Quck answer
Dandelions can be grown easily by following these steps:
1. Choose a sunny location: Dandelions thrive in full sunlight, so select a spot in your garden that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
2. Prepare the soil: Dandelions prefer well-drained soil. Loosen the soil with a garden fork or tiller to improve drainage and remove any weeds or rocks.
3. Sow the seeds: Scatter dandelion seeds evenly over the prepared soil. You can also start with nursery-grown dandelion plants if available.
4. Water regularly: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Water the dandelions regularly, especially during dry periods.
5. Harvest and control growth: Harvest the dandelion leaves when they are young and tender. To prevent excessive spreading, remove the yellow flowers before they turn into fluffy seed heads.
By following these steps, you can successfully grow dandelions in your garden and enjoy their vibrant yellow flowers and nutritious leaves.
Despite being considered a weed by many, the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a resilient and hardy plant that is gaining popularity as a low-maintenance crop. It also serves as a source of early pollen for pollinators and forage for livestock, not to mention its cheerful yellow flowers that kids love. Dandelions are perennials that grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9 and are also found in the wild through zone 10.
How to Grow Dandelions in a Few Simple Steps
Cultivating dandelions is easy:
- Remove a seed head from a dandelion and store the seeds in a paper bag in the refrigerator for two weeks to germinate.
- Next, dig a hole at least 10 inches deep and mix in compost or garden fertilizer.
- Wait until the soil temperature reaches 50 degrees Fahrenheit and spread the seeds evenly over the garden, then tamp them down with your hands.
Great Uses for Dandelions
Dandelions, members of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), are often viewed as weeds by homeowners. Nevertheless, they are tough plants that can thrive almost anywhere, including along highways and in sidewalk cracks. Gardeners either love or hate dandelions. Some are charmed by their bright-yellow flowers that turn into puffballs of seeds, while others dread their regular appearance on the lawn, where they are extremely difficult to eliminate. However, anyone who grows dandelions can cultivate them in a sunny spot in the vegetable garden, where they are more likely to develop large, luscious leaves.
Moreover, dandelions have practical uses in the garden:
- ​All parts of the dandelion plant are edible.​ In spring, the young leaves can be added to salads, soups, or stir-fries and eaten as dandelion greens. The yellow flowers are also edible and quite mild. The individual petals can be pulled out and sprinkled on top of a salad or soup. The flowers can be fried or used to make jam. They can also be used to make dandelion wine, and the deep taproot is roasted and eaten like any root vegetable or used to make tea.
- ​Dandelions have medicinal properties.​ The leaves are slightly bitter and are believed to aid digestion. They are also eaten for their nutritional value and are said to be high in calcium, phosphorus, carotenes, and potassium. Leaves also have diuretic properties and are used to treat high blood pressure and edema, among other maladies. Sap from the dandelion stem is used to treat warts, and the roots are used in remedies for liver issues.
Guide to Growing Dandelions
|
​Common Name​ |
Dandelion |
|
​Botanical Name​ |
​Taraxacum officinale​ |
|
​When to Plant​ |
Optimal spring planting when soil temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit |
|
​USDA Zones​ |
3-9 |
|
​Sun Exposure​ |
Full sun, partial sun, or light shade depending on how hot the summer temperatures get |
|
​Soil Type​ |
Damp, well-drained soil |
|
​When It’s Struggling​ |
Dandelions that are regularly cut down on the lawn develop tough, bitter leaves |
|
​When It’s Flourishing​ |
Produces thick, green leaves with a slightly bitter taste that are delicious |
It’s true when people say that dandelions are the ultimate survivor plants. Despite being cut down and sprayed with herbicides in lawns, the dandelion continues to thrive. It grows through cracks in concrete, turns entire fields bright yellow, and spreads billions of seeds on the breeze every year. These bright-yellow flowers are seen worldwide, spreading naturally by seed. Each dandelion flower only lives for a single day before turning into the puffy seed ball that kids of all ages like to blow.
Growing dandelions from seeds is simple. You can easily collect dandelion seeds from plants in your area:
- ​Collect the seeds.​ Cut off the ripe seed heads before the wind blows them away, around the same time you would usually puff on them and make a wish.
- ​Store the seeds.​ Place them in a paper bag and keep them in the fridge for two weeks to increase germination rates.
- ​Prepare the soil.​ Prepare the soil for dandelions as you would for any crop, tilling it down at least 10 inches.
- ​Add composted manure or garden fertilizer.​ Use soft, loamy soil that is slightly alkaline for the best-tasting leaves and roots. Select a spot that receives morning sun but afternoon shade. If that’s not possible, opt for bright shade.
- ​Sow the seeds.​ Because the seeds are tiny, it’s challenging to spread them evenly over the garden bed. You can mix the seeds with fine potting soil or sand before sowing. Spread the mixture evenly over the planting site and press down with your hands. Add a little soil on top, between 1/8 and 1/4 inch, and cover with a thin layer of light mulch to keep the soil moist.
- ​Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear.​
- ​Deadhead the plants.​ To give your plants the strongest roots possible, some recommend deadheading all plants the first season. This allows the dandelions to invest all their energy into producing roots and leaves.
Tip
You can also purchase dandelion seeds commercially. The primary advantage is that you can choose a type of dandelion. If you want to eat the nutritious leaves but don’t like the bitter taste, select a less bitter variety.
What is the Best USDA Hardiness Zone for Dandelions?
