How to Collect Milkweed Seeds

Milkweed seeds are ready to be picked! How do I know if they're ready? What kind of milkweed is best for my garden? How do I store them and when do I sow?
All those questions are answered here in this in-depth beginner's tutorial on how to collect milkweed seeds.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:28 Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa
03:55 Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata
07:25 How to Collect Seed
11:09 Planting Seeds
14:00 Recap
WINTER SOWING PART 1
• Winter Sowing: Part 1
WINTER SOWING:PART 2
• WINTER SOWING SUCCESS!
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[@maciannm]

I appreciate your nuance in telling us which plants you would not recommend for the home garden and why.

[@lisalikesplants]

You're so welcome! I want everyone to have success. 🌱🌱🌱

[@Jeffswildlifeadventures]

Lisa you have a very cool style and cram a lot of information in your videos. Keep up the great work!

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks Jeff! That means a lot. ☺️

[@notoots]

This is so great! I learned a lot!

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks noToots!

[@ksdj1]

Excellent information and very well presented!

[@lisalikesplants]

Thank you so much! Glad it was helpful.

[@jshkrueger]

I collected common milkweed seeds this past year from some volunteer plants in my yard.
I tried a few things to remove the fluff from the seeds. The best method that worked for me is removing all the seeds and fluff into a big Rubbermaid tote (I had a lot of pods lol). I then put some stones in there (lava rock in my case, but I've heard others use coins in a smaller container) and closed the container. Then I shook the whole thing around, keeping the lid held on tight. I shook it upside down, side to side, shake, shake, shake.
Then I took the tote outside on a windy day. I opened the lid, and the fluff started pouring out into the sky. It was magical and beautiful to behold. I did have to jump in there a couple times and stir it up a bit, as the large amount of seeds and the few stones were holding some of the fluff down.
I was left with a ton of clean seeds in the bottom of the tote. Definitely the way to go if you have a large amount. I got enough seeds to fill an old Prego spaghetti sauce jar. Making seed bombs to throw them out into unmowed ditches and fields here soon. I've kept them in the freezer the past 3 weeks. I didn't know they needed MOIST stratification, but still gonna give it a shot with the seed bombs. I'll probably test a few for viability, first.

[@lisalikesplants]

Wow! That's a ton of seeds! Great job! 🌱🌱🌱

[@jshkrueger]

@@lisalikesplants Thanks! Just doing what I can for the monarchs and biodiversity. I learned a few months ago that common milkweed is an important food source for over 450 species of bugs and insects. Then to think of the predatory insects and birds who are feeding on them....🤯. It's such an important plant.
I used to see milkweed everywhere when I was a kid. It's not so common, anymore. Trying to change that.

[@mamaearth35]

I'm so glad I found your channel - informational and funny, win-win! I learned a lot in this video and after harvesting some milkweed seeds in NW Missouri (I live in Alabama) -- I guess I did a bad, bad thing?! I didn't even know the type! But after watching your video, the seeds are likely from a common milkweed plant. They're sitting in the fridge right now. In your opinion, is it okay to plant these in the South?

[@lisalikesplants]

Thanks so much for the compliment on the channel! ☺️
Common milkweed is asclepias syriaca, and you can find out the native range by asking a search engine "asclepias syriaca BONAP" or "asclepias syriaca native range" and it will show you a map. It grows in a lot of places so it's likely native where you are, but that is how you can check.

[@mamaearth35]

@@lisalikesplants That's super helpful - thank you very much!