Echinacea Herb Seeds

About Echinacea Herb Seeds

Echinacea Herb Seeds grow in full sun, partial shade positions. Expect 36 to 48 inches at maturity. Flowering runs spring through summer. Harvest begins around 60 to 90 days from sowing. The figures below are the ones on the packets in this group; each product page carries the exact numbers for that variety.

When to plant

Plant in fall, spring. Sow directly where the plants are to grow; this variety does not transplant happily. The seed needs a cold, moist period before it will break dormancy: sow in late fall and let winter do the work, or chill it in damp medium in the refrigerator first. Hardy in zones 3 to 9 — your local frost dates decide the exact week.

Where to plant

Choose a site in full sun, partial shade. Water needs are average once the plants are established. Free-draining soil matters more than rich soil; seed sown into ground that stays wet rots before it germinates. Allow 10 to 12 inches between plants so air can move between them. Plan for 36 to 48 inches of growth when you place them in a bed or border.

How to plant

Sow 1/4 inch deep, spaced 10 to 12 inches apart. Water gently to settle the soil, then keep the surface evenly moist until seedlings or shoots appear.

How to care

Keep watering average, at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves. In zones 3 to 9 these come back each year: let the foliage die down naturally after flowering, since that is what feeds next season's growth. Flowers appear spring through summer; cutting or deadheading regularly keeps more coming. Expect to start harvesting around 60 to 90 days after sowing.

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