Fifty Fascinating Facts Growing Milkweed From Seed

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50 Interesting Facts How To Grow Milkweed From Seed | How To Harvest Milkweed Seeds

• Then, just open up the rest of the pod. You should have all seed and no fluff. Pour the seed onto a plate to dry for a week or two in a cool dry location. Or just use a paper bag that is open to the environment. - Source: Internet
• The milkweed has a long and illustrious history as a cottage garden favorite. It is the crowning glory in any butterfly garden where it is the needed food source for the monarch butterfly. The plant’s sweet nectar also draws hummingbirds and bees. - Source: Internet
• Now, I did make a short video on our youtube channel a while back. I’ve linked to it below, so you can see this wonderful process in action. Believe it or not, I generally separate most of my milkweed seeds indoors. This is truly the best method I’ve found to save milkweed seeds cleanly. - Source: Internet
• Planting in the Spring. Only a small percentage of milkweed seeds will break dormancy when planted in the Spring. Southern lines of milkweed and Butterflyweed (Aslcepias tuberosa) seem somewhat more cooperative. Fall is the best time to plant. - Source: Internet
• Monarch Watch offers free seeds for habitat restoration projects. To participate, you must have two acres of land or 1/4 of an acre in California. A few places are not eligible to participate in this program including Canada, South Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and parts of Texas and North Carolina. You have submit an application. If selected, you cover the shipping and within a week will have tons of milkweed seeds to plant based on your location. - Source: Internet
• You need to harvest pods at the right time. Too early and the seeds won’t be fully developed. Too late, and the seeds may have already floated away with the wind. - Source: Internet
• You can place a small rubber band around it to hold it together until you get them home. If you harvest pods before this time, then the seed may not be fully formed yet. If that is the case it is best to wait a few days to a week and come back to try again. - Source: Internet
• Harvesting the seed too soon. The pod should be drying out and beginning to split. The seeds will have edges that appear like dry, dark brown colored paper. Seeds that are too young will appear orangish and translucent on the edges. - Source: Internet
• Soaking and washing the seeds removes natural chemicals that inhibit germination. When the seeds are moved from the cold darkness of the refrigerator to the bright light and warmth of the sun, they are “shocked” into sprouting. “The stratification process is meant to mimic nature,” he said, adding that the plants likely developed this dormancy strategy as an answer to drought conditions. - Source: Internet
• Step 2: Walk away. Seriously. That’s it. The easiest way to grow milkweed seeds is to plant them in the fall or winter forget about them. As winter progresses, they’ll naturally be exposed to the eight to ten weeks of cold temperatures required for them to germinate when spring arrives. - Source: Internet
• One of the most difficult aspects of cultivating milkweed is transplanting the seedlings outdoors. The roots of the milkweed are exceptionally sensitive. If you try to remove the small plants from their peat pots, then you can easily damage the roots. However, if you plant them directly in the soil in their peat pots then you will have the greatest success. Try not to disrupt the root system so the plant adapts. - Source: Internet
• The seed pods burst open after milkweed flowers stop blooming. Consider tying small bags over the milkweed pods while they mature, since many distribute their seeds far and wide (especially common milkweed). “After the pods on my milkweed plants open, I take the seeds and shake them into envelopes that I’ve labeled with the year the seeds were collected. I take these seed envelopes to my local seed swap; I get all my vegetables and flowers this way,” says Birds & Blooms reader Patrick Hogan. - Source: Internet
• You can also plant seeds directly outdoors. Fall is the best time to direct-sow the seeds for gardeners in cold climates. Many milkweed varieties contain hard coatings that have to break down before the seeds will germinate. Exposure to a winter’s worth of snow and cold, wet weather will do just that. - Source: Internet
• The process has been perfected by Cates, who has germinated thousands of seeds in the last year for Native American Seed‘s customers and the Xerces Society. Read a report about the project and the status of native Texas milkweed seed production here. Here’s Cate’s process: - Source: Internet
• To lend monarch butterflies a helping hand, some organizations are making milkweed seeds more accessible for everyone. They send the seeds to gardeners, students, and enthusiasts to support the conservation of butterflies and their habitats. The organizations that send free seeds include Live Monarch, Monarch Watch, and Little Wings. - Source: Internet
• If you plant milkweed in the spring, then it will appear dormant with no green leaves, but this is perfectly normal. The plant will focus on growing a diverse root system. Once it has spread its roots out and the soil warms then the milkweed will spring to life and start to develop foliage and flowers. Avoid over watering when the plant is in the dormant stage. - Source: Internet
• Back in the 1990s, I began an initial planting of the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) along our creek banks with seeds from a single pod that I found along the road side. In the 20 some years since, those few seeds have fostered a nice habitat for monarchs as they not only spread along the creek bank, but also into the surrounding pasture. This year I am once again on a mission to collect some pods, harvest the seeds, and eventually plant them. However, this time I have a partner; my 9-year old granddaughter loves monarchs and wants to do her part in helping their survival. - Source: Internet
