When the seed pod (ovary) eventually ripens, it
will turn a purple colour - although some do remain green. When the
pod is mature the point where the pedicel joins the pod will become thicker
and show signs of swelling, or rotting. It is at this point that the
berry should be removed from the plant, although it may have already dropped.
This is why a coloured twist tie is placed around the pedicel when
carrying out the hybridizing procedure - so that the pod can easily be distinguished
from others on the ground if it should fall.
When the seed pod is removed it should be placed on a sheet of white paper and cut in half. With white paper seeds are more visible. The paper will also absorb some of the moisture that will come from the seed pod.
With a sharp knife or scalpel (I prefer a scalpel)
carefully squash the seed pod. The seeds which are quite hard and normally
dark brown (although sometimes they remain green) can be scraped to the side
of the paper, which will absorb the excess moisture. Seed pods can
contain many seeds, a single seed or none at all - even in a seed pod that
appears to be ripe. Pay particular attention to the area where the
pedicel joins the ovary because sometimes a single seed may be found there
in a pod that appears otherwise empty.
The seeds vary in size, some are very small whilst
others, such as those obtained from F. procumbens, can be quite large. Seeds
obtained from species fuchsia will produce plants true to that species,
unlike the seeds that are produced when crossing two distinctly different
cultivars (hybridizing). As can be seen from the photo (right) the
seeds are very small when compared to a 5p piece. Some hybridizers
store these seeds until the spring of the following year, when they are then
germinated. I sow the seeds immediately after they are harvested.
The seeds are placed around the edge of the pot, if there are only a few,
or sown across the surface. On some occasions there may be too many seeds
for one pot. If this is the case then either use several pots or sow
seeds in a tray. The compost will have already been watered with 'Cheshunt'
compound, which is a copper sulphate based fungicide. Once the seeds
are pushed into the compost they are then given a light spray with the same
fungicide and a plastic tumbler is placed onto the pot to maintain humidity.
Germination times vary. 
After germination takes place
ensure that the seeds are 'pricked' out before they become over crowded.
At each stage the pots must be correctly labelled with the cross. Each
seedling from that cross must also be labelled when pricking out and
potting on takes place - the system I use is shown on the label in the article.
Therefore if there were twenty seeds they would be labelled Seed Parent x
Pollen Parent *1 to *20.