How fast will milkweed grow from seed?

MaryMary

Quite Contrary
Joined
May 17, 2016
Messages
2,241
Reaction score
3,251
Location
Southwestern Ohio
Hardiness Zone
6
Country
United States
For a couple years now, most counties in Ohio have asked residents to collect milkweed pods and drop them off at the Soil and Water Conservation Department. They don't want any that have cracked open, because the seeds might not be viable due to the Milkweed beetle. I collected pods last year, and I collected a lot that were already broken open, on the theory that the beetles can't have gotten them all. :)

I have an 18 mile drive to work, all country roads. I had paid attention all summer to where they did not mow, and a friend and I scattered the opened pods there. :whistle:

I went and looked today, and there are milkweeds!! (I didn't see any there last year.) But look, these seem very tall to be growing from a seed. :confused: I know the expression "growing like a weed" has a basis somewhere, but are these first year plants?

Could these be from the pods we threw?

Either way... YAY!!! (y)



0510171312aM.jpg



0510171312M2.jpg
 

JBtheExplorer

Native Gardener
Joined
Jun 13, 2014
Messages
1,412
Reaction score
3,199
Location
Wisconsin
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
5b
Country
United States
No, those aren't first year plants. The seeds you scattered might just be starting to grow, if they've started yet. They won't get big in their first year, so you probably won't notice any until the second year, and even then, they might be smaller because they'll need to compete with already-established vegetation.

Seeds are often not successful when scattered in already-established vegetation, but there is always a possibility of success, and that's why many throw milkweed seed balls along roadsides and in ditches. One successful seed could mean the potential of a small colony in the future.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
26,585
Messages
256,571
Members
13,258
Latest member
alba

Latest Threads

Top