Topic: sweet pea seed collection

[Lavender lover]

I grew some lovely sweet peas in my baskets this year but the seeds were rather expensive.
The flowers have started to turn to pods now but how do I go about removing and keeping the seeds?
Do I remove them now or wait till they dry out on the plant?
Thank you!

[Lesley Jay]

You need to let the pods dry on the plant. Store the seeds in an envelope rather than a polythene bag.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Keep them cool as well. I put seeds in a tin with some silicone desscator, and leave it in the shed.

[Baaaaaaaa]

I wait until the pods are brown, crispy and fat. Shell them and keep in a paper bag/sheet of newspaper until Nov. then sow in pots ready for next year.

[Lavender lover]

Thanks for your replies.
I'm now on the right course.

[Toadspawn]

As the pods get ripe you will need to cover them with a paper bag or similar (not polythene). When they are fully ripe the slightest touch will cause the pods to open explosively and twist causing the ripe seeds to be violently dispersed. It is sometimes preferable to cut the pods off the plant before fully ripe and put them in a paper bag in a dry place. Any seeds shed will then be caught in the bag.