How to finish seed pod ripening indoors?

[Hosta12_Ia]

I already lost (too late) the ONE seed pod on my Gunther's Pride. What is the sugar/water ratio for finishing them indoors? Also, does the color of the pod have anything to do with what you might get? As in, striped pods vs. plain colored? I'm going to try growing some this winter. Thanks!
Jo

[thy]

Have you lost one to frost or for split opening or ?

Striped pods are told to be the best.

Do not think I have seen a reciepie but just a bit of sugar and change the water oter are my sugestions

Some may tell you more formal

pia

[DBoweMD]

1 tsp sugar to 4 ounces of water.
You will have to freshen it up occasionally, as mold will grow in that.

[Hosta12_Ia]

Thanks Pia and Dave!
Jo

[Don Rawson]

Here's a link that may be helpful: http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/host ... 15030.html

[Hosta12_Ia]

Thanks Don!

[HostaDesigner]

Honestly, do you have to do anything special? I was given pods very, very early in Late August/Early September several years ago from Regal Rhubarb. They were just plucked from the plant and dried. I still grew seedlings from it just fine. Was I just lucky?

[Chris_W]

I think we are talking about pods that haven't been on the plant at least 5 to 6 weeks, such as things that have been recently pollinated.

I agree, though, you don't have to do this for anything that formed pods a long time ago. We will cut down scapes and put them in bags and they seem to continue on their own for a while and then open up as the stems start to dry out.

[dmi188]

Hoping to try the sugar water for my tiny DB that bloomed about a month ago. Picked a lot of pods today, put them in envelopes to continue drying.

Surprisingly, I have pods on Swirls, that I got from Chris last year, and one pod on Geisha. I also have a streaked pod on Francee, which has a few streaks in the leaves. Hoping for the best!! (Have a streaked seedling this year from a somewhat streaked June.)