Does True Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) fall under the category of weed or ancient medicinal herb? These resilient heirloom plants offer more than meets the eye, as every part of the dandelion is packed with potential. From nutritious leaves, perfect for salads & teas, to golden blooms, cherished by pollinators - and don't forget dandelion wine!
True Wild Dandelion plants grow as vigorous and herbaceous tender perennials. As hardy heirlooms, dandelions will develop low-growth mounds that reach 4-6" tall. True Wild Dandelion varieties will begin producing green leaves, stems and bright-yellow flowers by late spring, summer or fall. Verdant leaves and sweet-nectar flowers can be picked early in the season, as they are at their flavor peak. By next year, nutrient-rich dandelion roots will be ready. As your region has its first frost, True Dandelion herbs will die back, while keeping their roots overwinter.
True Wild Dandelion is an herb that represents the sun, moon and stars as a symbol for its three stages of growth. As its bright-yellow flowers illustrate the sun, it's white puffy globes are the moon and the seeds represent the stars. The name "Dandelion" is English, but comes from the French meaning "dent de lion" which means lion's tooth.
• Scroll down for detailed growing info •
All Nimble NiteCap Seeds are:
• Heirloom
• Organic
• Non-GMO
• Open Pollinated
• Untreated
• US Grown
• growing instructions included
• Regular testing is conducted to uphold the highest germination standards, all the while employing appropriate seed storage techniques.
Sustainable Packaging & Shipping:
• NimbleNitecap seeds are packed in eco-friendly, compostable seed packets. Seed packets are printed in house with vegetable-based inks on biodegradable, recycled materials. (Small plastic bags are infrequently used to prevent the loss of very small seeds.)
• All orders are carefully packed and shipped with tracking via USPS First Class (or Priority, if selected) in padded ECOENCLOSE recycled and reusable mailers, or recycled boxes to protect your items in transit.
Most orders ship out the same or next business day! Please note that this time may be extended during peak season.
• FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $35 or more. Flat Rate shipping no matter how many packets you order.
• DIRECTIONS •
Latin Name:
Taraxacum officinale
Hardiness Zones:
3-10
Days to Maturity:
40-50+(baby leaves, flowers) 90+(roots)
Growth Habit:
Upright/mound
Soil Preference:
Rich, slightly acidic and well-drained
Temp Preference:
Warmer to cool
Light Preference:
Full sun to partial shade
Plant Height:
8-18"
Color:
Green leaves and stems, bright-yellow flowers
Flavor:
verdant greens similar to chicory, nectar-sweet flowers
~ sowing ~
Germination:
10 to 21 days at 41 to 68F. It is not recommended that you grow when soil temperatures are greater than 77 F as the seeds will go dormant.
Direct seed (recommended):
Direct seed anytime after the last spring frost or plant 6 weeks before the first frost in the fall.
Press seeds lightly into the soil’s surface and keep the seeded area moist until germination. Do not bury the seeds, as light helps to break dormancy.
Thin seedlings to 6″ apart for full sized crowns. If you intend to harvest as baby greens, they can be planted 3″ apart.
Transplant:
Can be sown in flats and transplanted outdoors at anytime. If you are growing for roots, it is best not to transplant, as transplanting disturbs the root shape.
~ growing ~
Water regularly. If growth slows after harvest, use a bit of kelp or fish based fertilizer to provide a boost of nutrition for the next growth spurt.
~ harvesting ~
Choose a clean area for your harvest. If you don’t have a dedicated garden bed or container for your dandelions, make sure the area that you’re harvesting your dandelions from is free of animal waste or foot traffic damage. You only want to pick and consume the cleanest and healthiest-looking dandelion flowers. Avoid harvesting dandelions from areas that have been chemically treated with pesticides or herbicides.
HARVESTING LEAVES:
Pick only the leaves of dandelions that haven’t yet flowered, the green coloring of the dandelion leaves changes from pale lime green to a darker green as the plant ages and the older leaves will be bitter.
Cover the area with dark fabric for a few days. A few days before you harvest your dandelions, cover the area you will be harvesting with some dark fabric. This blocks out the light and slows down the maturing of the dandelion leaves which can make them more bitter.
HARVESTING FLOWERS:
Snip your leaves and flowers. Snip the dandelion head just below the blossom using a clean pair of scissors, leaving a small bit of stem attached. If the blossoms are already open, put their stems in cold water to keep them from closing until you’re ready to use them. You can also snip away the young leaves from the center stem to use in salads.
HARVESTING ROOTS:
If you want to harvest the dandelion root, you’ll need to pull up the whole plant similar to how you’d regularly remove a weed. You can also use a digging tool to loosen the soil around the plant, which can make it easier to pull it up without snapping the roots. Keep in mind that the dandelion plant can still regrow as long as a piece of its root remains behind.
Culinary Uses
True Wild Dandelions, also known as "Common Dandelion" provide a variety of options for either eating fresh or cooked. Whether it is Dandelion tea or roasted greens, this herb has a verdant flavor similar to chicory when sauteed or steamed, while the bright-yellow flowers of Wild Dandelion are nectar-sweet and often added to salads. Although True Dandelions can be invasive herbs when it comes to certain areas of your lawn, there are some controlled gardening benefits when it comes to growing and enjoying dandelions. Dry the flowers to make dandelion wine or grind up the root to make dandelion coffee!
~ diseases/pests ~
Dandelion leaves are sometimes prone to mildew, which is exacerbated by humidity and any kind of plant stress.
To reduce the likelihood of mildew, keep the soil moist, minimize overhead irrigation, and space plants at recommended distance to allow for good air circulation between the plants.
Mildew on the leaves reduces root growth in proportion to the severity of the mildew.
Rabbits love to eat dandelions!
