When do I start planting Milkweed

[gregkupec]

Hi Everyone!

New to this forum, but interested in preserving one of nature's beauty's. Should I follow the rigid rule: planting after the last frost or is there a specific month for this (planning on raising from seedlings-THAT MIGHT BE A BIG MISTAKE. The thumb's anything but green)

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jim]

Welcome!

We have lots of great milkweed propagation information online at

http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/prop.htm

but yes, you are correct in that milkweed seeds may be sown outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Alternatively, milkweed seedlings can be started indoors in a greenhouse or under artificial lighting and then transplanted outdoors after the average date of last frost.

Good Luck and enjoy the forums!

[Keith Petrosky]

By me my potted butterfly weed spreads it's seeds naturally around late summer, and the next year the seedlings grow by themselves, I have seen 4 large plants already from last years seeds!

[Teresa]

I start mine in the early spring inside before the first frost. I think I started in Marchish. I put 2 or 3 seeds in a peat type container and it seems like it took them forever to sprout. But, they did finally. I put them out after cutting off the bottom of the containers, after the danger of frost had passed. They were about 4-5 inches tall. They reached about 3 feet this year which I was amazed for a first year plant.