Farmers and milk weed

[seedcorn]

Thought some might find this of interest. At meeting for farmers, some mentioned that they are planting patches of wild flowers (milk weed) for Monarchs. Said they saw more last year.

So in the spirit, I walked the creek bank and scattered milk weed seeds where they weren’t.

Yes, we will still kill weeds in fields-just like you do in your yards/gardens. How many here have dedicated patches of milk weeds?

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

I bought some expensive Milk Weed seeds last year. Scarified them. Put them in the refrigerator. Planted them late spring. I have no idea if they came up. Bah humbug...

 

[seedcorn]

I bought some expensive Milk Weed seeds last year. Scarified them. Put them in the refrigerator. Planted them late spring. I have no idea if they came up. Bah humbug...

Bought? Should have asked, easy to mail-super light.

 

[so lucky]

I don't have the regular pale pink milkweed that I have been told is the best food for monarchs. I say every year that I will plant some, but DH and I have regular disagreements on where to allow it to grow. I think we have agreed upon a place, finally. I do have some of the orange milkweed.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

Bought? Should have asked, easy to mail-super light.

I recall that the packet was $7.99. Outrageous. I'd be glad to receive a gift from you. I'll plant them at my new place to which I'm moving in late May/early June. I can plant anytime. I've been planting bulbs now for enjoyment over the few years I'll be there.

 

[catjac1975]

I don't have the regular pale pink milkweed that I have been told is the best food for monarchs. I say every year that I will plant some, but DH and I have regular disagreements on where to allow it to grow. I think we have agreed upon a place, finally. I do have some of the orange milkweed.

I put it at the edge of my field.

 

[flowerbug]

I bought some expensive Milk Weed seeds last year. Scarified them. Put them in the refrigerator. Planted them late spring. I have no idea if they came up. Bah humbug...

if you start them in long skinny tubes they can develop their tap root and be transplanted. much easier to know where they are and to check on them.

they send roots a long ways to the sides. if you want to keep them contained in an area you will need a root barrier. i recommend this for people who are not willing to let them wander because they will.

the roots are easier to remove than sow thistile because they are bigger and easier to see all the pieces, but they are similar in habit.

 

[flowerbug]

Thought some might find this of interest. At meeting for farmers, some mentioned that they are planting patches of wild flowers (milk weed) for Monarchs. Said they saw more last year.

So in the spirit, I walked the creek bank and scattered milk weed seeds where they weren’t.

Yes, we will still kill weeds in fields-just like you do in your yards/gardens. How many here have dedicated patches of milk weeds?

i have patches of butterfly weed (a. tuberosa) here or there and there is joe pye and milkweed growing in several places in the large ditch and in spots here or there as they show up. some i remove - others i leave alone.

the butterfly larvae were munching on the butterfly weed late last summer and there were hardly any leaves left on those plants so i tried to move some of the larvae to fresh plants, but i'm not sure they liked that. too many larvae on one plant.

if anyone wants butterfly weed or milkweed seeds i usually have some each year.

 

[ninnymary]

I created a small monarch habitat under my persimmon tree. Our local paper printed an article that I wrote about monarchs. Milkweed reseeds very easily. Thank goodness it's easy to pull out the young seedlings.

Thanks for planting milkweed seed. I didn't know you had a soft heart.

Mary

 

[AMKuska]

Bought? Should have asked, easy to mail-super light.

Can I buy some off you? I'd love to attract some monarchs for my garden.