• Milkweed is a perennial flower native to North America that thrive in a wide array of ecosystems. This plant is essential to the life cycle of monarch butterflies because the insects need milkweed to lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch, milkweed is the only plant the white, black, and yellow striped caterpillars will eat. This makes it an essential element for helping the next generation of monarchs grow and hatch each season. It’s more important now that the monarch population is declining so alarmingly. - Source: Internet
• There are over 70 types of native milkweed (Asclepias spp.) throughout the United States. When planting milkweed, try to find the right variety for your location. This way you don’t run into issues with seasonality, weather conditions, and winter hardiness. - Source: Internet
• Flowers at last! The third year a mature milkweed plant has developed, it produces large lush foliage, ample flowers, and will serve as a nectar source for adult butterflies and bees, and there is plenty of leaves for the caterpillars. After a long-bloom that can last much of the summer, seed pods will form that open in the fall, starting the cycle anew. You can collect these seeds once the pods have begun to turn brown and open, sowing your own milkweed seeds. - Source: Internet
• The prairie state, as its name suggests, was once covered in grasses and flowers that were habitat and food for migrating butterflies. Development has reduced the availability of milkweeds, which is the only food source for monarch caterpillars. Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) will be considered for inclusion on the Endangered Species list in December 2020. - Source: Internet
• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): Unlike most other milkweeds, the flowers of butterfly weed are not pink, purple, or white. Instead, this milkweed species has flowers that are bright orange. Its short stature and clump-forming habit make it the perfect fit for most gardens. Butterfly weed doesn’t like to be transplanted, so starting from seed may prove more fruitful, though it can take years for a plant to go from seed to flower. Hardy in zones 3-9 and reaching just 2 feet in height, the jazzy orange flowers of butterfly weed are nothing short of spectacular. - Source: Internet
• It’s getting to be that time of year when all of our Milkweed plants start having their pods open up to have seeds gently float away in the Autumn breeze. Our Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa) and Common Milkweed (Asclepias Syrica) seed pods have been forming for some time now. While the Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias Incarnata) pods have just started forming within the last 2-3 weeks. So, hopefully within the next few weeks I’ll be gathering a number of different milkweed pods to harvest the seed. - Source: Internet
• Planting INDOORS in the Fall. The seeds need to be outside. They are a WILD flower. They generally will not sprout indoors. - Source: Internet
• The nectar in all milkweed flowers provides valuable food for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Butterflies don’t only need nectar, but also need food at the caterpillar stage. The leaves of milkweed plants are the only food that monarch caterpillars can eat. And monarch butterflies also need the milkweed plant to lay their eggs on. - Source: Internet
• Photo credit Elizabethe Whale. Pick milkweed seed pods when they are dry and just starting to split open. Seeds can’t germinate if they have not been allowed enough time to mature on the plant. - Source: Internet
• There are many different methods and variations to get milkweed seeds. Some of them are quite easy, others require a bit of planning and materials. Most of them will result in some milkweed floss/feathers getting in the way of a clean harvest. - Source: Internet
• We provide US native milkweed all over the country to people in urban centers, and deep in the countryside, of all ages and walks of life. In doing so, I have run into a great deal of misconceptions. A deeper understanding of the life cycle of the plant can help your milkweed patch become a booming hub of beautiful and unusual pollinators, including the Monarch Butterfly! - Source: Internet
• Our friends at Native American Seed have been working for years on the best way to get persnickety Texas native milkweed seeds to germinate. “Native milkweeds simply don’t do well in containers,” said George Cates, seed wrangler at the seed farm and land restoration company in the Hill Country town of Junction. “They require a very specific set of conditions and have an extremely long tap-root, making containerization untenable.” - Source: Internet
• “With permission from landowners, you can pick milkweed seed pods this fall rather than buying seeds or purchasing plants,” Allsup says. “Once harvested, you can either plant them in the fall or wait until spring.” - Source: Internet
• Just clip the base of the pod off the plant and place into a paper bag. This way you can get plenty of pods on your trip. If you are just getting seed to propagate a few plants for your yard, then you probably only need a few pods. Otherwise, use a paper bag to hold as many seeds as you can get. - Source: Internet
• Lastly, I would be amiss to not suggest that this would make a great 4-H project for any young person interested in monarch habitat. And for crafters, there are any number of ways to use the dried pods. In all cases, please be advised to wear gloves or wash hands frequently when working with milkweed or pods. Milkweed sap (looks like milk) can be an eye irritant, so take appropriate precautions to avoid this kind of discomfort. - Source: Internet
