February 01, 2026

Desert milkweed from seed, the slow way

Germination without cold treatment was 8 percent in our trial flat. With thirty days in damp sand at fridge temperature it was 61 percent. That is the whole trick.

Seedlings sulk for two months and then put on a foot in May. Do not pot them up early; they resent it. Aphids will arrive, bright yellow, and can be knocked off with a hose. We do not spray anything because the point of the plant is caterpillars.

All notes