Is Your Milkweed Not Germinating? My Insights for Seed Starting, Cold Stratification & Care

[@CounterFleche]

The other problem with tropical milkweed is that it has led to increased infection with a protozoan parasite called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, that shortens the butterflies’ lifespan and makes it difficult to fly. When native milkweeds die off, the parasite dies with them, meaning there’s fresh, uncontaminated milkweed each spring. Since tropical milkweed doesn’t die off, the parasites keeps spreading.

[@AsintheDaysofNoah]

Plz be careful of the milky sap. My husband almost went blind. Wear gloves and do not wipe eyes unless you’ve washed your hands.

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Wow! We are careful. Just like with euphorbia plants.

[@justinp4996]

This is my 4th year starting milkweed from saved seed and I 100% agree it is a slow process but well worth the reward seeing the butterflies and caterpillars in the garden.

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Wasn't another huge problem with tropical milkweed a parasite problem which makes deformed Monarch butterflies? I've heard this is the biggest problem with growing tropical. I grow butterfly weed which is also a beautiful orange here in the Midwest, which could be a substitute for tropical if people don't want to use it. They're all really pretty. Swamp milkweed is very showy and safe for cooler climates I've also heard.

[@bloodstriper3649]

I can attest that cold stratification is NOT required. None of the seeds I subjected to CS germinated. In contrast, the seeds I just planted out of the packet germinated just fine.

[@deannaattai9097]

So excited that you are going to start seed production from native milkweeds! Wonderful news, thank you!!

[@muriellockhoff9560]

I love my milkweed plant I got a lot of caterpillars of monarchs it great

[@kayteebaker]

My seeds FINALLY germinated!!! And I thought their growth was stunted because everything else is exploding while these little seedlings just sit there. My three year old potted narrow leaf is huge and almost flowering, and there are a bunch of caterpillars already to their last stage. I have sworn to NOT buy any more milkweed plants so I have to propegate by seed. Was not successful last year so I am stoked these four varieties from you are all germinating!!!

[@retired_man_about_town]

When can I buy seeds for the milkweeds? TY

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Hey Tim! Thanks for watching :) At the moment, we have two varieties in stock, and we're working on getting stocked up for the other two here: sandiegoseedcompany.com/product-tag/milkweed-seeds/

[@DonnaLorenzen2009]

Great news that you're going to do native milkweed seed production.

[@ellenkuang8853]

The one thing about tropical milkweed though is that due to climate change, monarchs are coming out of diapause earlier and earlier well before narrowleaf comes out of its winter dieback period. So because of this mismatch, there's some arguing that it's good to keep tropical milkweed around

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

You are 100% correct. I appreciate that you said "argument" because there is still a lot of data to review to get a bigger picture understanding of this. Tropical milkweed becomes a perennial in our zone and should be cut down to the ground in the fall in gardens. I would suspect that there is still lots of research to do because our gardens here in so cal are full of many non-native, ornamental plants that bloom year-round .

[@CounterFleche]

The main problem with non-native tropical milkweed is a protozoan parasite called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha. Because the tropical milkweed doesn't die off, the parasite stays alive on the plant and spreads from plant to plant by the butterflies. This parasite causes the Monarch serious problems.

[@trailblazer1047]

I tryed Milkweed,swampweed,never worked never saw a butterfly touch it,only Dill and Parsley,only worked.They did not feed from it or lay eggs.

[@richardclark7679]

Yeah, but how do I control the aphids? I get them so bad the leaves are absolutely covered and the Ladybug larva can't even keep up.... I have to take a brush and physically remove them! Or maybe I just spoil my milkweeds... they grow over 7 ft tall in my front garden. :)

[@donaldrobbins252]

I grow common and swamp milkweed from seed and it is a slow process. Every time I see it grow in nature I take a minute and think about the odds it took to make it.

[@aok2727]

Hey Beauty! I love hearing you on theEpic Garden Podcast. You are the first I have seen that talks about how long germination takes. This is very good info as I was feeling a little beaten

[@scuttlezebra2963]

Great video! Thank you for working with the monarch community and getting some awesome info for us. I was always curious about that tropical milkweed debate 😁

[@robyndudley9684]

Great video. Learned something new about milkweed. I’m in 9b NorCal and many flowering plants are perineal here. Never thought to cut it back.

[@MichaelJosephJr934]

I'm in Chicago zone 5 and I have tons of these growing wild on my land. But I've never seen a bee or butterfly land on them.

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Very cool that you have them, but bummer they aren't attracting pollinators. Are there many monarchs in your area?

[@domesti-city]

Just picked up a narrow-leaf milkweed and could not remember why it was preferred over the tropical milkweed that is spreading rapidly through my neighbor's rose planters. I didn't realize the narrow-leaf would die back in the winter, or that the other should be cut back. We have Monarchs active in the garden now. Thanks for the education!

[@rachelhorn8823]

I came across a lady who specializes in Butterfly Weed in Illinois. She gave me a pod of seeds and told me to get toilet paper rolls, make little pots, fill with soil and seeds. Place in food container like you showed or lettuce container. I left it outside all winter in my screened in porch. I have a bunch started now its April and they aren't even a inch tall! Question, when do you place them safely in the garden? I have planted 3 and they are gone! I have more but am afraid to plant them,,,,,slow slow growers! Same thing with Baptisia seedlings!

