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Dandelion Seeds
About...
Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale) - What many consider to be an obnoxious weed is actually a versatile drought tolerant herb that many gardeners enjoy in their herb gardens! Dandelion seeds will grow everywhere, and they are easy to establish and maintain in xeriscape gardens. The leaves are dark green, long and lance-shaped.MORE HERB OPTIONS
Herb Specifications
SEASON
Perennial
USDA ZONES
3 - 10
HEIGHT
4 - 12 inches
BLOOM SEASON
Late spring to early fall
BLOOM COLOR
Yellow
ENVIRONMENT
Full sun
SOIL TYPE
Rich, moist soil, pH 6.1 - 8.5
DEER RESISTANT
Yes
LATIN NAME
Taraxacum Officinale
Planting Directions
TEMPERATURE
68F
AVERAGE GERM TIME
14 - 28 days: some seed may take up to 60 days
LIGHT REQUIRED
Yes
DEPTH
Surface sow and thinly cover seed
SOWING RATE
15 - 20 seeds per plant
MOISTURE
Keep seeds moist until germination
PLANT SPACING
12 - 16 inches
Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale) - What many consider to be an obnoxious weed is actually a versatile drought tolerant herb that many gardeners enjoy in their herb gardens! Dandelion seeds will grow everywhere, and they are easy to establish and maintain. The leaves are dark green, long and lance-shaped. The Dandelion herb plant grows from a tightly formed rosette and has a deep, twisted tap root that is rather brittle and breaks easily; however, it makes it quite drought resistant and a great water conservation plant. The yellow flower is well-recognized and grows on hallow stems that reach 4 to 12 inches in height.
Bright yellow blooms
Dandelion flowers do not need to be pollinated to form seed. The seeds are often carried away by wind and float around like tiny parachutes.
Herb seed | Dandelion
Flower Specifications
Dandelion herbs are a widely used in the kitchen. The leaves are best when they are tender in the spring and again in the fall. They are packed with nutrients like vitamins, beta-carotene, iron and other minerals. Dandelion leaves are often added to tossed salads and the taste is very complementary to other greens. The leaves can also be steamed or sauteed with other vegetables for a side dish. The flowers are used in wine making, and the taproot is edible as well.
- Sowing Rate: 15 - 20 seeds per plant
- Average Germ Time: 14 - 28 days
- Keep moist until germination
- Attracts birds, bees and butterflies
- Surface sow and thinly cover
- Use for xeriscape gardening where water conservation is a must
How to grow
How To Grow Dandelion From Seed: Start Dandelion seeds directly outdoors. Cover the herb seeds lightly and keep them moist. Position the Dandelion drought tolerant herb plants in full sun in your xeriscape herb garden.
- Height: 4 - 12 inches
- USDA Zones: 3 - 10
- Season: Perennial
Herb Specifications
SEASON
Annual
USDA ZONES
5 - 9
HEIGHT
20 - 24 inches
BLOOM SEASON
Mid summer to early fall
BLOOM COLOR
Yellow
ENVIRONMENT
Full sun
SOIL TYPE
Well drained, dry, rocky, poor soils
DEER RESISTANT
Yes
LATIN NAME
Cnicus Benedictus
Planting Directions
TEMPERATURE
70F
AVERAGE GERM TIME
14 - 21 days: if no germ move to 39F for 4wks, recycle
LIGHT REQUIRED
No - should be planted in darkness
DEPTH
1/4 inch
SOWING RATE
1 - 2 seeds per plant
MOISTURE
Keep seeds moist until germination
PLANT SPACING
12 - 15 inches
Blessed Thistle (Cnicus Benedictus) - Blessed Thistle seeds are grown as a medicinal herb. The herb is native to the Mediterranean area and has been used for centuries as a cure-all herb. The Blessed Thistle plant is an attractive annual that is freely branching with toothed leaves that have spines. In mid-summer, thistle-like yellow flower heads are produced. The entire plant, stem, leaves and flower heads have a light down covering.
The flowering tops, leaves, and upper stems are used to make medicine. Young tender leaves can be eaten, or dried leaves can be used to make teas. The Blessed Thistle herb has been used to treat numerous ailments over the centuries, including the plague. Today it is used to promote milk production in lactating women and for menstrual problems.
How To Grow Blessed Thistle: Sow Blessed Thistle seeds directly outdoors in the spring after danger of frost has passed. Blessed Thistle grows best in an area of the garden that receives full sun. The ground must offer good drainage. Harvest before it flowers. Plant can be cut back by 1/3 and harvested 2 - 3 times during a growing season. If a few flowers are allowed to go to seed, it will re-seed for next year's use. Birds also enjoy the seed, so some gardeners recommend gathering the herb seeds and sowing it to ensure next year's supply.