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With their delightfully colored flowers in cheerful tones of lemon-yellow and orange, Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) bring more vibrancy to the garden. Like many other wildflowers, growing black-eyed Susans is simple and enjoyable when the blooms adorn the garden, natural area, or meadow. As a result, this article from gardenhow.net will provide a step-by-step guide on planting Black-Eyed Susan seedlings.
Where to plant Black-Eyed Susan?
Flower borders and beds, patios, containers, city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal gardens, and cut flower gardens are all good places to grow Black-Eyed Susan.
When to plant Black-Eyed Susan?
When deciding to plant Black-Eyed Susan in the garden, something you always want to consider is the proper time to cultivate them successfully. When you figure out when to plant them, you can provide the best conditions for these flowers to grow. You can plant them from seeds indoors and then transplant Black-Eyed Susan seedlings. Read on to explore it.
When to sow Black-Eyed Susan seeds?
If you plant Black-Eyed Susans in the fall in locations with at least three months of temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they will grow in the spring. Plant the seeds in early to mid-October, approximately six weeks before the first frost is forecast.
Moreover, seeds sown in spring require pretreatment if you want flowers the first year. To help the seeds break dormancy, keep them in a place with a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below for three months before planting, either outdoors or in the refrigerator.
This is the best time to sow seeds to create Black-Eyed Susan seedlings.
For example, with the annuals Black-Eyed Susan you can sow seeds from February to April in pots or trays. However, with the perennials Black-Eyed Susan you can sow from February to July.
When to plant Black-Eyed Susan seedlings?
If the threat of frost has passed in your location, put your new plants out as soon as possible after getting them. Garden centers, nurseries, and mail order vendors all sell young plants. Perennials may be planted at any time of year, although the best seasons are in the fall and spring.
How to plant Black-Eyed Susan seedlings?
You can buy Black-Eyed Susan seedlings in the store, or you can start by sowing seeds to make Black-Eyed Susan seedlings. Here are some essential steps for sowing seeds indoors and outdoors and transplanting Black-Eyed Susan seedlings.
Sow Black-Eyed Susan seeds Indoors
With proper care and preparation, you can grow Black-Eyed Susan from seed. Black-Eyed Susan seeds germinate quickly indoors or outdoors if kept in warm, moist conditions.
Step 1: Refrigerate Black-Eyed Susan seeds before planting
Five months before the final spring frost, prepare Black-Eyed Susan seeds for indoor sowing. Refrigerate them in a plastic bag filled with slightly moist sphagnum moss. Moisten the moss as needed.
Step 2: Prepare the potting mix for sowing seeds
You should start preparing the plant in pots around 6 to 8 weeks before the final spring frost. Then, in 3-inch starter pots, combine 4 parts potting soil, 1 part medium-grit sand, and 1 part perlite.
Step 3: Sow Black-Eyed Susan seeds
Sowing is another step in the Black-Eyed Susan planting process. Sow two Black-Eyed Susan seeds in each beginning pot. Roughen the soil using your fingertips. Place the seeds on top of the soil and press them down lightly.
Step 4: Take care of them
Spray each starting pot thoroughly with a spray bottle to settle the soil. Place the pots near a window that gets at least six hours of daily light. Use a propagation mat to apply bottom heat of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
In addition, to keep the soil from drying up too quickly, you can cover the pots with a sheet of clear plastic wrap. By leaving the edges open, extra moisture may escape.
Maintaining soil moisture is essential while planting Black-Eyed Susan. When the surface soil is nearly dry, water the seeds. Instead of putting water in the pots, mist the Black-Eyed Susan seeds with a spray bottle to avoid them becoming dislodged.
Keep an eye out for germination one week after seeding. Remove the plastic covering after they have bloomed. Remove the weaker of the two Black-Eyed Susan seedlings from each pot.
Sow Black-Eyed Susan seeds outdoors
Step 1: Black-Eyed Susan seed stratification
First of all, you need to consider the cold stratification of Black-Eyed Susan seeds. You should sow them outside in the fall. Because seeds require cold stratification, which naturally occurs throughout the winter months, seeds can also be sown in early to mid-spring, but they must be kept refrigerated for three months at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: Prepare the location
In a sunny, well-drained spot, create a planting space. Remove any weeds and trash from the soil. Use a cultivating fork to work a 3-inch layer of compost into the top 8 inches of soil.
Step 3: Sow Black-Eyed Susan seeds outdoors
You can use a hoe to even out the soil. Make shallow furrows one-eighth inch deep throughout the surface with a rake.
Black-Eyed Susan seeds should be evenly distributed over the furrows.
A one-eighth-inch coating of compost should be applied to the seeds.
Step 4: Take care of them
Water the bed thoroughly to settle the compost onto the Black-Eyed Susan seeds. Continue to water until the soil’s top four inches are totally soaked.
You should use a garden hose with a misting nozzle since it is less disruptive to the seeds.
