Are you one of those dandelion gourmets who like to add the leaves to salads or conjure up dandelion honey from the flowers? Or would you rather sow dandelions for your pets or a bee colony? Either way – the following instructions can help you with sowing!
How can I sow dandelions successfully?
To sow dandelions specifically, fill pots with growing or herb soil, sow seeds 1-2 cm deep, keep them moist and at 15-20°C. The germination period is 2-4 weeks. Sowing outdoors is ideally done in April/May.
The seeds spread on their own
It is basically not necessary to sow the dandelions directly. If there are already some dandelion plants nearby, they often sow themselves. Before the seeds detach from the seed head, you can harvest them and use them for targeted sowing.
Seeds that are well prepared for self-sowing
The seeds are otherwise spread by the wind and ensure reproduction naturally. They have their attached umbrella to thank for this. With it you can fly several hundred meters.
Furthermore, the seeds are shaped in such a way that they can easily anchor themselves in the ground. They are tapered towards the bottom. They fall to the ground and their tip digs into the earth. If moisture hits them, they are encouraged to germinate.
The best time for targeted sowing
To plant a large meadow with dandelions, you should prefer direct sowing. A pre-culture, which is possible indoors from March, is more suitable for smaller needs. The seeds can be sown outdoors from April/May.
How to do it step by step?
This is how you proceed with targeted sowing:
- for pre-culture: fill pots with potting soil or herb soil
- Sow seeds 1 to 2 cm deep
- keep moist
- Germination temperature: 15 to 20 °C
- Germination time: 2 to 4 weeks
- Prick out after 8 to 12 weeks at a distance of 30 cm
Growing in a balcony box – possible?
Sowing in a balcony box is not recommended. You can fill the box with nutrient-rich soil. But the dandelion needs a deep underground. It forms a long taproot and would not feel comfortable in the balcony box.
Tip
Once sown, dandelions are difficult to get rid of. So think carefully about sowing!