• Here we go! The plant is now able to produce a considerable amount of foliage. In the case of a thriving larger-leaved variety, maybe enough to feed a Monarch caterpillar! Adult Monarchs will readily find the plant. Scientists still aren’t certain how monarchs recognize milkweed from the air, but once they land on it, chemical sensors (kind of like tastebuds) on the feet of the Monarch recognize the milkweed at once! - Source: Internet
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Don’t let the common name of this milkweed fool you. Just because “swamp” is in the name, doesn’t mean this species of milkweed requires wet conditions. In fact, swamp milkweed does grow in saturated soils, but it also grows just fine in well-drained garden soil. Plant this monarch butterfly host plant in full to part sun. It grows about four feet tall and is hardy in zones 3 to 7. - Source: Internet
• I thought now would be an appropriate time to share my method for how to save milkweed seeds cleanly, without making a mess of the feathers / silk that are in the pods. This guide will show you how simple it is to not make your garage/house/basement look like an exploded pillow factory when harvesting milkweed seed. It works great, and I’ve come to the conclusion that this is the best method to save Milkweed seed (Asclepias). - Source: Internet
• Anyone can grow milkweed in their yard or garden, Allsup says. “Do you have an alley that does a good job at growing weeds? Perhaps you are ready to move on from a ditch full of daylilies, or you have an empty garden bed. One 10-square-foot garden can hold 150 stems of milkweed.” - Source: Internet
• Milkweed seeds need to be stratified and require cool, moist conditions, to germinate. Growers can accomplish this at home by placing seeds in a damp paper towel in the refrigerator for four to six weeks. Start seed germination in early April to have them ready for planting after the last frost in May. - Source: Internet
• If it’s possible, start your seeds indoors under artificial lights in a quality potting or seed-starting mix. The seedlings will be ready to transplant in the garden once they are 3 to 6 inches tall and when the threat of the last spring frost has passed. Plan for about four to eight weeks of indoor growing time. - Source: Internet
• Then, firmly grip the base just above the seed. I do it so that the bottom edge of my fingers is in contact with the seed. With your other hand, gently peel the pod like a banana until it reaches your fingers. Next, firmly grip the feathers and pull. - Source: Internet
• grows well in moist soil conditions. Plant this variety near lakes or ponds for optimum growth. Butterfly milkweed (also called whorled milkweed): Flourishes in dry conditions. - Source: Internet
• Milkweed is a native wildflower beloved by monarch butterflies. There are a number of popular species suited for cultivation in the garden. Here’s how to plant, grow, and care for milkweed in your garden—and support butterflies! - Source: Internet
• Tip: when pods are approaching full size, but still green, tie a rubber band or string around them. They won’t open up and get everywhere! Mark the plants and be certain to return. It’s no good to bind the seeds, and then not harvest them. Harvest when the pods look mottled brown and no more milky sap is reaching the pods. Leave at least half the pods for nature to sow in her own ways. - Source: Internet
• “Another way to separate the mature seeds from the floss is to place the seeds in a paper bag with a coin,” Allsup says. “Cut a hole in the bottom of the bag so the seeds fall out after a good shaking.” - Source: Internet
• You can store the seed in envelopes, paper bags, or even plastic bags if the seed was fully dry. A good portion of the seed will be viable for several years after harvest. Alternatively, you can plant the seed directly into the garden if you like. That is a low maintenance method for saving milkweed seeds. - Source: Internet
• The plant looks a lot like milkweed now. But it rarely will flower the second year. Being disappointed or thinking that you are doing something wrong is the only issue. Just be patient! - Source: Internet
• AKA Giant Swan Milkweed, Cotton-bush, Goose Plant, Family Jewels, and Oscar. Extremely popular in the cut flower industry for its unusual ball shaped seed pods, and the flowers, though less showy than other milkweeds, are loved by pollinators. Summer blooming. - Source: Internet
• The monarch butterfly population won’t recover overnight, but gardeners all across the country can help just by including a few milkweed plants in their yards. Don’t forget to mail in your envelop and donation (if able!) to an organization that offers free milkweed seeds. In addition to milkweed, adult monarchs also love nectar-rich plants like lantana, rudbeckia, and yarrow. These flowering plants make it easy to beautify your garden and help monarch butterflies. - Source: Internet
• “Major statewide strategies, such as updated roadside mowing guidelines, creating habitat in natural areas, and allowing it to grow in farmland not in production, may not be enough,” Allsup says. “Monarchs may need homeowners to plant a larger patches of milkweed.” - Source: Internet
• Step 1: Act like Mother Nature. For the best results when growing milkweeds from seed, simply go outdoors anytime from late fall through mid-winter and drop milkweed seeds wherever you want them in the garden, just like Mother Nature does. Do not cover the seeds! Simply press them against the soil with your hand or the sole of your shoe. Seeds of the monarch butterfly host plant require light to germinate, so if you cover them with soil, they won’t germinate come spring. - Source: Internet
• Little Wings provides free seeds through their website. Currently, they only have stock in common milkweed, which is a versatile variety that should grow in many regions. Click the “add to cart” button on the available seeds. Once in the cart, add your shipping info. In 1-2 week, your milkweed seeds should arrive and you can start planting. - Source: Internet

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