The foxglove grows as a short-lived to two-year-old perennial. So the desire to collect and save seeds of the plant is quite understandable. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Find out how to do it here.
How do I collect foxglove seeds correctly?
To collect foxglove seeds, wear protective gloves and cut stems from the plant in the fall. Shake gently over newspaper to catch the seeds. Let them dry and sow them in summer.
Which foxglove seeds can I collect?
You can collectseeds purchased from garden shops or from specimensfrom your own garden. The three varieties of foxglove native to Germany are protected. Accordingly, collecting seeds from freely growing specimens is usually prohibited as it would endanger the natural existence of the plant. These three species are typically native to Germany:
- Red foxglove (digitalis purpurea)
- Large-flowered foxglove (digitalis grandiflora)
- Yellow foxglove (digitalis lutea)
When can you collect foxglove seeds?
You can collect foxglove seedsin early fall. After the foxglove has bloomed, the flowers initially wither. The plant then produces seeds. As soon as these are ripe, they spread through the surrounding area via natural self-seeding. If you instead collect the seeds and treat them professionally, you can use them to grow new plants. However, there is one thing you should definitely keep in mind at this point: Just like all parts of the foxglove plant, the seeds of the perennial are also poisonous.
Which protective measures should I take into account?
WearProtective glovesandClothing with long sleeves The toxins contained in the plant cannot only find their way through the mouth find into the body. They can penetrate the organism through mucous membranes or open areas of the skin or cause irritation on normal skin. By using protective clothing you can prevent accidents and stupid accidents.
How do I collect?
Cutthe entirestem of the plantin autumn andshakethen carefullyover a newspaperThis way you can quickly and easily collect the small seeds on the paper without losing many of them. You can then dry the seeds. When growing the foxglove with the collected seeds, you should also pay attention to the following things:
- the light germinators should not be covered with soil
- As a cold germinator, the seeds must not be kept too warm
Tip
Take advantage of sowing in summer
By sowing in the summer, you give the seeds plenty of time to prepare for the coming spring. The perennial doesn't bloom in the first year anyway. So you don't waste any time with this planting time.
