- Propagating dandelions from seeds
- An intervention is not absolutely necessary - self-sowing
- Propagation via the roots
- slow down the proliferation
The dandelion has already 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 multiply and how can the multiplication be slowed down?
The easiest way to propagate dandelion seeds is through seeds
Propagating dandelions from seeds
The easiest way is to propagate the dandelion using its seeds. Sowing the seeds is very easy. That's how it's done:
- Preculture 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 shown their cotyledons, you should keep the plantlets evenly moist for the next few weeks. About 8 weeks after sowing, you can prick out the dandelion plants and plant them outdoors if necessary.
An intervention is not absolutely necessary - self-sowing
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 will reproduce all by themselves. A single dandelion plant can produce up to 5,000 seeds per year (repeated flowering)!
Propagation via the roots
If you do not want to propagate the dandelion with the seeds, you can approach the propagation in a different way. You only need a root or a part of it. Dig up a root (caution: 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 the ground. Now all you have to do is keep the soil moist. The first leaves will soon sprout from the root pieces. The root pieces can be planted in a controlled manner in pots or in beds.
slow down the proliferation
You want to stop the reproduction of the dandelion at its location? Then you should 'top' the flowers at flowering time. Use either a lawnmower or scissors for this.
tips
If just 10% of a plant's seeds are successfully propagated and germinate, you have vastly increased stock!