Saving Trillium seed

[Len Rhind]

A few years back I recall Ian suggesting putting old tea bags over trillium seed pods to stop insects making off with the seed. I did that and was just checking to see if any were ready to harvest yet and the little buggers have eaten into the bags! Well eaten may be too mild a word as the holes in the bags looked as if they had been made with tiny acetylene torches! burned around the edges. Aaargh!

[Lesley Cox]

Maybe they prefer tea to coffee. Try those.

[Maggi Young]

Crikey Len, that's annoying. Kind of adds insult to injury over the theft, doesn't it? Amazing how determined these critters can be.
I wonder if covers made from horticultural fleece would be stronger?
Of course, then one has the problem of explaining why one is stitiching tiny duvet covers from fleece.... but hey, we know this game isn't easy! 

[Anthony Darby]

I used those little bags that certain washing machine tablets came with. I always thought the holes too big, but although seeds could fall through, they usually caught the capsule and kept the slugs and wasps out.

[Len Rhind]

Perhaps I can buy a tiny sewing machine at the same place the carpenter ants get their hammers and saws.

[Maggi Young]

Perhaps I can buy a tiny sewing machine at the same place the carpenter ants get their hammers and saws.

Not sure, Len... I think you might need a trade card to buy there......

[Lesley Cox]

Besides, if it's ants taking your seeds, the supplier of their tools may have an arrangement with them, like "no small machines to be sold to trillium growers."