Milkweed! We distributed milkweed seeds on Easter. (Look for small, colorful paper packets in vestibule if you didn’t get some and want some). You may just want to plant the seeds in your back yard after danger of frost has past or you could start them in your house now, they take a little while to germinate. You could plant them now in cardboard egg cartons in a sunny window sill, then you can plant each milkweed egg right in it’s cardboard to get it started outside.  Our young church participants are starting a butterfly garden with the milkweed seeds.  For more information about growing milkweed and about the Monarchs visit: http://www.livemonarch.com/ here is the beginning of their growing instructions page.

Please read this entire page to get all the important information you need about Milkweed.The seed we send to you can grow almost anywhere in North America. When you are ready to plant, place seeds 1/8 inch below the soil surface you can use a deep pot, since most milkweeds have a long roots. Don’t plant the seeds too deep, because they need plenty of light and warmth to germinate and grow ( at 70 degrees within 14 days). Keep the seedlings moist for the first three weeks after they sprout, then transplant to larger containers with quality soil if necessary. You can lightly fertilize them lightly after the seedling stage, using a regular flower fertilizer. Cutting off the top of the plant after they reach 8-12″ creates more stalks and more leaves. It takes about two months before the plant is large enough for caterpillars to eat. When the leaves have been eaten, simply cut the plant off about three inches above the soil or just above the lowest branching of the stalk and the plant will grow back fuller and create even more fod for Monarchs. Warning: one caterpillar will eat 20+ large leaves so make sure you have enough plants to support the number of caterpillars you have, or they will starve.