Leave them in a well-ventilated, dry, and dark place for about a week to ensure all internal moisture is gone. This final drying step is crucial to prevent mold during storage.
Now that we are clean and thoroughly dry, we require a suitable environment for our dormancy. We need to be kept cool, dark, and dry to preserve our vitality. Place us in a small paper envelope, which allows for breathability and absorbs any residual moisture. Clearly label the envelope with our name, 'Cornflower' (Centaurea cyanus), and the date of harvest. Then, store this envelope inside an airtight container, such as a glass jar with a tight-sealing lid. Place this container in a cool, dark place like a refrigerator or a cool basement. Stored correctly, we can remain viable, holding the potential for new life, for several years, waiting for the right conditions to grow and begin the cycle anew.
