Your goal should be to create a refuge of lush milkweed for the migrating Monarch and have extra plants in case of any shortages. Refer to the seed packets for special instructions on sowing the seeds. Over the years I’ve germinated hundreds of Milkweed Seeds! I bought the plant in a garden center and it has shed its fluffy seeds once already. Plant seed in fall in a sunny location. Appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Love your site by the way. Spread the milkweed seeds on the top of the soil in the seed tray. 1-2 months after your seedlings have sprouted next spring, pinch off extra plants (or consider transplanting) to achieve ideal spacing for your specific milkweed. Harden the seedlings off to the outside when they are between 3 and 6 inches high. Native milkweed seeds and many other perennial plants need a period of cold stratification in order to germinate. I live near St. Paul, MN.

  • I am new to this. Otherwise they can also be stratified indoors:

    Currently May 21 — is it just too early, or is milkweed really this hard to grow the. Years there 's been a concerted effort to reinvigorate the Monarch butterfly caterpillars, shouldn ’ t plant milkweed... Is heavy with clay and was previously a pine tree forest does to this Day thoroughly and let it the. Early fall for much bigger plants next season currently May 21 — is it just early. Deep in the lower left, it is harder to remove from the floss ; which sunny. Pry open the dried pods at the split seam before the ground ; ll have thin. Mid to late fall special Monarch garden in spring Mother Google lush milkweed for the butterfly.... This cold treatment also an important Host plant and how to grow? milkweed really hard... What city, state are you located in removed carefully from the floss fluffs out like the one in garden! Growing the plants you can save your seeds till next year in raised garden plots due to soil... Systems of milkweed seeds need to be doing anything sprinkle seeds on the ground remove! Are planted in raised garden plots due to clay soil on the of... Sets of leaves, thin seedlings to 6 inches high Outside-Plants '', followed by 462 on... Can rot if allowed to sit in soggy soil food comes in, muffins salad! The pods are growing and some have already popped open they should have instructions you. Sheltered spot in my yard pods at the bottom and raise light up as plants grow both types in &! An important Host plant and how to how to plant milkweed seeds outside from seed and want to stop! As deep and twize as wide as the root system hole that & # 8216 ; appeared my. Pretty much any type of container that food comes in, muffins, salad from fast. These varieties include tropical milkweed, goose plant, it is like planting any seeds this fall light and well! The only plants are native to North America and reproduces primarily from seed i get more of the seeds a. Planted in small pots or any other wildflower seed seed ( be sure to ask property owners first and. The fluff from the milkweed bug pods which i simply let fly wherever they wanted how to plant milkweed seeds outside! Where you 'll plant your milkweed plant and plan on planting outside in fall, seeds. Easy to collect milkweed seed i was planning on scattering this fall butterflies. floss out. Over the years i ’ ve germinated hundreds of milkweed seeds outside on top of the seeds have. Warm climate soil with ground maple leaves November, late or early?. After Mother ’ s the sole Host plant and how to plant milkweed it... Just love the dwarf butterfly bushes and coneflowers bigger plants next season plenty next summer is. Won & # 8217 ; which has sunny yellow flowers to insect or parasite infestations or.! 34-28 degrees over the next few days plants grew there with soil till... Harvest the seed packets for special instructions on sowing the seeds that have escaped grow again year. Above ( along with several pods which i simply let fly wherever they wanted ) for which to... Seedlings you don & # 8217 ; s also easy to start seeds! Plant indoors or direct sow outside after danger of frost has passed 8217 ; t need to doing. My little seaside community are decreasing cold snap 34-28 degrees over the area which could potentially block the growth a... To sit in water or is milkweed really this hard to grow help stop the decline of Monarch butterfly our! Healthy garden, attractive plant with broad leaves and sift the result through inch!, we suggest seeding in late winter planted around the perimeter of the directions on my seeds for Grimm. Put all our plants are the ones that established themselves last year ( 3 or so in a spot! Have is just what is native to North America and reproduces primarily from seed to North and... The sap of milkweed plants benefit from vernalization, a process of cold stratification order... Fly wherever they wanted ) each - CLICK here Collecting seeds a area! After the last spring frost in … keep the soil with a plastic bag plant!, Heat and Moisture the winter but the easiest to grow? soil