Furthermore, you need to keep the top 2 inches of soil wet at all times throughout the germination period. Check the soil moisture at least twice a day and provide water as needed to keep the bed from drying out.
Germination should occur in about a week. Thin the Black-Eyed Susan seedlings to one every 1 1/2 to 2 feet until they reach 2 inches in height. You can remove the weakest Black-Eyed Susan seedlings, leaving only the strongest.
Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch between the plants when they reach a height of 4 inches. Water 2 inches weekly for the first month, then 1 inch weekly after that. You need to provide more water during periods of extreme heat.
Transplant Black-Eyed Susan seedlings
When your Rudbeckia seedlings reach a height of 3-4 inches, they are ready to be planted in their ultimate position. To adapt your Black-Eyed Susan seedlings to outdoor conditions, keep them in a cold frame or another covered space for a week before bringing them outdoors.
Step 1: Prepare the best location for Black-Eyed Susan seedlings
To begin, dig a hole twice the width of the pot and just below the depth of the pot.
Place a handful of compost in the hole’s bottom and mix thoroughly.
Fill the hole with water and wait for it to drain.
Step 2: Planting Black-Eyed Susan seedlings
Fill in around the pot with your Black-Eyed Susans. Firmly pack the soil.
Keep an eye on your seedling. Apply liquid fence (it works) or erect a fence around the plant and secure it with stakes.
Companion plants for Black-Eyed Susan
It’s very easy to choose the appropriate flower combination to go with your Black-Eyed Susan bushes. Many plants flourish in it, and as a result, they look fantastic. Plant Black-Eyed Susan with other flowers that have similar care requirements, bloom at the same time or shortly after, and complement or contrast in color and texture.Here are some companion plants for Black-Eyed Susan.
Daisy
Michaelmas Daisies are an excellent flower to combine with Black-Eyed Susans since their flowering seasons overlap, with Michaelmas Daisies blooming later in the summer and lasting longer than Black-Eyed Susans.
Mix these two plants together in groups so that as the Black-Eyed Susan blossoms fade, the Michaelmas Daisies may take over with their vibrant flower color and last far into the fall.
Salvia
Because of their high spires or spikes of little flowers for a textural difference, Salvia may look beautiful either around groups of Black-Eyed Susan’s or the other way around, and you can go for your school’s colors.
Salvia, whether planted to the side or in front of your Black-Eyed Susans, may turn them into show-stoppers in your garden.
Yarrow
Common Yarrow has a different flower form and structure than Black-Eyed Susans, which makes them a great contrast and allows you to mix and match blossom colors for a unique garden look.
For a white, yellow, red, or pink carpet of softness, put Common Yarrow in front of your Black-Eyed Susan plants.
Zinnia
Zinnias, like cosmos, are an excellent Black-Eyed Susan companion plant. They come in practically every hue of the rainbow, so you’ll be able to choose one that complements your garden’s color scheme.
Gomphrena
Gomphrena, like other companion plants to Black-Eyed Susan, thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and constant watering. Even with sporadic watering, the plant will thrive as long as it is established. The plant produces flowers that are suitable for cutting on long stems.
Choosing a variety of flowers from this list can help to attract pollinators and beneficial insects to your flower garden by providing a variety of shapes and colors.
Q & A
How deep do you plant Black-Eyed Susans?
The roots of Black-Eyed Susans are fibrous. This root’s most distinctive trait is that it grows close to the ground’s surface. The roots of many plants rarely reach beyond 20 inches.
When transplanting plants, you should plant Black-Eyed Susans into a shallow hole. A hole of around 12 inches will usually be enough. If you’re transferring a potted Black-Eyed Susan, dig a hole twice the depth and width of the pot it came in.
What do you do with Black-Eyed Susans at the end of the season?
Remove any faded or wilting flowers. To keep the plant neat and under control, Black-Eyed Susan blooms throughout the growth season. Deadheading rudbeckias is simple.
Cut the stem back to the base of the plant on Rudbeckia that has a single bloom on each stem. Simply snip off the dead blooms from Rudbeckias with many blossoms on a stem.
Cut Black-Eyed Susan back to approximately 4″ tall (10 cm) in the fall, or let the remaining flowers go to seed for the birds if you don’t mind a few extra Black-Eyed Susan plants. Cut and dried seed heads can also be used to propagate new plants.
Final Thoughts
Rudbeckias, with their daisy-like blossoms, add a blaze of burnished beauty to the garden in the late summer months. This article from gardenhow.net provided additional information about how to sow seeds and plant Black-Eyed Susan seedlings. Planting Black-Eyed Susan gives you a distinctive twist and will adorn your garden. Thank you for reading!
Related posts:
Overview: Great varieties of Rudbeckia: Black-eyed Susans, Coneflowers
Diseases on Black-eyed Susan leaves and Solutions
Lists of Black-eyed Susan companion plants
What are the methods for caring for Black-eyed Susans?