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Flowers

Dandelion growing guide

Often dismissed as a weed but incredibly valuable — deep taproot brings up minerals, flowers are early-season bee food, leaves are edible and nutritious. A garden ally.

Photo reference

Use this real-world photo as the main plant reference, then compare it with the botanical drawings below for leaf, flower and harvest details.

Dandelion real-world photo reference (Taraxacum officinale)
Wikimedia Commons · Sanjay Acharya · CC BY-SA 4.0
7-14 daysGermination
30-60 daysHarvest
20 cmSpacing
0.5 cmSow depth
Full/PartSun
Very HardyFrost
1.5 cm/weekWater
5.5-7.5pH

Planting calendar by climate

Use these windows as a public guide. Plotera can personalise tasks around your saved garden, location and planting dates.

ClimateSowTransplant / PlantHarvest
TropicalApr - AugApr - AugJan - Dec
SubtropicalFeb - SepFeb - SepJan - Dec
MediterraneanFeb - OctFeb - OctJan - Dec
TemperateFeb - OctFeb - OctJan - Dec
CoolFeb - SepFeb - SepJan - Dec
AridMar - SepMar - SepJan - Dec

Botanical reference

Compare the whole plant first, then check the leaf, flower and harvest detail to identify what Dandelion should look like as it grows.

Dandelion whole plant

Whole plant

Overall shape, height, branching and growth habit.

Dandelion leaf detail

Leaf detail

Leaf shape, edges, colour and vein pattern.

Dandelion flower detail

Flower detail

Flower colour, structure and where blooms appear.

Dandelion harvest / detail

Harvest / detail

Fruit, root, seed, pod or the strongest identifying feature.

Cooking and eating ideas

A quick garden-to-table guide for using Dandelion after harvest.

Raw / fresh

Use edible flowers sparingly as colourful garnishes, salad accents, teas, or infused syrups when the plant is known edible.

Cooked

Use edible blooms in teas, fritters, syrups, baking, or as a garnish after cooking.

Store / preserve

Dry edible petals for tea or decoration where appropriate.

Try: Salad garnish, Tea, Syrup, Edible decoration.

Good companions

Apple, Strawberry, Brassicas

Avoid near

No avoid list yet.

Growing note

Young leaves are mildest. Harvest before flowering. Roots can be roasted as a coffee substitute.

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