After the Day of the Dead celebrations, it is common to remove the flowers from the offerings and altars to refresh the spaces. However, before discarding them, you can take advantage of some of them to obtain seeds and grow new plants at home. Thus, the cempasúchil that accompanied your loved ones during these dates can have a second life in your garden.
This process is simpler than it seems, though it is important to choose marigold flowers that have ripened and are completely dry. According to the SecretarÃa de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, the seedscan be extracted once the flower is well dried and stored in a cool place until the next planting season.
To obtain them, you need to identify the small elongated structures found at the center of the flower, carefully separate them, and store them dry. Next, we will tell you how to carefully remove the seeds from your cempasúchil flowers so that you can seed again next year.
How to Remove Cempasúchil Seeds from Your Flowers
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Let the flowers dry completely: Before removing the seeds, make sure the heads of the cempasúchil are completely dry. They should look wilted, with brown tones and a crunchy texture. If the flowers are still damp or retain fresh parts, allow them to finish drying in a well-ventilated space protected from moisture.
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Remove the petals and open the center of the flower: When dry, hold the base of the flower and carefully separate the petals to expose the central part. You can do this with your fingers and gently press the calyx to release the seeds without breaking them.
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Identify and separate the seeds: The seeds of the cempasúchil are elongated, slender and dark-toned, with a small lighter part at one end. They are attached to the base of the petals, so you will need to separate them carefully and remove the remnants of dry flowers that remain between them.
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Let them dry again: Once you have collected the seeds, spread them on a tray, plate or surface covered with clean paper. Leave them in a dry and ventilated place, away from moisture, until you are sure they do not retain any water. This step is important to prevent mold from forming during storage.
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Store the seeds for the next season: When they are completely dry, place them in a paper envelope and then store it inside a glass jar. Try to keep it in a cool, dry place protected from light, and also label the container with the name of the flower and the harvest date. This way you can preserve them until the next sowing period.
When Should Cempasúchil Seeds Be Sown?
According to the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, cempasúchil can be sown in pots or directly in the ground, preferably between April and July, so that the plants grow and bloom in time for the Day of the Dead celebrations. However, if you want to cultivate it at home, you can start sowing your seeds from the early months of the year, since Mexico’s climate allows its development in different seasons.
The reason farmers typically follow that period is that they aim to schedule the growth of the flowers so they are ready during October and November, when demand rises. Also, the agency recommends using seeds from wild species when no more than six to eight months have passed since harvest. To start cultivation, scatter the seeds on soil or substrate, cover them with a thin layer and keep moisture through careful watering, without waterlogging.
When the seedlings are about a month old and have developed their first true leaves, you can transplant them to their final place. If the flowers you used are from hybrid varieties, the plants that grow from their seeds may not retain exactly the same size, color or characteristics of the original flower. Still, saving seeds is an option to try to grow new cempasúchil at home and take advantage of the flowers of each season.
