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What Do You Need to Harvest Sweet William Seeds?

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) flowers from midspring until the first fall frost, and it often returns the next year with more pink, white or red blooms. Although it's perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, the plants are short-lived. Fortunately, sweet William readily grows from seed, and it can self-seed in the garden. Saving your own seed using the proper tools gives you control so you can determine the number of new plants your garden needs.

  1. Seed Collection Bags

    • Sweet William flowers produce seeds after the petals wilt and the pod becomes dry and brittle. The brittle pod can split open before you have a chance to harvest it, spilling the seeds in the garden. A small cloth bag made of mesh or cheesecloth prevents seed loss while still providing the air circulation the pods need to mature fully on the plants. Slip the bag over the top of the flowers as the petals begin to droop and secure the bag closed loosely around the stem. The bag catches the seeds if the pod splits before you can harvest it.

    Seed-Separation Tools

    • After harvest, you must remove the seeds from the pods. The pods split evenly with gentle pressure from your fingernail. Collect the seeds in a wide shallow bowl. Chaff, which consists of nonseed plant matter such as pieces of the pod, may also fall into the bowl. You can pick the chaff out by hand or use the bowl and a floor fan to separate it. Toss the seeds gently into the air in front of the fan; it blows away the nonseed material, and you catch the falling seeds in the bowl.

    Drying Tools

    • The seeds dry almost completely on the plant, but further drying ensures maximum storage life. You don't need expensive tools to dry these seeds. A tray lined with paper towels or wax paper is sufficient. Spread the seeds out in a single layer and set them in a dry, dark place for up to one week. Stirring the seeds daily is usually recommended when you dry seeds, but it isn't necessary when drying small sweet William seeds because they aren't wet and don't stick to the tray.

    Storage Supplies

    • Proper storage ensures the longest viable life for the seeds. Although commercial seeds are sold in paper packets, a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid is preferable because it keeps out almost all moisture and humidity. This results in a longer storage life. If you do use a paper packet, select one with a wax coating to provide some water resistance. You also need labels for the jar or packet to detail the harvest year and any specifics about the sweet William plants, such as cultivar, size or color. Store the seeds in a cool, dark place until spring planting.

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