How to Sow Dandelion Seeds: Reproduction and Planting

Sowing dandelions is a very simple task

Do you like dandelion leaves in your salad? Or use its flowers in various recipes? Sometimes it can be a bit difficult to find this vegetable in supermarkets, and depending on the area it can be difficult to find it in the wild. But there is a very simple solution: Grow it ourselves! In order to carry out this task, we are going to explain how to sow dandelion seeds.

In addition, we will not only tell how to do it, but we will also discuss how this curious vegetable reproduces, when is the best time to plant dandelions and how to harvest it. So I recommend that you keep reading and that you encourage yourself to grow dandelions, either in the garden or in a pot. And if you don’t like how to consume it, you can enjoy its beautiful golden flowers.

How does a dandelion reproduce?

Dandelions reproduce asexually

Before explaining how to sow seeds of dandelion, we are going to talk a little about the curious form of reproduction that this flower has. As many of you already know, plants can reproduce both sexually and asexually. What does this mean?

Like animals, when it comes to the sexual reproduction of plants, generations need both male and female gametes. These carry half of the genes of the organism in question. Flowering plants are generally the ones that show the most advanced form of this type of reproduction, at least in vegetables. They produce sperm cells derived from pollen. These cells end up joining with the ovarian cells, consequently producing the seeds. Due to this mix, in the end each seed is unique at the genetic level.

This result of sexual reproduction is the complete opposite of asexual reproduction. Of the latter there are several different types. However, they all have one thing in common: The result is daughter plants that are completely identical, genetically speaking. This is the case with the dandelion, which reproduces asexually.

Asexual reproduction of dandelions: Apomixis

As we have already mentioned above, there are different types of asexual reproduction in plants. In the case of dandelions, it is apomixis. There are many species of plants that use this way to generate viable seeds without the need for a fusion between sperm and ovum. Through apomixis, the dandelion generates seeds that are basically clones of it. Reproductive cells do not lose half of their genes during the meiosis process, but retain all the genetic material of chromosomes. It is estimated that around 350 plant families reproduce by apomixis.

Specifically in the case of dandelions, the seeds end up forming the so-called “bakers” or “feathers”, which are the kind of white nibs that we all love to blow when we see them. And this is how it spreads: When it’s windy, the feathers fly out and scatter across the field, and even further. Thus, this vegetable is capable of reseeding itself over and over again. During the flowering season of the dandelion, which is usually during the spring, some meadows and fields become so covered with the golden flowers of this vegetable that you can hardly see the grass.

How to plant dandelion seeds?

Dandelion is used culinary

Once we are clear that we want to grow dandelions, we have to get the seeds and plant them directly in the ground where we want the plants to grow. It is as simple as throw the seeds of this vegetable at a distance of fifteen centimeters between them. In the event that we want to make several lines of plants, the distance between these lines must be thirty centimeters.

When we have the first step ready, it’s time to start caring for and maintaining the plants. For this we must take into account the usual: Substrate, temperature, lighting, irrigation and fertilizer.

  • Substratum: Fresh soil, ideally rich in humus and well tilled.
  • Temperature: It prefers temperate temperatures, but it resists the cold well, being able to withstand temperatures up to eight degrees below zero.
  • Lighting: It loves the sun, but it can also be located in a place with a little shade.
  • Irrigation: It should be moderate and zero in the rainy season. Prefers humidity but withstands drought well.
  • Fertilizer: It is advisable to make a fertilizer with compost before sowing.

If we want to keep multiplying our dandelions, we should not harvest the prettiest and healthiest individuals. It is best to wait for them to produce seeds, catch them before the wind blows them away (literally) and use them for the next planting.

Dandelion Harvest

As for the dandelion harvest, it takes place about ten to twelve months after sowing. If our intention is to use the leaves of this vegetable for salads, we must cut the rosettes during winter and early spring. To do this, you have to push the knife slightly on the ground and tilt it. On the other hand, if we want to eat them cooked, we can collect them throughout the year. Regarding the consumption of flowers, we must collect them as soon as they appear. To do this you simply have to break them just below your head.

When to plant dandelion seeds?

Now that we know how to sow dandelion seeds, it is time to clarify when to do it. The best time for this task is in the fall or early spring. Another option is to plant this flower in a greenhouse. In this case, once the first leaves begin to appear, we must transplant the dandelions to their final place so that they can grow strong and healthy.

In conclusion we can say that it is not difficult to grow this plant. Not only is it an ideal vegetable to make salads and other recipes, but it is also a good hobby for children, once the so-called plumeritos are created. Who doesn’t like to blow on dandelions?

How to Sow Dandelion Seeds: Reproduction and Planting

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