Cold-Stratifying Milkweed Seeds

COLD-STRATIFY MILKWEED SEEDS FOR BEST RESULTS

Many milkweed species have a hard seed shell that prevents them from sprouting in the spring, especially if collected in the fall and stored indoors. Cold-stratification is a process that is very successful in germinating milkweed seeds. However, you do need to plan in advance. The process takes 30-60 days.

Simply sprinkle milkweed seeds in a single layer on a damp paper towel and layer with another damp paper towel. Alternatively, put the seeds on 1/2 of the paper towel and then fold in half.

Put as many layers as you like in a large Ziploc-type baggie and store in the fridge (NOT the freezer) for 30-60 days.

Once ready to plant, place the seeds in moist soil in pots on a heated pad or in a sunny spot. If time is of an essence, the germination time can be reduced by taking the bag from the fridge, checking the moisture, and putting it directly on a heated pad for 7 days before planting. Either way, the pots of planted seeds should be placed on heated pad or in a sunny spot.