How to Collect Bleeding Heart Seeds: A Step-by-Step Guide

Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is a stunning shade plant beloved for its graceful dangling blooms. With their pink, white and red flowers, they bring charm and elegance to cottage gardens, borders, containers, and woodland areas.

If you want more of these beauties collecting and planting bleeding heart seeds is an easy way to get them. With a little know-how you can harvest your own seeds and grow new plants for free.

In this guide we’ll walk through the simple process of bleeding heart seed collection. Follow these steps and you’ll soon have an abundant supply of seeds for propagating bleeding hearts across your garden.

When to Harvest Bleeding Heart Seeds

Timing is important when gathering bleeding heart seeds. Wait until the seed pods are fully mature before collecting them. This typically occurs in mid to late summer.

Watch for these signs that the seeds are ready for harvest:

• Seed pods turn from green to light brown.
• Pods begin splitting open and exposing the seeds inside.
• Seeds appear plump and black when pods split open.
• Plants start going dormant as the flowers fade after blooming.

It takes around 6-10 weeks after the plants finish flowering for the seed pods to completely ripen. Monitor the pods closely and use these visual cues to know when it’s time to harvest.

Collecting the seeds too early reduces viability, so it’s worth waiting until pods naturally start opening. This indicates the seeds are mature enough for the best germination rates.

How to Remove and Collect Bleeding Heart Seeds

Once the seed pods crack open, it’s go time! Here are the steps for removing and gathering seeds:

1. Identify Dried, Split-Open Pods

• Inspect your bleeding heart plants and look for seed pods that are dried out and beginning to split open. They should look papery and be light brown in color.

2. Snip Off Pods

• Use pruners to carefully clip pods from the plant as close to the stem as possible. Avoid yanking pods off forcefully.

• Place freshly cut pods in a labeled paper bag or envelope for easy collection.

3. Remove Seeds from Pods

• When indoors, firmly sandwich pods between your fingers or gently pry open with fingers over a bowl. Seeds should release easily.

• Alternatively, you can use tweezers to gently open pods and extract the seeds if needed.

4. Transfer Seeds to Airtight Container

• Pour intact, undamaged seeds from the bowl into an airtight glass jar or plastic container labeled with the plant name and harvest date.

• Avoid storing seeds when they are too moist or wet. Excess moisture encourages mold growth.

And that’s it! With these simple steps, you’ll have a batch of bleeding heart seeds ready for drying and storage.

Drying and Storing Bleeding Heart Seeds

After harvesting, bleeding heart seeds need to be thoroughly dried before storage. Here’s how to dry and store them properly:

• Spread seeds in a single layer on coffee filters or paper towels. Avoid clumping.

• Place seeds in a well-ventilated spot out of direct sunlight. Near a window works well.

• Allow 1-2 weeks for seeds to fully dry. Gently turn or stir them periodically to ensure even drying.

• Seeds will turn from black to a very dark brown when completely dry and ready for storage.

• Transfer thoroughly dried seeds to labeled envelopes or glass jars with airtight lids for storage.

• Store containers in a cool, dry spot like a refrigerator.

• Use seeds within 1-2 years for best germination rates. Properly stored bleeding heart seeds can potentially last for several years when refrigerated.

Good air circulation, low humidity, and cool temperatures are the keys to effective seed storage. Follow these tips and your bleeding heart seeds will stay viable for future sowing.

Choosing the Best Bleeding Heart Seed Pods

When collecting seeds from your plants, select only the highest quality pods for the healthiest seeds possible:

• Seek out undamaged, disease-free pods that show no signs of rot or mold.

• Prioritize the first set of pods that emerge, as they often contain the most vigorous seeds with the best germination potential.

• For mature plants, the first pods that develop usually have the strongest seeds compared to later pods.

• Collect pods only from plants labeled with the correct name if growing heirloom or hybrid bleeding heart varieties.

• Consider leaving a few intact pods on the plants as well. This allows some natural self-sowing to produce volunteers next season.

Focus your seed collecting efforts on the most robust, earliest pods produced on mature plants. But even seeds from younger plants can yield successful results.

Germinating and Growing Bleeding Heart Seeds

Bleeding heart seeds require exposure to cold, moist conditions in order to break dormancy and trigger germination. Here are tips for sprouting them successfully:

• In late winter, sow seeds indoors in containers and place in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks. This cold stratification mimics winter conditions.

• After stratifying, move seeds to a warm, sunny indoor spot at 65-70°F and keep the medium evenly moist.

• Seeds should begin sprouting within 4-6 weeks after stratification once moved to warmth.

• When seedlings develop 2-4 true leaves, transplant them outside after the last spring frost. Space plants 1-2 feet apart in dappled or partial shade.

• With proper care, bleeding heart grown from seeds will produce flowering plants within 2-3 years.

Stratifying bleeding heart seeds tricks them into thinking they’ve experienced winter, allowing germination to occur come springtime. Follow this process and you’ll be rewarded with baby bleeding heart plants.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are some potential issues and how to address them if you encounter problems:

• Seeds failing to germinate: Stratify seeds longer, use fresh seeds, or sow more thickly.

• Moldy seeds: Reduce drying time, dry seeds further, or store in drier conditions.

• Seedlings stalled after germinating: Increase light exposure, maintain even moisture, or repot into larger containers.

• Seedlings dying after transplanting: Transplant more carefully to avoid root damage, water frequently after transplanting, or harden off seedlings.

With attentive care and patience, you can overcome many common hiccups that may arise. Don’t get discouraged!

Enjoy an Abundance of Bleeding Hearts

Growing bleeding hearts from seeds takes time but yields rewarding results. With a few simple harvesting and sowing techniques, you’ll soon have little seedlings on the way.

Collected seeds perpetuate cherished bleeding heart varieties already thriving in your garden. And they make great gifts for fellow gardening friends!

Before you know it, you’ll have bountiful bleeding hearts to grace shady beds, borders, and woodland gardens. Just be sure to save a few seed pods each summer. You’ll be glad you did!