How to Germinate Rudbeckia Flower Seeds

Rudbeckia flowers add a touch of gold to the garden.

Rudbeckia flowers are more commonly known as black-eyed Susan. Cheery yellow-orange flowers with black centers bloom in June and July, adding a splash of color to a sunny garden spot. Rudbeckia plants need lots of sunshine and other than that, they require little care. Even germinating the seeds is easy, as long as you pay attention to some specific soil requirements. Rudbeckia flowers are hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 3 through 10. Plant your rudbeckia seeds into the garden in August or September.

Things You'll Need

• Lawn roller

Instructions

1. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil in which to plant the rudbeckia seeds. Do not amend the soil with compost or manure. Overly-rich soil will cause weak stems and foliage.

2. Firm the soil in the planting area. A lawn roller is an ideal tool for this task, otherwise, walk the area and firm it with your feet.

3. Scatter the rudbeckia seeds over the surface of the soil. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 1 tsp. of seed for every 100 square feet of gardening space.

4. Cover the seeds with a very thin layer of soil, no more than 1/16-inch. Use the roller, or your feet, to pack the soil again to ensure that the seed is in good contact with the soil.

5. Water the area well with a fine mist to avoid washing the seeds away. Keep the soil moist, not soggy until the seeds germinate. This should occur in the fall, but don't be surprised if some of them don't make an appearance until the following spring.

6. Allow the surface of the soil to dry once the rudbeckia seeds sprout.

References

• United States Department of Agriculture: Black Eyed Susan
• University of Texas at Austin: Rudbeckia Hirta L
• "California Master Gardener Handbook"; Dennis R. Pittenger; 2002