How to Gather Liriope Seeds
- 1). Put on work gloves before gathering liriope seeds because the flesh of the berries will stain your skin.
- 2). Locate several clusters of liriope berries when they are beginning to shrivel slightly. Find berry clusters from several different plants to increase the diversity of the seed stock. Late summer is the best time to collect seeds.
- 3). Bend the flower stalk of the liriope plant so the tip is pointing at the ground. Slip a plastic bag over the end of the stalk so the berries are inside.
- 4). Hold the opening of the bag closed around the flower stalk. Grasp it with your hand using moderate firmness. Slide your hand along the stalk to knock the berries off into the bag.
- 5). Spread the berries over a portion of framed wire mesh, such as an old window screen. Place the mesh on a large, flat surface that receives direct sun for at least four hours a day. Allow the berries to dry out for five to seven days, or until they no longer feel juicy when squeezed.
- 6). Move the berries to a wire mesh colander once they dry out. Run water over the berries while pulverizing them against the mesh of the colander. Press the berries into the mesh with your hand and rub them in a circular motion to knock loose the dried flesh. Look for round, 0.5 centimeter-wide seeds with a light yellowish-brown coloring. Mature and viable seeds will have a dark-brown circular mark on one end.
- 7). Spread the cleaned seeds on the framed wire mesh again and allow them to drain for 24 hours. Store them inside a sealable plastic bag in a dark, dry place until springtime.