Black Eyed Susan Seeds

Surface sow Rudbeckia seeds, as they require light to germinate. Mix the seed with fine sand for better seed distribution over the planting area. For spring planting, cold stratify for 4 weeks in a moist-filled bag of sand in the refrigerator, to start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. You can also direct sow Black Eyed Susan seeds in late fall, that way the seeds could stratify naturally and germinate on schedule in the spring. Germination takes 14-21 days at 65-75°F. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged on the surface.

While full sun is the preference, the plants will still perform good with partial shade. What they won't forgive is waterlogged roots, so make sure your soil is well-drained. Black Eyed Susan seeds produce plants that can handle clay and rocky soils. Water the plants regularly for the first few weeks after transplanting or germination. After that weekly watering is sufficient, even during dry spells. Black-Eyed Susan flowers are drought tolerant, so overwatering is much worse than underwatering.

Space them 18 to 30 inches apart because crowded space encourages fungi growth and inhibits good air circulation. Remove dead flowers throughout the growing season to encourage continued blooming. If you wish to encourage self-seeding, stop deadheading in late summer. Every 2 to 3 years, divide well-established clumps, because congested clumps do not bloom. To use as a cut flower, pick when the petals are just opening and they'll last 7 to 10 days in a vase. To save seed: Allow cones to dry on the plant until the stem turns brown, then snip them off and finish drying out of direct sunlight.