Geraniums are a popular garden flower known for their bright colors and hardy nature. While geraniums are easily propagated through cuttings, collecting and sowing seeds is also a great way to multiply your plants. But what exactly do geranium seeds look like? Let’s take a close look at the anatomy, harvesting, and sowing of these tiny propagules.
Anatomy of a Geranium Seed
Geranium seeds are contained within seed pods at the base of spent flower heads. Each seed is tiny, typically 1-2mm long. The seed is oval and flattened, with a hard outer seed coat. Under this coat is the actual geranium embryo and stored food supply to help power initial growth.
The seeds are released from pods via a spring-loaded mechanism that forcibly ejects them up to 3 meters from the parent plant This ensures wider dispersal and avoids competition between offspring growing right underneath the original plant
Identifying Ripe Geranium Seed Pods
Timing is everything when collecting geranium seeds. Pick too early and the embryo will be immature. Too late and the seeds may have already ejected.
Luckily there are visual clues to identify ripe seed pods:
- The central flower spike as well as seed pods will darken from green to black/brown.
- Pods at the spike base will swell and become firm.
- Avoid pods that have split open, indicating seeds have released.
- Optimal pods will be rounded, dark in color, and still closed.
Different geranium species and cultivars have slightly different timing, but in general seeds ripen 1-2 months after flowering.
Harvesting Technique to Catch Seeds
Care must be taken when harvesting geranium seed pods. If handled roughly, the spring mechanism may prematurely eject the seeds and cause them to be lost.
Here are some tips for careful collection:
- Identify ripe pods and visually select those still closed and swollen with seed.
- Use scissors to snip the entire pod from the plant. Pulling may trigger seed dispersal.
- Gently cup your hand around the pod as you cut to catch any released seeds.
- Place pods in a paper bag labeled with the plant name and date.
- At home, spread pods in a shallow container to naturally eject seeds over the next week.
Storing and Maintaining Viability
Fresh geranium seeds can be sown immediately, but also store well for future planting. Place dry seeds in an airtight container and keep cool. Stored properly, geranium seeds can remain viable for up to 3 years.
To maintain viability
- Allow fresh seeds to dry fully before storage
- Keep sealed in an airtight, moisture-proof container
- Store seeds in the refrigerator or other cool, dark place
- Use a desiccant pack to absorb any humidity
- Avoid freezing temperatures
How to Sow Saved Geranium Seeds
Geranium seeds have a hard outer coat that benefits from scarification before sowing, This mimics natural weathering and helps soften the coat so moisture can penetrate and trigger germination
Here are some tips for sowing saved geranium seeds:
- Gently scratch or nick seed coats using sandpaper or a file. Take care not to damage the embryo.
- Alternatively, soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting.
- Sow pre-treated seeds shallowly in sterile seed starting mix.
- Cover trays or pots with plastic to retain moisture during germination.
- Provide bottom heat of 65-70°F if possible.
- Once sprouted, remove covers and grow on at 60-65°F.
- Transplant seedlings after 2-3 true leaves emerge.
Troubleshooting Germination Issues
Geranium seeds that fail to germinate may be too old, planted too deeply, or experiencing incorrect temperatures. To improve results:
- Sow fresh seeds soon after collection
- Ensure proper soil moisture but avoid overwatering
- Provide warm soil temperatures around 70°F
- Surface sow seeds and lightly cover
- Scarify or soak seeds prior to planting
With proper harvesting, storage, and sowing techniques, geranium seeds are a great way to increase your stock of these cheerful garden flowers. A close inspection of the tiny seeds will reveal the amazing botany powering geranium propagation.
Frequency of Entities:
geranium seeds: 20
seed pods: 5
flower heads: 2
ripen: 2
harvest: 3
sow: 5
propagate: 2
embryo: 2
dispersal: 2
viability: 2
scarification: 2
germination: 3
a.k.a. Dwarf Garden Geranium, Ivy Geranium
Tough, 10-18 in. tall plants with colorful, 4-6 in. flower-heads. Round velvety leaves with darker zone inside the scalloped leaf margin. Perfect for window boxes, hanging baskets or sunny garden beds.
Maverick geraniums are prolific producers of huge, shatter free 5-6 in. flower heads above lush, well-branched foliage. An outstanding performer in the garden, many experts believe this is the best series for 4-6 in. containers. The Maverick varieties we offer have all demonstrated tremendous heat tolerance, even in the Deep South. Plants grow 15-18 in. tall.
Compact, 14-16 in. plants with scalloped, chocolate-purple leaves edged in light green which retain their color even in extreme heat. Plants produce large clusters of stunning blossoms continuously from summer until frost. The BullsEye series is hardier than most other dark-leafed types. It’s also easy to grow and looks great in beds, borders, containers, or hanging baskets. Perennial in mild winter areas, and can be grown as annual everywhere.
Compact, 10 to 12 in. dwarf geraniums bloom early and heavily with 6 in. flower heads in cheerful, bright colors.
More Outstanding Dwarf Garden Geraniums
Heavy flowering geraniums with cascading, ivy-shaped foliage. Well-branched plants grow 8-10 in. tall, spread to 24 in. across. Ivy Geraniums are great to in hanging baskets for a stunning cascade of color.
Tornado is a better series of Ivy Geraniums than other seed grown varieties because it branches better and can handle more heat. Seeds need warm conditions to germinate and bottom-heat is recommended. Perennial in climates with little or no winter frost.
Harvesting and Storing Geranium Seeds
FAQ
What do seed geraniums look like?
Are geraniums easy to grow from seed?
What do Geranium seeds look like?
The seed pod on Geraniums are like long, thin spikes that develop out of dying flowers. Once dried, these pods break open to release seeds; some Geranium’s seeds look like oat seeds, while others look like pepper. How to Collect Geraniums Seeds? [Harvesting Steps]
When do Geranium seeds come out?
Wait for the geranium plant to bloom and produce seed heads. Geraniums typically bloom in late spring or early summer. Monitor the seed heads as they develop. They will turn brown and become dry when the seeds are mature and ready for harvest. Prepare a clean container, such as a paper bag or envelope, to collect the seeds.
When do geraniums Bloom?
Geraniums bloom from spring until fall and the seed pods start to develop after the flowers have started to dry out, usually appearing in pairs. When the seed pod is ready for harvesting, it will change color, going from green to brown. At this stage, the seed pod usually swells and starts to split open.
How do you know when Geranium seeds are ripe?
You know when the seeds are ripe when you start seeing white, feathery wisps like a dandelion puff. Geranium seeds have a spring mechanism inside the pod (which I’ll show close up later on). When the seeds are ripe, the plant will fling the seeds into the air so the feathery part will catch in the wind and carry it away.