Guide to growing garden plants - Crepis (Dandelion)
Members of the Crepis family are hardy dandelions that have been bred for gardens; they have flowers of orange, white, pink or red.
Crepis can reach heights of between 30 and 45cm, and flower in the second half of the summer.
Common names for members of the Crepis genus include dandelion and Hawk's beard.
How to grow Dandelion (Crepis)
Depending on whether they are annuals or perennials Crepis should be sown in the autumn (annuals) or before the last frost of spring (perennials); simply cover the seeds with a dusting of topsoil when sown. Dandelions prefer to grow in a sunny part of the garden that has good drainage. If you prefer to grow dandelion seedlings indoors first then they should be started off about 7 or 8 weeks before you put them out into the garden after the last frost of spring; they should be spaced at about 10 to 15cm apart.
Caring for dandelions
Dandelions normally take about one to two weeks to germinate at a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees centigrade. dandelions are very easy to look after, if you deadhead the flowers then they will continue to produce more flowers.