After the flower has finished, you can either cut it and hope more flowers will come on the same plant, or you can wait and harvest the seeds that will be ready in about one month.
To harvest, do one of the following:
- Let Nature do it: When the plant has withered to a lonely brown stalk, and the seed head is bowing towards the ground, it's time to think about protecting the seeds from birds, squirrels and losing some as they drop to the ground. A brown paper bag or a plastic citrus bag (small holes) covering the head will do the trick. You want to look at the back of the heads. When they turn brown, it's time to cut and harvest.
- Get 'em Early: when the back of the head turns yellow, cut the stalk about a foot below the head. Find a basement, attic, shed, back room or someplace to hang the heads. You may want to cover. They are ready to harvest when you can run your hand over the seeds, and they pop right out.
