Harvesting Kale seed?

[atash]

I have a crop of Tim Peters' "Western Front" kale going to seed. It's coming down to the last few blossoms. Lots of pods.

What is the sign that they are at an ideal point to harvest? Will the pods split open if I let them go too long? Or like many domesticated crops, do they no longer scatter their own seed?

Also, do they ever produce sterile, unfertilized seed that will need to be separated out? What will it look like? Some of the pods are rather thin and I am suspicious that they didn't get fertilized.

Much obliged for sharing your expertise.

[ottawagardener]

I don't know the ideal time but I harvest seed pods when they are dry and tan. I believe they do shatter when left too long.

[bluelacedredhead]

I agree with OG.

[orflo]

Some shattering occurs, it depends a bit on the variety, and the harvest time. You have to make sure the pods have turned brown, and if you press them they should open up quite easily.
Even when turning brown, pods can still be thick and are ideally left on the plants for another few days, it's easier to dry the seeds . Most brassica seeds ripen off unevenly, you can harvest the seeds during a few weeks, or wait until most of them are ripe, and take the risk of having lots of young brassica plants on that spot. Also , take care, birds love the seeds, I need to cover them up thoroughly!

[atash]

OK, good, thank you all. Looks like I have some time left. I will watch them, and when they start turning tan, I'll start feeling the pods.

[extremegardener]

I'm a big fan of Tim Peters' kales!
There's a post with photos about harvesting kale seed on my blog

theextremegardener.com/blog/?tag=kale

We have a very wet climate, and I find I get best results by harvesting the entire plants a bit on the green side onto a bedsheet, and let them finish ripening and drying in an open shed. I usually cut the plants at ground level to avoid jostling them over much, but I think it would be most ideal to pull them up by the roots so that the seed could draw energy from the entire plant instead of just the stalks while it's finishing in the shed.

[raymondo]

Handy to know that harvesting a little green still produces good seed. I live in a summer rainfall part of Australia so things can get a little wet around harvest time.