Growing yarrow is ideal for gardeners who normally live in fairly dry, arid conditions. Yarrow prefers well-drained soil, lots of sunlight, and minimal water for healthy growth. Most gardeners plant seedlings up to 24-inches apart, which is a good starting point for planting. For those who are growing it for the first time, it is important to be aware that although the plant looks very small, it actually has big roots.
Planting intervals can range from one year to several years, depending on the conditions. In most cases, annuals are planted from early spring to late summer, with perennials growing all year round. There are several growing seasons. Full sun to part shade is optimal. Some kinds of growing yarrow do better in drier conditions than others.
One way to determine when the plants will germinate is by watching for moisture. Germination occurs when the roots dip below the surface. If the moisture level remains low for more than two weeks, the roots will not germinate. Once the moisture level rises, however, the germinating root system will begin to grow.
It is best to plant early in the year. Frost hardy plants, such as alder, will germinate on its own. If you are growing a plant such as this, make sure it gets a minimum of six hours of light per day, but do not plant it in a shaded area. Frost hardy plants should be planted in a warm location away from trees and shrubs. The leaves on many kinds of yarrow seeds should not be exposed to temperatures that exceed seventy degrees Fahrenheit. They can freeze and then die.
You will find that growing yarrow may require some different kinds of fertilizers than you are used to using in your gardening. Most commercial fertilizers are not great for growing herbs because they tend to attract undesirable insects. Instead, you should use organic fertilizers that are good for growing herbs because they are made from natural materials. A quick way to ensure you are using the right kind of fertilizing material is to buy a soil testing kit. You can test the soil for its acidity and hardness, which will help you determine the best fertilizing combination for growing any kind of herb.
After the flowers open, the flowers may wilt. To avoid wilting, keep the plant’s soil moist. You can water the flowers often during their growing season, or water them occasionally throughout the winter months. Be careful not to water the leaves of the flowers too much. The leaves can dry and yellow quickly if they become over-watered.
One of the keys to growing yarrow plant varieties is to get the seeds before they are fully developed. When you are preparing the seeds for planting, you should mix the seeds with a bit of light dirt. This will help the seeds germinate faster. Make sure to place the seeds deep enough into the soil so they will be protected during the cold months.
As the plant grows it will produce new shoots called runners. These runners should be planted on top of the growing mass of the plant as they come out from the ground. If you are growing it from seed, make sure you sow the seeds very small. If you are growing plants from seed then you might want to give it a little water every couple of days, but it is not necessary to drown the plant during its growing season.
Planting it straight up from a container in a pot, or by putting the roots into a small plastic bag, is another way to get started growing your herbs. Be sure that you place the bag of herbs in an area that gets at least four hours of sunlight every day. The area should also be relatively dry and cool. It should be somewhat shady during the hot, dry summer months of southern California. You may be able to use a fan or a light sprinkler to help keep the area dry during the winter months.
The plant will go through a dormant period as it develops new growth. During this time the growing tips will become very short and the plant will become bushy. The growing tips eventually die back to the point where they do not grow any taller. The shorter the stems are, the more sun is received by the roots. The plants will use the sunlight to convert glucose to energy. In the wintertime the yarrow grow best when the soil is cool and dry.
The tip cuttings can be divided into two groups: those that come directly from the plant and those that have been cured with alcohol. Both groups of stems will produce shoots that will grow for two years. Shorter shoots will start out red and then turn to green and finally grow up to six inches in height. Longer stems remain green and do not produce any flowers until late in the spring. Some of the plants will even produce fruit on their shoots before the blooming season in early spring.