How to Harvest Milk Thistle
- 1). Identify mature seed heads. Milk thistle seeds are mature when they change color from white or tan to brown.
- 2). Cut mature seed heads. Wearing heavy gloves to avoid the spines, snip the seed heads and place them in a basket.
- 3). Place the seed heads in a paper bag and set in a warm, dry location until they are dry.
- 4). Remove the seeds. When the seed heads are dry, lay them on a newspaper-lined tabletop. Wear gloves while removing the seeds. Sort out any leaves, stems or debris that get mixed in.
- 5). Store the seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.