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Dandelions grow best in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. If you live in zone 10 or 11 and want to grow dandelions in your garden, plant them in a spot that gets shade all afternoon.
What is the Best Time to Plant Dandelions?
The ideal time to plant dandelions is in the spring, regardless of the region. During this time, they can develop deep taproots that make them strong and resilient for the summer. Dandelion roots are known to be indestructible, and even if a large section of the root is removed, the plant can still regenerate and thrive.
In temperate climates, dandelions can also be planted in autumn or winter. Dandelions can blossom all year long in mild climates, and their seeds can germinate at any time of the year.
Recommendations for Soil, Sunlight, and Water for Dandelions
Although dandelions can grow on almost any type of soil, the type of soil they grow on can affect their taste. To achieve the best taste, it’s recommended to sow dandelion seeds in well-draining loam that has been enriched with composted manure or organic compost. Alkaline soil is preferred, and the soil should be tilled to at least 10 inches.
Soil for Dandelions
For the best-tasting dandelions, sow seeds in well-draining loam that has been enriched with composted manure or organic compost. Alkaline soil is preferable. The soil should be broken up and tilled to at least 10 inches.
Light Conditions for Dandelions
Dandelions can grow in any type of exposure, from bright, direct sun to deep shade. However, the taste of the plant can differ in each condition. Ideally, dandelions should grow with some sun and some shade. In cooler areas, full-sun areas may suffice. In hotter regions, dandelions will require more afternoon shade.
Watering Dandelions
Water is particularly important to dandelions when they are germinating or are young seedlings. During these periods, it’s recommended to keep the soil moist. After the plants have established, a once-a-week irrigation plan should be sufficient.
How to Harvest Dandelions
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Jan Rozehnal/iStock/GettyImages
All parts of the dandelion plant are edible, and the harvesting process can vary depending on what you want to eat. Most people eat dandelion “greens,” which are the leaves. Leaves are most tender just after they appear in spring, but you can harvest them throughout the growing season using garden scissors. If you harvest leaves throughout the season, you may find them increasingly bitter. To prevent this, cover the plants from sunlight for two weeks before harvest to blanch the leaves.
The dandelion roots are best harvested after the plants are two years old. They can be dug up in the fall after the first frost, as they are highest in inulin at that time, resulting in a sweeter taste and more nutrients. Alternatively, they can be harvested in late spring before they flower.
Once you harvest the roots of a dandelion plant, it will not grow back the following year unless you replant. If you’re growing dandelions for both the roots and leaves, you could divide your site into four sections, taking the roots from one section in the fall and sowing seeds in that section the following spring. The following fall, take the roots from another section.
Issues and Threats to Dandelions
Despite homeowners’ efforts to eliminate them with chemicals and weed removers, dandelions continue to thrive in lawns. These hardy plants face very few pests that pose a serious threat to their health or survival. However, there are some issues to watch out for:
- ​Too much sun​: While dandelions won’t die from excess sun, it can make their leaves tough and bitter. To protect them, plant them in a spot that gets shade from the afternoon sun.
- ​Livestock​: Dandelions growing in fields can provide additional forage for animals like horses, cows, goats, and sheep. The best defense is to keep these herbivores out of your garden area, as they will likely eat any crop growing there, including dandelions.
- ​Common cockchafer​: This insect pest spends the first three years of its life cycle as a grub, living underground and feeding on various plant roots. Dandelion roots are a favorite meal for this voracious pest, but the plant’s resilience is once again on display. The roots produce a bitter substance called latex that repels the pests and inhibits the growth of the cockchafer grub.
- ​Ruby tiger moth larvae:​ These caterpillars enjoy feeding on dandelion leaves. Fortunately, they are large enough to spot and remove by hand.
Common Diseases Affecting Dandelions
Like other garden plants, dandelions are susceptible to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, which appears as a white powder on the foliage. You can use neem oil to treat this issue, but it’s best to avoid getting irrigation water on the leaves to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
FAQ
1. How do I start growing dandelions?
To start growing dandelions, you can either plant seeds or transplant a dandelion plant. If you choose to plant seeds, scatter them over well-drained soil in a sunny area. Make sure the seeds are not covered with soil, as they need sunlight to germinate. Water the area regularly to keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout, which usually takes about 7-10 days. If you prefer to transplant a dandelion plant, dig a hole in your desired location and carefully place the plant in the hole, ensuring that the roots are covered with soil. Water the plant immediately after transplanting and continue to water it regularly.
2. How do I care for my growing dandelions?
Once your dandelions have sprouted or been transplanted, they require minimal care. Water the plants regularly, providing about 1-2 inches of water per week. If the weather is particularly dry, you may need to increase the amount of water. Dandelions prefer full sun, so make sure they receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. You can also apply a balanced fertilizer once a month to promote healthy growth. Remove any weeds or competing plants that may interfere with the dandelions’ growth. Lastly, if you want to prevent the dandelions from spreading, remove the flowers before they turn into seed heads.
3. Can I grow dandelions in containers?
Yes, you can grow dandelions in containers. Choose a container that is at least 12 inches deep to accommodate the plant’s long taproot. Fill the container with well-drained soil and scatter dandelion seeds over the surface, gently pressing them into the soil. Place the container in a sunny location and water regularly to keep the soil moist. Dandelions in containers may require more frequent watering compared to those planted in the ground. Ensure that the container has proper drainage to prevent waterlogged soil. You can also fertilize the dandelions in containers once a month to provide them with essential nutrients. Remember to remove any flowers to prevent the plant from spreading through seeds.