Would it work to start Coneflowers from seed this time of year? Or should I wait until spring?
Thanks,
DNP
Coneflowers
I have started Coneflowers in the summer and they did just fine, but they might have to be protected through the winter if they are very small when cold weather arrives.
Josephine.
While on this subject, I winter sowed some seeds and planted them in early spring. They're just now about 5" tall and haven't bloomed. Will they do okay over the winter?
Stephanie, I think they will be just fine at that size.
Josephine.
The tent garden place here have all their plants on sale 1/2 price. They have some 1 quart size healthy looking, blooming cone flowers. They are regularly $9 and are now $4.50. I am wondering if I got some now and kept them in the pots and babied them would they be ok to plant in the spring? Or should I try planting them now in spite of the heat and drought?
They should be fine in the pots, you could plant them in the fall or wait till spring, although if you wait till spring they might do better if you move them to gallon pots.
Josephine.
Bonnie, I would plant them mid September. They will probably die down, but will show up in spring. You culd put seed down in fall and have lots of babies in spring!
If I wanted them in my garden next year the best time to plant seeds would be in September, not in the spring? Seems like things I plant from seed don't do to well. They come up and just struggle along. I did some WS this year and nothing I planted out has bloomed.
I would start seeds now. This is about the time the coneflowers are shedding dried seeds and it is natural timing. I find the standard coneflower Echinacea purpurea is hardy. The foliage doesn't die back in this zone over winter and the normal blooming time for mine is in May.
Bobyrd ~ if you are able to keep those bargain plants watered adequately, I would plant them in ground. They will need moisture to get established but once established, they will be drought hardy also.
This volunteer patch was planted behind a barn by the birds...
Thanks Podster,
Sometimes I think the "critters" are better at planting seeds that are prolific than we are! I think I will plant some seeds and get a couple of the bargain plants to plant in the ground and see how they do in comparison.
Bonnie
Podster, what cultivars are you growing. I have three or four different ones, and none of mine are evergreen.
Mine is old, Echinacea purpurea. It may be in a more sheltered area as we are in the woods but the foliage on ground level will stay green. When leaves fall, I also leave them laying in the bed thru winter. This is one of the easiest to start from seed and they have taken over a whole bed.
I often buy the clearence coneflowers in the late fall and have no problem planting them in the fall/winter and having them come back in the spring.. I just read on the back of my seed packet that now is the time to start the seeds.. might be tough in the heat but hey give it a try!!
good luck!
blkraven
Come see me when you want to plant purple cone flowers. I can supply you with all the plants or seeds you will ever need.
I am going to pot some up for the fall MG plant sale, Sept. 28 at our new garden at the arboretum.
D
I have planted them in the spring and did ok but no blooms the first year ,last fall I sowed some in a outdoor planter and they did just fine ,for me the key to coneflowers is drainage and PATIENCE this is the first time I have had an abundance of blooms
