Growing Echinacea from seed.

[Hester]

I've sown some Echinacea pupurea but there's no sign of germination.
I've just done some google research and it looks like it needs a period of cold before it will germinate so maybe I would have been better sowing it outside rather than in my glasshouse in early spring.
Has anyone had success with growing echinacea from seed?
I'd like to know about your experience.

[Kali]

I have grown it Hester, it seems to take a long time to establish and doesn't flower until the following year, I am still waiting for my plants to re shoot, I may have uprooted them by mistake, I have some seeds about 2 years old I could share with you if you want to try them. I am sure i just sowed them in seedraising mix without giving them any special chilling.

[Hester]

Thanks Kali
I still have some seed, but might take up your offer if I don't have any success. I'll let you know. I may buy a plant to get it established quicker. I used to have it in my garden along with lots of other herbs that got lost in times of neglect or zealous weeding by helpers.

Kali said:

I have grown it Hester, it seems to take a long time to establish and doesn't flower until the following year, I am still waiting for my plants to re shoot, I may have uprooted them by mistake, I have some seeds about 2 years old I could share with you if you want to try them. I am sure i just sowed them in seedraising mix without giving them any special chilling.

[Isabell Strange]

Hi Hester; I remember going to a talk (some years ago) given by a guy who was growing echinacea comercially at Rewa in the Rangitikei. I remember him saying that he had significantly more success planting by the moon. He also did say that ehinacea does hate getting overgrown by weeds.

[Hester]

I now have 2 tiny seedlings that have germinated 28 days after the original sowing. More may follow. I sowed the seed in seed raising mix in a punnet and kept it moist in my glasshouse. So I guess it's just a matter of being very patient, and not giving up on that empty looking punnet.

[Linda]

Hi,
I've grown echinacea from seed several times...they do seem to be a little slow then suddenly they pop up everywhere. I've had more success sowing straight into the ground than in trays and planting out later.

[Oakdale Organics]

Hi Heather
We have grown Echinacea successfully, the average germination rate for herbs, in general, is 30-60%, so don't be disappointed if you get only a few plants out of a packet of seeds. Germinate it when it's warm outside, definitely not through the winter. Echinacea seeds don't need to be stratified, so give it a go this month.
You can check our website for seedlings if you'd like. Cheers, Monica at Oakdale Organics

[Yvonne Symons]

Hi Hester

I managed to get all 6 seeds to germinate, they were sown early September inside the house on a sunny table. Three have been planted out by the washing line and I haven't yet decided where to put the other three, probably in the same place. The one I am having problems with in lavender now that just will not germinate for me at all.

I have just read some of the other posts, hmm I was hoping to get some flowers this year lol oh well I guess I will just have to wait.