Self Saved Coriander Seed

[Ananke]

I finally got around to de seeding the dried plants I saved this year. The coriander seed didn't seem quite right to me, very light and easily cracked between my finger and thumb with some light pressure.

The seeds I normally plant are smaller and harder than these so at first I thought this was a husk and the seed would be inside so I got in there with my fist and broke them up (eeks) but they just halved in two so I think i've probably ruined 3 quarters of my seed.

I've sown a few of the unbroken ones into a pot to test them but I just wondered if any of you more experienced seed savers could tell me if coriander seed is normally like this.

[Shadylane]

Just had a look at some of my seed and it does break in two easily if you squeeze with your fingers. Try chitting them in a plastic tub with damp kitchen roll, they'll germinate quicker, then you'll know if they're any good. The broken ones should be ok as it sounds like you've simply separated the husk from the seed.

ETA As well as saving seed I generally shake the plants all over the plot in the autumn, then I get plants popping up when it warms up. They seem to do a lot better than the ones I sow my self in the spring.

[Ananke]

Thanks Shady, I like the idea of shaking them in the autumn.

The ones I squished broke in two but no seed came out, looked like the seed broke in half too, i'll grind those ones up for cooking and sow the rest.