Flax Seeds Harvest

I have started switching to the oil protein diet since last year. And I have been using both the seeds and the oils in my daily breakfast together with rolled oats; fat free quark; grounded almonds; and raisins.

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) is also known as linseed.


There are two colours of flax seeds you can find in the organic foods stores.


One type is in gold or light yellow colour (blonde linzaad in Dutch). Another type is in dark reddish brown. And they are both valuable seeds.

Since I am using them everyday; soon I was tempted enough to sow them in water.


Fresh flax seeds are 100% live seeds. Therefore they are 100% sprout-able.

• Easy to grow
  
  
• Low cost
  
  
• High yield
  
  
• Long flowering time
  
  
• Plant can stand very strong in stormy wind and heavy rain with one stake
  
  
• Most of the insects are not interested
  
  
• The dried-up plant will be a treasure in your compost bin
  
  
• You can add the fibre into your handmade weaving gifts.
  
  

        
How to Sprout Flax Seeds

Materials: Bio Seeds, a small glass bottle

Location: In house

Condition: Natural temperature 18.5 - 19°C

Period: From 6 March to 20 March

          
             Seedlings in Water
*21 seeds were sow in a small bottle of water on 6-3-2014 and they were sprouted in 2 days and developed further till the day 4 (Top picture 1 to 4).

*The seeds continued sprouting until three strong plants appeared on 20 March, the day 14 (picture 5-8).

Flax Seeds Plants Transplant Requirement

Location 1: A table-top at the North side of the garden hedge

Materials: A 5.5 inch Earth-Pot, a recyclable bio plastic bag, wooden stakes

Soil: Bio soil

Condition: Natural temperature  0.7 °C (lowest) to 37.4 °C (highest) from  20 March to 13 August;

Frequent showers and heavy wind
Light night frost fell on 24 March, 15 & 16 April

Growing Flax Seeds Task and Facts

1. Moved the whole tray of seeds outdoor; and transferred them into a black box of organic soil with a cover on 20 March (the day 14), when there was sunshine and the mid-day temperature reached 22°C (picture 8 to 9).


2. Three of the young plants continued their strong growth from 28-3-2014, the day 22 to 5-4-2014, the day 30 (picture 10 to 12).


3. Transferred Flax plant one to an earth-pot of Bio ground on 5-4-2014, the day 30 with a plastic bag wrapped over the whole pot as a protection for the night (picture 13).


4. Flax plant one was grown to a tall and solid plant on 15 May, the day 70 (picture 14 to 15).


5. Flower buds appeared on 1-6-2014, the day 87 (picture  16).

6. Provide a longer wooden stick as a support and the first flax flower bud appeared on 6 June, the day 92 (picture 17&18).


7. First purplish flower opened widely under strong sun and the stormy wind on 10 June, the day 96 (picture 19&20).


8. A total of 6 flowers showing together on 15 June, the day 101 (picture 21).


9. Harvested 5 flax seeds pods together with the stem on 22 July, the day 138 (picture 22).


10. New growth shown on 13 August, the day 160; after 22 days rest (picture 23&24).


11. A new flower bud was shown on 27 October, the day 235; when the mid-day temperature had fell to 14.9°C.

Location 2: A weed free raised bed at the center south side of the garden

Materials: a wooden stick and a plastic coded iron stake

Soil: Clayey loam

Condition:
Natural day temperature from 11.7 (lowest) to 26.3 °C (highest)
Frequent rain showers

Experience and Discoveries

1. A Flax plant was transferred to raised bed on 23 April, the day 48 (picture 25).
   
   
   
2. The garden flax had grown strong on 25 May, the day 80 (picture 26) with a short wooden stick.
   
   
   
3. The plant was slightly taller than the stick on 1 June, the day 87 (picture 27).
   
   
   
4. The plant was taller than the stick on 3 June, the day 89 (picture 28).
   
   
   
5. Give a strong plastic coded iron stick to the plant by the day 93 (picture 29).
   
   
   
6. Flower buds were shown on 13 June, the day 99 (picture 30).
   
   
   
7. The first flower bud was enlarged and 4 side shoots were appeared at the bottom of the plant on 18 June, the day 104 (picture 31).
   
   
   
8. The greyish green leaves were wide opened on 24 June, the day 110 (picture 32).
   
   
   
9. New shoots appeared in every leaf pocket on 25 June, the day 111 (picture 33).
   
   
   
10. The plant was 32 inch (about 81 cm) tall from soil level on 28 June, the day 114 (picture 35).
    
    
    
11. The first side shoot in the leaf pocket was expanded and the side shoots at the plant bottom had been expanded  the next day (picture 36&37).
    
    
    
12. A supper strong plant was developed on 30 June, the day 116 (picture 38).
    
    
    
13. The spiders came to make their nets between the leaves on 13 July, the day 129 (picture 39), when there was a cooling shower in the afternoon.
    
    
    
14. Plentiful of green seed pods were shown by the next day (picture 40).
    
    
    
15. The top of the flax plant was very heavy from 21 July (day 137), and more side shoots of flower buds were shown in between of the old shoots on 13 September, the day 191 (picture 41 to 44).
    
    
    
16. The plant was 45 inch (about 114.5 cm) in height from ground; and 22 inch (about 56.5 cm) in width on 7 August, the day 154.
    
    

17. Two beautiful light blue flowers came together on 15 September, the day 193 ( above picture 45).


18. The main shoot turned yellow on 1 October, the day 209 and eventually the whole plant changed to dark brown on 15 November, the day 254 (picture 47-48).


19. The last seed pods were collected on 28-10-2014, the day 236.

Flax Seeds Charm

I have harvested 166 Seed Pods (including 5 for the first potted plant, and 4 for the second potted flax) in total; a few were left on the plant for the over winter harvest.


Each seed pod contains 8 seeds (picture 59). So, I have 166x8= 1328 organic seeds in hand at the moment.

Happening During Budding and Seedling

• When one flower bud is formed, the second would appeared (picture 49).
  
  
• When the first flower is opening, the 2nd bud is formed; and the third is coming (picture 50-52).
  
  
• When the first flower gone into seeds; the 2nd one would open; and the 3rd bud was completed (above picture 53-56).
  
  
• The green seed pod appeared immediately when the flower is gone  (below picture 57).
  
  
• Seed pods are ready for collection when they are in deep brown (picture 57&58).
  
  
• Air them further in an uncovered glass bottle; before you keep them (picture 60).
  
  
  

Remove the pods when you wish to use them. In this way, the seeds will stay fresh for the a longer period of time.


Flax seeds are unlimited!