I have a lot of Zinnia's that i have taken off the main stem and taken apart and I don't knoe the easiest way to get the seeds out of the pile because seems like there are seeds and then just a simple dried flower stem along beside them. I have been using tweezers but there has to be an easier way. I am seperating seeds for four familys. Does anyone out there have a simple way?

thank you,

Charly

I grow a row of mixed colored zinnias that is about 100 ft long plus some other colors in beds throughout my yard and save all my own seeds for the next year.  I just pick the seed heads and put them in a mesh bag.  I don't separate the seeds at all.  When I'm ready to plant I just take my fingers and break the flower heads apart, throw away the stems and center and plant the seeds chaff and all.  I always have excellent germenation and have been using this method for over 10 years.  I think having the chaff included with the seeds makes planting easier because I can see where I've planted the seeds when I put them in the ground.

I also give my zinnia seeds away and just tell the people I give them too the chaff is included so it looks like I just gave out a ton of seed but most of it is chaff.  This year everyone I gave seed to told me they had good luck with their seed.  I wish I had a picture of all my zinnias.  They are just beautiful and are so easy to grow. 

I'm a lazy gardener, I just couldn't imagine taking tweezers to seperate the seed from the chaff.  Seed companies have machines that do that.  I try to save as many seeds from my flowers and vegetables that I can to save money.   I've always had great results with the seeds I've saved, probably better germination than what I buy. 

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Thank you so much for your answer, makes my tweezer fingers rest easy.  I know that some of the head of flower is seed and some isnt so thats called the chaff. Never knew that.  I planted some very pretty sunflowers (the ones for flower beds) and have saved the seeds for next year.  This year I picked some seeds (or heads) of yellow daisy's.  Can't wait to see them next year.  Maybe you can answer this question there are several actually many seeds that I have and the flowers are still alive. Is it possible to cut the flower let it live like a cut flower and when its dead get its seed, or do I need to wait til they die outside. Some of my biggiest flowers are still bright and pretty and dont want to miss those seeds.

Thanks

Charly