Seed envelopes
Rodger Whitlock (Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:40:34 PST)
On 16 Feb 2012, at 11:20, Jane McGary wrote:
I keep two sizes of these envelopes handy, as the larger ones can be stuffed
with whole capsules for drying and later cleaning, and then reused. I get
them at office supply stores, but they're getting harder and harder to find,
especially in multiple sizes.
I prefer the plastic tubs that yogurt, sour cream, and similar edibles are
packaged in, for drying seed before cleaning and packaging. I just put them on
in a spare room where they get no direct sun in the summer, and have good air
circulation. It's not practical to label these tubs, so I put a slip of paper
in each one with the name of the plant on it.
Even the tiny plastic containers used for coffee cream, sides of salsa, and
such in restaurants are usable for small amounts of seed, but some of these are
on the top heavy side.
Be sure your cat doesn't take a flying leap up onto the surface the tubs of
seed are sitting on! My Cuddles got yelled out and forcibly thrust out of the
room when she did that in a fit of enthusiasm for peering out a window she
normally doesn't get acess to.
For really bulky collections, brown paper lunch bags work very well, or even
full sized brown paper grocery bags. Staple them shut if the plant likes to
explode its seed when the capsules dry. Yes, alstroemeria, I'm referring to you.
--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Z. 7-8, cool Mediterranean climate