How do I know when to harvest my Castor Seeds? I live in zone 9, Metairie, La.

Here in zone 4 we wait till after the first frost.
You definately want to wait until the seed pods are dry. Then just shell them out of the pods.

I just wait for the spiky seed pods to split, then pick and harvest. We always get lots of volunteer plants the next year, too, which replace any mature plants that die from occasional freezes, etc. I lived just south of you on Lafourche Bayou for more than 14 years, Castor Beans grew like weeds. Getting ready to plant a few here in Florida, too. Good Luck!

What do you do with the seeds?I always heard that they were poisen in fact I think they are illeagal here in So. Calif. ,Dutch

In Southern California, Castor Beans grow wild in waste places. Aside from being a beautiful plant, the seeds are poisonous, and are also used to make castor oil. I have not heard that they are illegal.