When to Seed Milkweed
Milkweed should be direct seeded outdoors in fall, or stratified indoors and sown in trays for transplanting after all danger of frost has passed.
Where to Plant Milkweed
This plant will appreciate a spot with full sun. Loose, well-draining soil is ideal but this plant will tolerate an extremely wide range of growing conditions. Swamp milkweed in particular appreciates wet, swampy soil. This perennial bloom will come back year after year. It will readily spread and reseed, so keep this in mind when choosing a location! Plants reach three to four feet tall.
Growing Milkweed
Sow seeds ⅛ inch deep and six to eight inches apart. Once germinated, thin your seedlings to 24 to 36 inches. Once established, milkweed needs very little care or attention.
Harvesting Milkweed
Milkweed is best left to mature in the garden to benefit the many pollinator species that are attracted to it, particularly the threatened monarch butterflies.