Foxgloves reliably self seed in the garden but should you want to sow your own, harvesting your own foxglove seeds is a simple process that takes very little time and most importantly, saves you money!
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My Favourite Flower
It is very difficult for a gardener to declare their favourite flower, there are so many beautiful ones to choose from, but I can say without reservation or hesitation…the Foxglove is mine! There are runners up of course, the Lupin is undeniably a close second and I can’t deny I have a soft spot for the daintiness and romantic mist of Chamomile. But the foxglove is Fairytale! The way they bow and sway in the breeze…just wonderful! They are quintessentially English and I love them!
Foxglove Characteristics
Foxglove is a well known cottage garden flower which produces tall spikes of flowers, generally between June and September. A favourite of the bees these statuesque, whimsical plants can reach heights of 2 metres tall in the right conditions.
The leaves are an elongated oval shape with a hairy like texture. The Flowers are mostly pink, purple, yellow and white with darker coloured spots that present on the lower lip of the flowers.
Sweet Folklore Legend – Did you know? The speckled markings on foxglove flowers were once thought to be the footprints of fairies sheltering from the rain.
Why You Should Save Foxglove Seeds
Collecting foxglove seeds from your own plants is a great way to propagate new plants for the garden at zero cost to yourself. You can control where you want your foxgloves to grow and you can also gift seeds to friends and family.
How To Save Foxglove Seeds
Foxglove seeds form in pods at the base of spent blooms. When the flowers die back mid-summer, oval green pods with a pointed end are revealed.
Let the seed pods mature and dry out on the plant. This will take place over the Summer period and maybe into early autumn. The Foxglove stalks and seed pods will brown and have a crisp like texture.
When To Harvest foxglove Seeds
Foxglove seeds can be harvested as soon as the brown pods begin to crack. I like to collect the seeds mid-morning after the morning dew has evaporated.
Don’t wait too long!
Or the pods may split and spread their seeds, before you’ve had the chance to harvest them. If you’re worried about this happening, cover the pods with a cheesecloth or fine net bag to catch any fallen seeds.
How To Harvest Foxglove Seeds
To Harvest foxglove seeds cut the entire stem from the plant. You can place the stems in a brown paper bag and give them a shake to disperse the seeds, or simply pop the individual pods with your fingers and release the seeds. Make sure the seeds are completely dry before storage, to make sure, spread them out on newspaper for a few days in a dark dry environment.
How To Store Foxglove Seeds
You want healthy viable seeds so proper storage is essential. Pop them in an envelope and store them in a dry place away from any moisture. Foxglove seeds should remain Viable for at least 2 years.
Foxglove Varieties I recommend
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Foxglove Digitalis – Dalmatian F1 White
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*Foxglove plants contain toxic cardiac glycosides. Ingestion of any part of the plant, leaves or seeds can result in severe poisoning. Symptoms include nausea, skin irritation, headaches and diarrhoea. Please handle with care and be mindful of where you choose to plant it.
