Money Plant - Lunaria - also known as honesty - grown for pleasure and not for profit.
The money plant is biennial - leaves in the first year and flowers in the second year. For continual flowering plants you need to plant the seeds for 2 consecutive years.
After flowering the plant develops the "money" - a flat seedpod that starts out green and turns to a transparent colour. In the photo above you can just see the green "money" appearing. The seed pods also resemble the moon, hence the name lunaria. Let these dry on the plant till they are a darker brown.
Cut carefully and remove stems. The seeds easily pop out of the transparent "money". The seeds can be left to drop in the garden and will germinate quite easily the following spring. Seeds may also be started inside by sprinkling them on top of the dirt. They will germinate in 10 to 14 days.
The money plant is biennial - leaves in the first year and flowers in the second year. For continual flowering plants you need to plant the seeds for 2 consecutive years.
After flowering the plant develops the "money" - a flat seedpod that starts out green and turns to a transparent colour. In the photo above you can just see the green "money" appearing. The seed pods also resemble the moon, hence the name lunaria. Let these dry on the plant till they are a darker brown.
Cut carefully and remove stems. The seeds easily pop out of the transparent "money". The seeds can be left to drop in the garden and will germinate quite easily the following spring. Seeds may also be started inside by sprinkling them on top of the dirt. They will germinate in 10 to 14 days.
When you cut the stems of seed pods, be careful. Each pod consists of 3 layers. The outside layers can be carefully removed to reveal the lighter, transparent middle layer. The seeds will fall away with the outside layers. The stem and middle layers can then be used in dried arrangement. The pictures to the left shows the two outside layers, with seeds, that have separated from the middle layer.You will get an abundance of seeds each year. I always sprinkle some seeds around the main plant so that Nature can do its thing and grow new plants for the following year. Seeds can also be stored in a cool, dry place for swapping or trading with other gardeners.
Print one of these seed labels to go with your seeds.
This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication on my personal blog, Sow Then Grow
Print one of these seed labels to go with your seeds.
This post was written by Crafty Gardener for publication on my personal blog, Sow Then Grow
