Treat and store seeds
Before planting or storing, seeds should be removed from any capsule, pod or fruit. Some may require drying to open. For example, leave manuka capsules and flax pods in a bag (not plastic) in a warm place and they will open and release the seed.
Kowhai seeds should be removed from the pod and will keep for some time stored dry. To break the dormancy, prick with a pin or cut the end with a knife and soak overnight. The seed that swells or sinks to the bottom of the container can then be planted and should germinate within seven days.
Capsules with sticky-coated seed should be dried then crushed to remove the capsule shell. Then mix with sand and rub between two pieces of wood to remove the stickiness.
For fleshy fruits, soak in water for several days to soften the fruit. Then hand peel or rub the seed over a sieve to remove the flesh. The pulp can be decanted off leaving the seeds behind. Dry the seed if it is to be stored.
Plants such as Coprosma, cabbage tree, mahoe, Pseudopanax, wineberry, pate and tawa germinate rapidly without cleaning and should be sown immediately.
The viability period of most seeds can generally be increased by storage in a sealed plastic bag in a refrigerator. But in general, fresh is best! Sow seed as soon as possible after collection. The exception to this is where it may be difficult to protect seedlings from frost. In this case, storing the seed until late winter may be a better option.