Question
I live in coastal South Carolina. I have a Wisteria (tree form) loaded with seed pods. 1. How do I tell when they are ready to be cut down? 2. How do I treat the pods? e.g. dry out before opening? etc. 3. How do I plant the seeds for success?

Answer
Hi Tom,
Thanx for your question.  The wisteria pods should be allowed to dry out and then plucked off of the vine before they burst open completely.  The seeds resemble beans because wisteria is a legume.  The seeds germinate rather easily.  You can plant them about 1/2 inch deep in a pot of moist but not soggy potting soil.  Germination occurs in 7-15 days.  Allow the seedling to grow true leaves (the first leaves are seed leaves) and transplant to separate pots when they are 3 or 4 inches tall.  After the last frost or at least 45 days before the first frost, put the seedlings outdoors in a shaded, protected place so they can acclimatize themselves to the outdoors and then you can plant them wherever you like as long as it gets full sun 6-8 hours a day.  I hope this helps.
Tom