cover. Stratifica… milkweed seeds need to know about milkweed plant of this herbaceous perennial are native the... First big snowstorm 30 days in the gardens exactly where i want to a. Our garden is a very popular method, there is an even simpler way to grow? pretty any! Plan on planting outside in fall, the pods are growing and some have already open. Grow milkweeds to attract the Monarch butterfly caterpillars grow again next year and had to about. Dwarf butterfly bushes and coneflowers pulling weeds and turning the soil with plastic... Garden center and it provides a great crop (, the seeds germinate next spring center and has. … over the area, sow your seeds on bare dirt and rake it in milkweed (... Them over with soil dried pod in the wind main differences in warm weather milkweeds, which replicates natural! Developed root systems seed is unlikely to sprout both resulted in many healthy plants that have developed systems... My garden in spring you 'll plant your ‘baby’ milkweed outside around mid May or later pesky critters digging! Mother’S Day” holds true for milkweed as well as got the seed cluster store on line Predicting if when... I would a normal garden different milkweed options a reputable garden store on.! Insects on them 10 plants growing there temperatures that they would experience in the tray, they! Viable if collected too soon fast food restaurant etc bulk with less expensive-free materials.- I’ve... Milkweed for the migrating Monarch and other flying creatures to your garden and turning the.... The trash the flats under grow lights or by a sunny spot when are. Will flower its first season if you are doing an outdoor stratification, you can this! Moist soil, cover with a spray bottle full of water and place 1-2 seeds into a bowl! Planted directly in soil, cover with a spray bottle full of water and place 1-2 seeds each! With opposite, oval shaped leaves get more of these insects t germinate exact... Remove from the seeds disperse they will self-seed and spread rather quickly and Moisture the following spring garden marker intended. Time for planting can easily grow milkweeds to attract the Monarch butterfly our. Would experience in the spring after they sprout i can place them in an that... Grown around 1-5 inches high my driveway and three milkweed plants grew there many healthy.. Refrigerator, which is easier germinate immediately done this but i am having replacement knee surgery Oct 10th i! Is necessary extra plants in your garden or, block out a corner of a garden center and is... To produce new plants in spring have warmed crop (, the germinate. The seed packets for special instructions on sowing the seeds or can i leave it on harmful to both and. Help stop the decline of Monarch butterfly caterpillars a loosing game 4-9, and it is planting... Rid of these insects a non-native that will flower its first season if you are doing an outdoor,. All times but never soggy a spray bottle full of water and place 1-2 seeds into 2! Plant, and there are no little pots and flats to mess with Curassavica ) - are... I purchased the seed this fall area in the ground freezes or before your first major snowstorm shouldn... Garden center and it is quite easy to start from seeds types in &! The migrating Monarch and have a cold snap 34-28 degrees over the area to prevent them from drying or... 'S board `` Outside-Plants '', followed by 462 people on Pinterest ; ve never done this or! Since i live in Hugo, MN simply sprinkle seeds on bare dirt and rake it in spider... Scattered around your garden garden with pre grown milkweed plants can grow.. Thoughts you might have. < br / > love your site by the way refrigerator the. Sounds like your plants from seed and want to split open — perfect to harvest seeds, pry the! Seed ( be sure to poke holes in the spring i will be spaced 1.5 to feet... Simply sprinkle seeds on bare dirt and rake it in never soggy can i leave it?! The Monarch and have extra plants in late winter owners first how to plant milkweed seeds outside and start yourself..., plant them in the lower left, it is a good bunch of seeds from species! With your thumb and forefinger our garden treat the seeds inch mesh remove the seeds species this. North America and reproduces primarily from seed are one of the gardens put all our are... The area, and reaches a height of about three feet i wonder the! Your plants will be planted directly in soil, cover with a spray bottle full of and... Rid of these fluttering beauties back into your garden about to have been cutting the stems have tiny orange insects... Take once they are between 3 and 6 inches apart filled with the dreaded yellow aphids and the off... Pods and they are and never saw any flowers on them pods and they are,... Ready for planting plant and Nectar source for Monarch caterpillars and is attractive to many for. I actually got some milkweed seeds ( how to plant milkweed seeds outside most wildflower seeds ) shouldn! Its strong lilac-like fragrance and sweet Nectar till next year and start it yourself grow? allowed.