[@catherinatdailey2588]

Can you get milkweed in Columbia SC

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

You can definitely get the seeds, but it's always recommend to plant what's native to your area: www.scwf.org/milkweed-types

[@basically89]

Hey I just bought a pack of your narrow leaf milk weed from grangeetos in Escondido. Congratulations it looks like you nailed your production. Two quick questions when would u recommend transplanting or up potting my plugs? Will the narrow leaf perennialize in San Diego county?

[@stacy7950]

Deer hunters use it when it is dried out, to check the wind direction

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Love hearing this. So many ways to use mother nature.

[@ginam5683]

This was such a great video and I loved that you highlight each variety of milkweed ❤ I am in the Southeast Louisiana ⚜ and I have started all new native milkweed seeds as well as cut back my other plants here. I am in 9b and I am hoping I can successfully grow purple milkweed also!! ☺

[@Doktracy]

The Phoenix Botanical gardens has a great butterfly garden and you’re able to see many very drought tolerant,unusual milkweeds planted in their native environment along with amazing salvias,echinaceas and other butterfly attractors.

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

Ooo love it! Sounds like a great spot to learn & take kiddos

[@noraalvarado8178]

I live in N.Y. I decided to plant milkweed in my garden this year after a monarch enclosed underneath my dad's porch. Was the coolest thing. He has common milkweed that naturally came up next to his house. I have none in my yard . Bought seeds that were from Botanical Interest at a grocery store in my area that carries them. I purchased common, swamp, narrowleaf, showy and butterfly weed. I cold stratified them in a damp paper towel then put them in baggy in my refrigerator in a plastic storage container labeled. After 28 days I planted them in 72 peat plugs and put them in my furnace room ontop of my hot water heater since i don't have a heat mat . They literally germinate in days almost all 72 of them. I put them underneath my grow lights and have been growing them since February. Some right now are huge to the point where two of my butterfly weed plants have bloomed in the house. My last frost date isn't untill around may 15th and were gonna be in the 30s TONIGHT so i can't plant them out yet. Will start seeds again next year the same way but not as early.

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

So cool!

[@irasemacalvillo6851]

What a great timing! I have narrowed leaf milkweed sprouts in several areas of my garden. Now I understand why they took so long🤣 Do I need to cut it back also? Thank you!

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

It should naturally die back.

[@carollundberg2714]

Great info, thanks, haven’t started my seeds yet. Was that Swiss Chard over your right shoulder? Do you cut it back?

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

It is. We harvest it as much as we can. It always produces WAY more than we can eat. We let the rest go to seed.

[@mikeCavalle]

Why is there algae all over the flats?

[@donovanbeck6286]

Native nurseries in LA area hate this stuff, literally noxious weeds in their view. I’d love to see a source that shows this growing historically in SD. Everything I can find says that it was grown in gardens very early in modern history

[@donovanbeck6286]

And this is just the tropical stuff, narrowleaf or California milkweed is so different

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

You are correct. There is a bit of controversy about milkweed. Tropical milkweed grows more like an ornamental here in SoCal and has been under scrutiny for its long blooming season which may lead to issues in the migratory habits of butterflies. Narrowleaf, wholly pod, and others are native to California and commercial seed production of them is extremely limited, which is why the seed is hard to find. I would encourage you to look into ethnobotany around the Asclepias plants in California. I would be very interested in your findings.

[@Mama_Nells_Garden]

I'm up in the Modesto CA area (zone 9b) and I found several Narrowleaf milkweed plants up in our foothills. I collected so many seeds and have started dozens. It's so exciting to see them pop up! I've even scattered some seeds along our hiking trails. Fingers crossed they take off.

[@gonzalogarcia187]

Wow I am also in Modesto and had no idea we had milkweeds naturally growing in this area. That's awesome that you're spreading those seeds hope they take off as well.

[@Mama_Nells_Garden]

@@gonzalogarcia187 howdy neighbor. Lol. Yes, I've been able to find narrowleaf milkweed plants out Lake rd. That's the road that goes around Turlock lake. I also found a LARGE patch of narrowleaf at the back entrance to the lake... though they have it blocked off.... you can still walk in. If you're ever out that way.... check it out! The best time is late summer to mid fall. Happy gardening!

[@rogana5158able]

Swan plant is a noxious weed in South Australia.

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

That's amazing. Goes to show you, one garden plant is another's weed.

[@amygradybsw]

Sharing!!❤

[@RickysFarmAndHatchery]

F butterflies! They ate all my cabbage and my broccoli. Destroyed my tomatoes. How do you make caterpillar poison?

[@SanDiegoSeedCompany]

If you have milkweed in the garden, monarchs will be attracted to that. Cabbage loopers (usually little green caterpillars and white moths) can eat a lot of greens for sure. There are some natural, organic pest options. You can also pick them off and make sure you transplant seedlings that are large enough to handle a little bit of pest damage.