Echinacea (Coneflower) direct sowing seeds

Old School · February 10, 2015

I am looking to add some coneflowers to my garden this year. I live in Central Pennsylvania which is zone 6. I would like to start from seed and am wondering when would be the best time to direct sow the seeds in my area. Does anyone have any experience in this endeavor?

sdambr · February 10, 2015

Not actually direct sowing, but I winter sowed them in 2 liter bottles in Jan. outside, now would be fine too. In the bottles they are protected from animals and washing away. You can do a search for this method, it is my first year trying but heard it works great.

BigVanVader · February 10, 2015

If you want blooms in the first year I'd sow them indoors early. That is what I do, usually 2 months before my frost free date.

Old School · February 11, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

If you want blooms in the first year I'd sow them indoors early. That is what I do, usually 2 months before my frost free date.

This isn't really an option for me as I have no setup and nowhere to put one that the cats wouldn't have a field day with

I am starting a gardening program at work for the youth that I work with this year. We have a small pvc hoop greenhouse that is unheated that I considered trying them out in. I think I can safely start them there in early April and plant out in May. My last frost date is listed as mid-April. I would be happy getting flowers the first year, even if late in Summer, if I could save the steep price over buying the plants themselves. I take it they take considerably longer to get established than annual flowers. I shall have to consider further

barefootgardener · February 11, 2015

Old School, if you need to direct sow your seeds of coneflower I would chill your seeds first by putting them in the fridge or freezer and then leave them there until it is time to plant after all danger of frost has passed. In your zone six area that could be any time between late April to mid May? When ready to sow cover seeds with 1/4 inch of soil. Keep your soil evenly moist. When they come up thin or space seedlings 18 to 24 inches apart. I also start mine indoors 2 months in advance. I also have a pot of seeds I am winter sowing. Good luck.. I love coneflowers.

Ginny

WhippoorwillG · February 11, 2015

Ditto with Ginny on the chilling. Many echinacea need stratification if you have any hope of getting them to germinate. As to which ones, I can't help with that....since there are so many.

Old School · February 12, 2015

Since they need chilled, can I just plant them out in the ground in early April and let nature take her course?

I ordered some plants for a new hummingbird/butterfly garden I am putting in this year. I have a larger area that i want to reclaim from the weeds at the back end of my yard thus, the larger number of plants needed. As WhippoorwillG noted, there are a lot of beautiful choices as far as colors go

My thinking is that seeds are the way to go in this area...even if I need to wait a little longer

drew51 · February 12, 2015

I have an indoor set up but too many other plants need the space, so I too am direct sowing, OK, if they don't flower the first year. I kept mine all winter in the fridge so i guess they should germinate!

February 10, 2015	#1
Old School Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Central PA, Zone 6 Posts: 93	Echinacea (Coneflower) direct sowing seeds I am looking to add some coneflowers to my garden this year. I live in Central Pennsylvania which is zone 6. I would like to start from seed and am wondering when would be the best time to direct sow the seeds in my area. Does anyone have any experience in this endeavor?

February 11, 2015	#6
WhippoorwillG Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Hartwell, Georgia Posts: 174	Ditto with Ginny on the chilling. Many echinacea need stratification if you have any hope of getting them to germinate. As to which ones, I can't help with that....since there are so many. __________________ Mark Whippoorwill Gardens

February 10, 2015	#2
sdambr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 421	Not actually direct sowing, but I winter sowed them in 2 liter bottles in Jan. outside, now would be fine too. In the bottles they are protected from animals and washing away. You can do a search for this method, it is my first year trying but heard it works great.

February 10, 2015	#3
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	If you want blooms in the first year I'd sow them indoors early. That is what I do, usually 2 months before my frost free date.

February 11, 2015	#5
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	Old School, if you need to direct sow your seeds of coneflower I would chill your seeds first by putting them in the fridge or freezer and then leave them there until it is time to plant after all danger of frost has passed. In your zone six area that could be any time between late April to mid May? When ready to sow cover seeds with 1/4 inch of soil. Keep your soil evenly moist. When they come up thin or space seedlings 18 to 24 inches apart. I also start mine indoors 2 months in advance. I also have a pot of seeds I am winter sowing. Good luck.. I love coneflowers. Ginny

February 12, 2015	#7
Old School Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Central PA, Zone 6 Posts: 93	Since they need chilled, can I just plant them out in the ground in early April and let nature take her course? I ordered some plants for a new hummingbird/butterfly garden I am putting in this year. I have a larger area that i want to reclaim from the weeds at the back end of my yard thus, the larger number of plants needed. As WhippoorwillG noted, there are a lot of beautiful choices as far as colors go My thinking is that seeds are the way to go in this area...even if I need to wait a little longer

February 12, 2015	#8
drew51 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Sterling Heights, MI Zone 6a/5b Posts: 1,302	I have an indoor set up but too many other plants need the space, so I too am direct sowing, OK, if they don't flower the first year. I kept mine all winter in the fridge so i guess they should germinate!