Question
Hello Tom -
I need some help with maximizing my flower garden - I have a good showing of purple and white coneflowers - echinechia - last year I harvested the dried seeds from the center ball and planted them with liminted success. Can I grow these from seeds and what is the right way to harvest and plant the seeds.
 Thank You for your help.
Best,
Dennis

Answer
Hi Dennis,
Thanx for your question.  Don't worry, the echinacea will self-seed themselves to the point that they become weeds.  I have them in my garden started from seeds and I just pull up the ones I don't want.  For white ones, you need to buy the commercial seed as the ones from plants already adult may not come true from seed.  To harvest seed take the cones as soon as it has dried.  Wear gloves because the cones can be prickly and prick your fingers.  Pull on the stickers and small light brown kernels should come out.  These are the seeds.  The stickers are not.  Start them in February in moist potting soil at about 70 degrees.  I use the black seed flats that you can get at Walmart for about 99 cents.  Buy the clear plastic lids to go on top and keep the humidity up until they germinate.  Germination takes about 14-21 days.  When the seedlings have their first true leaves, gently prick them out and plant in separate pots.  You'll need to keep them under 40watt shop lights suspended about 8 inches above them until they are ready to go outside.  Wait until after the last frost and then place the pots in an area that is protected from extremes of temperature, direct sunlight, rain and wind for about 10 days.  After that, they will acclimated themselves to the outdoors and you can plant them directly in the garden.  I hope this helps.
Tom