How to Remove Chaff from Seed

Lay the seeds in a thin layer over a mesh screen or fabric sheet to dry in a cool, dry place that offers excellent air circulation. If the seeds are still attached to stalks or stems, an alternative is to hang them upside down to dry for several days over a plastic tarp or bare area or enclose them in paper bags. The tarp, bare area or paper bags will collect mature seeds released from the seed heads.

Place the seed material over a wire mesh screen or sieve with openings larger than the seeds. If you have multiple wire mesh screens or sieves with different opening sizes, start with the screen or sieve that has the largest openings.

Lay paper or fabric sheeting or a plastic tarp under the wire mesh screen or sieve to catch the seeds as they fall through that item.

Rub the seed material gently between gloved fingers or hands or against the wire mesh screen or sieve, breaking the seeds from capsules or otherwise separating them from chaff. Removal of the non-seed material allows the seeds to fall through the screen's or sieve's openings.

Collect the seeds that fell through the screen's or sieve's openings, and repeat the rubbing process if you want to use multiple mesh screens or multiple sieves of differently sized openings. Work your way from the screen or sieve with the largest openings to the screen or sieve with openings just large enough for the seeds to fit.

Check whether or not a substantial amount of small pieces of chaff made it through the screening or sieving process. If many pieces did, then turn on a fan, and put on safety goggles. Pour the seeds and remaining debris from one container into another container in front of the blowing fan while you stand behind or to the side of the fan. Pour the seeds back and forth between containers in front of the fan several times until most of the chaff has blown away. In many cases, this process also works to remove light, non-viable seeds.

Sow the cleaned seeds or place them in an envelope, paper bag or fabric sack labeled with their plant's description, their collection date and any other pertinent information. If the seeds are totally dry, they can be placed in an airtight container. Place stored seeds in a cool, dry spot until you are ready to sow them.