Should I remove fuchsia seed pods?
Q Should I remove the dark berries that look like seedheads on my fuchsia or leave them on?
Bernard Biles (via email)
A These are seedpods, so I would remove them otherwise the plant will concentrate all its energy on ripening the seeds, rather than producing late-flowering buds. If you are feeling adventurous you could try harvesting the seeds and growing your own plants.
However, there is no guarantee that seed-grown fuchsias will resemble the parent plant as they are prone to mutation – unlike cuttings, which will be identical to the parent.
To grow fuchsias from seed you need to remove the seeds from the pods when they are ripe. You can tell when they are ready because the pods will be soft and squishy to the touch.
Scrape the tiny seeds from the sticky flesh inside the pods and place them on kitchen paper to dry. This may take a week, after which they should be stored somewhere dark and dry.
Next spring, sow the seeds on °seed compost and leave them uncovered as they need light to germinate. Stand the pots of compost and seeds in water, then place somewhere light and warm – 18°C is the ideal temperature. Keep the compost damp, but not soggy, and seedlings should appear within weeks,
