Before the coneflower can be in full bloom, it must be planted. The planting time plays an important role because it determines the success of the cultivation and the vitality of the specimens.
Coneflower planting time
The best time to plant echinacea depends on the attitude you want to have. The planting date for specimens planted outdoors differs from those cultivated in pots. The purchase date of the plants can also affect the date. Two times of the year are typical for planting Echinacea:
- Spring before budding
- autumn after flowering
Coneflowers prefer planting in autumn, as the still warm soil makes it easier to grow. This allows the plant to establish itself more quickly, which is essential for the winter. An autumn planting is from Late September to early November possible. If, on the other hand, you decide to plant coneflowers in spring, you have to plant them in the ground quite early. Between February and March suggests itself. Luckily, the plants are hardy, so putting them in the bed won't be dangerous. The spring date is also good for sun hats in the tub, as they can still be kept in the house.
tip: If you have decided to sow seeds outdoors, you do not need to observe the planting dates mentioned as the seedlings will grow on the spot. An exception are specimens that you want to move to pots after pricking out and then plant out, which is a rather rare procedure.
plant coneflowers
As soon as the appointment is due, you can start planting. It is important that you choose a suitable location and dig a planting hole that is slightly larger than the actual root ball. The following tips will help you when planting:
- Distance between planting holes: 40 cm
- Dig planting holes
- Mix the excavated soil with sand and mature compost
- Carefully remove the plant from the pot
- moisten root ball if necessary
- check for dried, dead, or rotten roots
- remove them
- carefully place coneflowers in the planting hole
- fill up with excavated earth
- press well
- pour
Plant in buckets
Compared to planting outdoors, planting is a little more complex. The following guide will help you:
- Choose a bucket of the right size
- Drainage holes essential
- create drainage
- Material: gravel, potsherd
- optional: use garden fleece
- use high-quality potting soil
- Spread layer of substrate on drainage
- insert plant
- fill with substrate
- Lightly press
- moisten
If you keep several specimens, the same distance of 40 centimeters from bucket to bucket must be maintained. You can even have more than one plant in a pot as long as they have enough space.
Source: Don McCulley, Echinacea purpurea IMG 4818, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
notice: A big advantage of planting already grown plants is the flowering time during the season. You don't have to wait until next year to see the flowers of the perennial, as you do when sowing.