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Starting Echinacea for the first time. Suggestions?

Roberto pokachinni

gardener

Posts: 3489

Location: Fraser River Headwaters, Zone3, Lat: 53N, Altitude 2750', Boreal/Temperate Rainforest-transition

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posted 9 years ago

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Hi, I'm not new to gardening, but I have never grown echinacea. I have my seeds in, but I was wondering if anybody has extensive experience with the best germinating techniques? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

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Dana Jones

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posted 9 years ago

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You're ahead of me. I just got the package of seeds!

Roberto pokachinni

gardener

Posts: 3489

Location: Fraser River Headwaters, Zone3, Lat: 53N, Altitude 2750', Boreal/Temperate Rainforest-transition

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posted 9 years ago

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When I say that I have my seeds in, I mean that they have arrived, but I have not put them in soil yet.

They are still in the package.

Rick English

pollinator

Posts: 293

Location: Central Pennsylvania, USA

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posted 9 years ago

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In my neck of the woods, zone 6a, purple coneflowers self-propagate by seed readily.

I have planted them in mixed wildflower mixes by throwing them on bare earth in the fall after the first few hard freezes, and then they germinate and come up in the spring. Like most perennials, they likely won't flower the first year from seed, so just be careful to learn what the leaves look like so you don't mistakenly chop and drop them, because the plant does look a bit weedy.

I have started a few from seed inside, but don't recall any special treatment to get them to germinate.

Sonja Unger

Posts: 98

Location: South NB

posted 9 years ago

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I germinated a few last year (but they died before becoming real plants). The only thing that worked for me was stratification - I left them in an unheated mudroom, in a plastic container with a moist paper towel over the winter. Every week or two, checked on the seeds. Eventually a few were coming out and I moved them into soil. I'm trying the same this year, hopefully they make it

Roberto pokachinni

gardener

Posts: 3489

Location: Fraser River Headwaters, Zone3, Lat: 53N, Altitude 2750', Boreal/Temperate Rainforest-transition

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posted 9 years ago

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In my neck of the woods, zone 6a, purple coneflowers self-propagate by seed readily.

I'm hoping that this will be the case for me as well!

Roberto pokachinni

gardener

Posts: 3489

Location: Fraser River Headwaters, Zone3, Lat: 53N, Altitude 2750', Boreal/Temperate Rainforest-transition

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posted 8 years ago

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Well, mom planted 228 echinacea on Mar 9th, and they are showing sprouts today.

Some of the sprouts are showing fuzzy white mold. Took the covers off the trays and added a fan.

Dan Allen

pollinator

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posted 8 years ago

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I grow them in the garden in a drill, soak seeds, lay in drill cover with a fine layer of compost, like carrots. Grow in rich fertile garden soil for 1 season, second season transplant to your woodland edges and compost, this is the year they will flower. Third year dig up and make divisions. I have 3-4 year old mothers that are 4-5 feet tall and reseed themselves now.

Crt Jakhel

pollinator

Posts: 359

Location: NE Slovenia, zone 6b

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