How to Grow Dandelion From Seed

Perhaps best known as a widespread and stubborn weed, dandelions endear themselves to many people through their tasty, edible leaves. However, gathering wild dandelion greens poses several problems, most notably a lack of knowledge regarding the use of pesticide on the plant. Many gardeners turn to home cultivation to fulfill their desire for safe, pesticide-free dandelion greens. Despite their reputation as invasive weeds, dandelions will remain under control if the flower heads are removed as soon as they appear.

Plastic bag
Bowl
Spray bottle
3-inch-deep seedling tray
Organic potting soil
Sharp sand

Instructions

- 1
  Gather seeds from dandelions once they dry out and attain their characteristic globular appearance. Place a plastic bag over the seed head. Hold the bag closed and shake the stem to release the fluffy white seeds.
- 2
  Pour the seeds into a shallow bowl. Mist the seeds to weigh down the cottony matrix so they will not blow away and germinate in undesirable areas.
- 3
  Prepare a growing container for the dandelion seeds. Fill a 3-inch-deep seedling tray with organic potting soil. Mist the soil with a spray bottle until it feels wet at a depth of 1 inch.
- 4
  Sow one dandelion seed per square inch of surface area in the seedling tray. Press the dandelion seeds firmly into the surface of the soil to secure them. Sprinkle a very light layer of sharp sand over the dandelion seeds to hold moisture around them as they germinate.
- 5
  Set the seedling tray next to a south-facing window or under a fluorescent lamp. Keep temperatures at about 68 degrees F.
- 6
  Watch for germination in two to three days. Thin the seedlings so one remains for every 4 square inches of space. Mist the dandelion seedlings every other day to maintain light dampness 1/2 inch below the surface.
- 7
  Harvest the greens by clipping them near the base instead of pulling up the whole plant since they will continue to generate leaves during the growing season.
- 8
  Clip off the flower heads as they appear, or let one or two ripen so you can harvest more seed.

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