Moon Vine – Harvesting Seeds

Q: I’m the community moon vine grower. What’s the process for harvesting and storing the seed until next March?

A: Moon vine, Ipomoea alba, is a great annual vine. I love how the big white flower opens late on summer afternoons, spends the night attracting pollinating moths and then wilts by mid-morning the next day. The seeds can be harvested each fall and kept until planting time in late April. I wait until each purple/green pod has dried completely and then crack it open to find 1 – 4 ivory-colored seeds inside. Keep dry and cool until next spring.