Seeds That Grow in Pods

Pods give seeds a layer of protection.

Pods give seeds a layer of protection.

Split a green bean and you can see the seeds within, nestled in the bright green pod. Not all plants pods are as obvious as the common green bean, though. Seed pods are everywhere, as thousands of plants reproduce by growing seeds in pods that provide protection from the elements. You can collect seed pods and leave the seeds safely within until you're ready to sprout or plant.


Flowering plants often produce seed pods after the flower has died. The pods usually start off with a color matching the plant stems, but then turn shriveled and brown as they age. The seed pods of flowers should never be collected before they're dry and ready to be harvested. The Hosta (Hosta spp), for example, flowers and produces seeds after the blooms fall from the stems; the pods can then be collected and used to create new Hosta plants.


Both flowering and non-flowering trees can produce seed pods. Flowering trees usually grow the seed pods near the flower, like flowering shrubs and bushes. Many tree seed pods hold hundreds of seeds in a single pod. Sycamore trees, for example, are about the size of golf balls, but have hundreds of seeds attached to a cotton-like fluff that catches the wind, helping the seeds move from one place to another.


Some vegetables are actually functioning seed pods. Green beans and other legumes, peas and even pod corn. One type of corn has seeds that are protected by the husk and an additional layer of protection over each individual corn seed. There are many edible seed pods, including rose hips and radish seed pods.


Collecting seed pods is an easy task. The seed pods of the almond tree, for example, can be plucked from its branches and stored until you’re ready to start planting. Most pods can be pulled from a plant by hand or if necessary, with pruning shears. Sticky or prickly seed pods require protective gloves for careful handling. Storing seed pods requires a cool, dry space that doesn’t receive much light, such as a cloth sack or any other breathable container. The pod should stay in perfect shape until you’re ready to crack it open and use the seeds within. When you’re ready to plant, the seed pod is cracked open to remove the seeds. Seeds in fleshy pods, like fruit, may require scraping away all the excess flesh before germinating.

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