taking seed!!!

[mullein2]

i have some clary sage coming to the end of its flowering time..have never had any before i grew it from seed and it took two years to flower...if i run my hand down the flower stem its all knobbly and little buds come off ..obviously these are seeds..do i have to dry them and sow them next spring?? or could i sow them now in the ripe state?? if i dont remove them will they self sow??the same question also applys to my purple loosestrife that is also coming to an end..its a shame we cant do a seed swop..

[Robinia]

Hi mullein!  I've consulted my herb bible (RHS Encyc)  & it says to sow the clary sage in spring but it will self sow in sandy soil.
The loosetrife will also self sow in moist conditions but can be sown in spring or autumn.
Personally I think I'd do a few now & see what happens & then do some more in spring if necessary. Don't do what I do & forget to label the seeds! 

(oh wow there was huge dragonfly in the garden just now!)

[mullein2]

thanks...robina my rhs herb encyclopedia also says sow in the spring..but about a month ago i cut one clary sage down as it was finished..and their is new life in the roots and lower leaves..so it looks like that bit will turn into a perrenial..i shall try some seed now and in the spring..i dont label seed i am not organised with bits of paper etc..when i was at the botanical gardens the other week i saw a few seeds hanging on plants..well i took them and have sown them ..by the time i got home i had forgotton what they were..so they will be a surprise..