When do osmanthus seeds generally mature?

When osmanthus seeds mature

Osmanthus seeds are drupes, long oval-shaped, with ridges, and they mature from late May to early June. When mature, the outer skin turns from green to purplish-black and falls from the tree. The seeds can be picked from the tree or gathered from the ground, but you must collect them as soon as they fall; otherwise, the dry spring climate will cause the seeds to lose water easily and lose their value for sowing. Osmanthus seeds are physiologically after-ripening type; only after a relatively long period of sand storage, once they complete the after-ripening process, can they germinate and sprout.

Treatment of osmanthus seeds

After collecting osmanthus seeds, you will find that some cracked seeds have sticky flesh. If left piled together like this, within three to five days they will rot and become moldy, losing their usefulness. Therefore, you can mix the seeds with mud and sand and rub them to wash away the flesh.

Storage of osmanthus seeds

The storage of osmanthus seeds differs somewhat from that of other seeds. After washing, osmanthus seeds can be mixed evenly with sandy soil; note that the water content of the sandy soil should not be too high. It should reach the degree where it forms a ball when squeezed in the hand and crumbles when the hand is opened. Throughout the entire storage period, the sandy soil must be kept moist, avoiding dryness. In winter, pay special attention: the humidity of the sandy soil should not be too high, otherwise freezing will occur and cause frost damage to the seeds.