🌼 Dandelion Grower’s Guide

Your go-to for cultivating the sunshine weed with purpose

🧬 Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale
• Type: Perennial herb
• Zones: USDA 3–10
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile

🌱 Getting Started

✅ Why Grow Dandelions?

• Edible: leaves (greens), roots (coffee substitute), flowers (wine, jelly)
• Medicinal: detox support, anti-inflammatory, diuretic
• Pollinator-friendly: early food source for bees

🌍 Choosing a Site

• Sun: At least 6 hours/day
• Soil: Loose, loamy, not overly rich (less nitrogen = milder leaves)
• Tip: Avoid sites treated with herbicides/pesticides

🌼 Planting Dandelions

🥄 From Seed

• When: Early spring or fall
• How:
  • Sow directly on soil surface (do not bury)
  • Lightly press into soil
  • Water gently
• Spacing: 6–12 inches apart
• Germination: 7–14 days

🌿 From Root Cuttings

• Take a 2–3 inch section of taproot
• Plant vertically, root down, just under soil
• Water in well

🌦️ Care & Maintenance

• Watering: Keep soil moist but not soggy
• Thinning: Thin seedlings once they reach a few inches tall
• Mulching: Optional – helps retain moisture

✂️ Harvesting

• Leaves: Harvest young leaves (3–5") in early spring
• Flowers: Pick mid-morning when fully open
• Roots: Dig in fall of the second year for best flavor

🍽️ How to Use Dandelions

Pro tip: Blanch leaves before eating to reduce bitterness (optional)

🐝 Eco Bonus

• Among the first spring bloomers – supports early pollinators
• Let a few go to seed (puffballs) for natural reseeding

🛑 Notes & Warnings

• Avoid harvesting from roadsides or chemically treated areas
• Test small amounts if you're new to eating dandelion
• Dandelion root is a natural diuretic – consult your doctor if on meds