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- Pick the pod before it pops, when it is big and plump, but not yet dried out. Usually there are a many pods on a plant and you can sacrifice one by peeling it open at the seam to peek inside. If the seeds are brown, they’re mature and ready to go. If the seeds are green, just leave the pod and check again in a few days.
- Have a clear plastic bag open and ready, just in case the fibers get away from you. If it looks like it’s about to become a mess, pop everything into the bag.
- Carefully peel the mature pod open from the stem end and grab hold of the white fiber bundle at the tip end and pull it free from the pod. This keeps all the fibers from fluffing loose.
- With the fibers held firmly, gently squeeze the seed mass and pull the seeds away. You’ll be left with a neat bundle of fibers.
- If you’re too late and the pods have popped and the fibers are fluffed, just place them in a bag. Crush the bag to break the seeds off from the fluff. Much of the seed will gravitate to the bottom of the bag.
- To get the rest that are still attached to fluff, take your project outside. Open the bag and gently pull the fluff out. It will fly everywhere (wind is not helpful). Cats, puppies and young children might enjoy this. Keep going until you are left with just a bag of seed.
- Seeds last longer when stored in a cool, dry, dark environment.
