Coreopsis: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow coreopsis under cover?
Plan to sow coreopsis under cover in late winter or early spring, according to the species and the seed packet instructions. You can start before the last frosts if your growing space provides the required temperature and protects young plants from cold. Make sure there is enough light to prevent long, weak stems. Check any cold treatment instructions that apply to your chosen seeds.
Use a clean seed tray or pots with drainage holes, filled with fine, free-draining seed compost. Moisten the compost before scattering the seeds thinly. Press them gently against the surface. Follow the sowing depth on the packet: a very light covering suits many coreopsis, while some seeds are surface sown. Do not bury them deeply.
Keep the compost slightly moist until germination, without leaving standing water. Water with a gentle mist or from below to avoid moving the seeds. If you use a cover, ventilate it regularly and remove it once seedlings emerge. Then keep the seedlings in a well-lit position.
Transplant them into individual pots when they have several true leaves and are large enough to handle. Gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions before planting out. Wait until frosts have ended for plants that are vulnerable to cold, then choose free-draining soil and a position suited to the cultivar.
How do you sow coreopsis outdoors?
How do you plant coreopsis?
When do coreopsis bloom?
How to care for this plant
-
Remove faded flowers
To encourage further flowering, remove faded flowers with their short stalks without damaging buds. Leave any heads you want to set seed or keep for wildlife.
