How to Plant Echinacea Seeds
Echinacea was first used by the Native Americans to fight illness and boost the immune system. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center's online article on echinacea, the herb has been used to treat a wide array of illnesses including scarlet fever, diptheria, blood poisoning, syphillis and the common cold. Buying echinacea supplements can be expensive; therefore, growing your own echinacea is a practical and easy way to take advantage of its many benefits. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Echinacea seeds
- Peat moss or vermiculite
- Plastic baggies
- Refrigerator
- Soil
- Water
Instructions
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1
Place seeds in a plastic baggie with a bit of moist peat moss. Vermiculite is also acceptable.
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2
Refrigerate the seeds for one to two weeks.
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3
Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil until they begin to germinate. Germination usually takes between 10 and 12 days.
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4
Cover germinated seeds with approximately 1/8 inch of soil, spacing them 18 to 24 inches apart.
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5
Water the soil regularly and do not let it dry out. Echinacea blooms from June to October.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Plant seeds in the spring time if planting outdoors. Choose an area that gets a lot of sun during the day.
Test the pH of the soil before planting. The ideal pH range is between 6 and 8.
If you don't have peat moss or vermiculite, you can use moist paper towels. Place the seeds between two towels and then put them in a plastic baggie. Refrigerate and sow as noted in steps 2 through 5 above.
If your seeds do not germinate within 20 days, wait a bit longer. Sometimes echinacea can take up to 6 weeks to germinate.
