Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Not a weed but a crop: every part is edible, the deep root is a dynamic accumulator, and the first flowers feed hungry spring bees.
Quick tip
Grow named salad varieties for tender leaves; blanch under a pot to mellow the bitterness. The taproot pulls up nutrients and feeds early bees.
⛅ Part sun↔ 6″ apartZones 3–10⏳ ~60d
When to plant Dandelion
- Direct sowSow seed straight into the ground from 4 weeks before to 3 weeks after your last spring frost.
- Fall sowingFor a fall crop, sow 9–6 weeks before your first fall frost.
At a glance
Botanical name
Taraxacum officinale
Category
Herbs
Hardiness
Hardy
Sun
Part sun
Spacing
6″ apart
Days to maturity
~60 days to harvest
Hardiness zones
USDA zones 3–10
Rotation family
Herbs
Soil pH
6–7.5
Companion planting
🌱 Its taproot lifts nutrients and its early bloom feeds bees; the flowers release ethylene that can hasten nearby fruit to ripen.