Dandelions have driven many a gardener to the brink of despair. It just doesn't give up and if you intervene too late, you actually encourage its reproduction. But how can this wild plant reproduce and how can you stop the reproduction?
How do dandelions propagate?
Dandelions reproduce either by seeds or root division. When propagating seeds, it is sufficient to leave dandelion flowers standing as they form and spread seeds independently. During root division, sections of the root are separated and planted in soil.
Propagate dandelions through their seeds
The easiest way is to propagate dandelions using their seeds. Sowing the seeds is incredibly easy. This is how it works:
- Pre-culture from March
- Direct sowing from mid-April
- Sowing depth: 1 to 2 cm
- Keep substrate moderately moist
- Germination time: 2 to 4 weeks
- ideal germination temperature: 15 to 20 °C
After the seeds have revealed their cotyledons, you should keep the plants evenly moist over the next few weeks. About 8 weeks after sowing, you can prick out the dandelion plants and, if necessary, plant them outdoors.
Intervention is not absolutely necessary – self-seeding
You can also save yourself the effort of targeted sowing! If you already have one or more dandelion plants, no special knowledge or measures are necessary - these plants reproduce on their own. A single dandelion plant can produce up to 5,000 seeds per year (repeated flowering)!
Propagation via roots
If you don't want to propagate dandelions with seeds, you can approach propagation differently. All you need is a root or part of it. Dig up a root (note: the taproot can grow up to 2 m long!). Now cut the root into small pieces that are about 5 cm long.
The root pieces are then placed about 3 to 5 cm deep in soil. Now all that’s left to do is keep the soil moist. The first leaves will soon sprout from the roots. The root pieces can be planted in a controlled manner both in pots and in beds.
Stopping reproduction
Do you want to stop the dandelion from multiplying at its location? Then you should 'head' the flowers when they are in bloom. To do this, use either a lawn mower (€392.00 on Amazon) or a pair of scissors.
Tip
If just 10% of a plant's seeds are successfully dispersed and germinate, you have increased the population tremendously!
