When and how should I harvest Aquilegia formosa (columbine) seeds? My plant is long past bloom and the seed pods are drying out. Should I harvest the pods or seeds? Harvest them now or wait until they dry out?
According to Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants by Robin Rose (Oregon State University Press, 1998), Aquilegia formosa seeds can be harvested “from June to August […] as soon as the seeds heads are dry and come off easily by hand. Gently crush the dried heads to release the remaining seed […] Seeds can also be collected by cutting the fruiting stalk and placing in a bag before the follicles open. Dry the follicles in the bag for a few days and separate the seeds by shaking the bag.”