Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost, plant out after last frost. Or direct sow 1 week before last frost in rows and thin to 6–12”. Germination variable. Treat as biannual, sow one year, harvest the next. Keep moist during warm months. Keep the plants picked to enjoy the mildest leaves. Growing in the shade also reduces bitterness. Enjoy blanched leaves in the fall by covering with a flower pot for three weeks. Blanching reduces bitterness. Plants may survive for 10 to 13 years in undisturbed locations. French dandelion will likely cross with the wild plants. To save seed, grow in isolation from other dandelions of about 1 mile. Surface sow, press into soil, do not cover. Soil pH 6.8–7.2. Hardiness zones 3–10. Perennial.
Federal germination standard: 60%. Usual seed life: 3–5 years. Isolation distance for seed saving: 1/2 mile.
Planting Depth
surface requires light
Soil Temp. Germ.
60–77˚FDays to Germ.
7–21Plant Spacing
5–12”Row Spacing
18”Days To Maturity
95Full Sun,
Moist Well Drained Soil