Question
Hello!  Recently my daughter and I collected some milkweed seeds from the 'wild' (the horse pasture on my Mom's farm).  We gathered them in late February from split pods.  We'd love to try starting milkweeds from seed, but everything I find online says they really ought to be harvested in the fall just before the pods open.  Then they are supposed to be refrigerated.  So does this mean the seeds we harvested are no longer viable, or does the fall collection and refrigeration just simulate what our seeds have already done naturally?  Thanks for your help!

Amy

Answer
Hi Amy,
Thanx for your question.  If you harvested the milkweed seed when the pods were split, you're okay.  Yes, the seeds will benefit from a cold treatment.  Your seeds are still viable.  Take the seeds and plant them in a small pot, cover with soil, dampen but don't leave it soggy.  Place the pot inside a plastic baggie and refrigerate (not freezer) for 60 days.  Return to  warmth and seeds should begin germinating in 10-20 days, some may take longer.  Or, you can plant the seeds out now in a seed bed and let the last couple of weeks of cold vernalize or cold treat them.  Either way will work.  I hope this helps.
Tom