Echinacea in Zone 6A — Great Plains

Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is a fantastic addition to any Great Plains garden. Not only are the flowers beautiful and attract pollinators, but they also offer medicinal benefits and are incredibly drought-tolerant – a huge plus in our variable climate. Plus, watching the goldfinches feast on the seed heads in fall is a real treat.

Our extreme weather can be a challenge, but Echinacea is well-suited to handle it. With a growing season of around 188 days, timing your planting right ensures you'll have plenty of time to enjoy these beauties.

Starting Echinacea indoors isn't essential, but it can give you a head start, especially if you're aiming for blooms in the first year. Begin in mid-February through early March, about eight weeks before you plan to transplant. Use seed trays with a good seed-starting mix, and keep them in a warm spot with plenty of light – a south-facing window or grow lights work well.

Bottom watering is key here; it helps prevent damping-off and encourages strong root growth. Given our variable spring weather, starting indoors can protect your seedlings from late frosts or sudden temperature swings that are pretty common here.

Transplant your Echinacea seedlings outdoors from mid-April through early May, once the risk of frost has passed. Before planting, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This helps them adjust to the wind and temperature fluctuations we often experience.

Space them 18-24 inches apart to allow for good air circulation. While you can start from seed, buying established plants from a local nursery is often easier, especially since Echinacea seeds benefit from cold stratification. Remember, Echinacea is a perennial, so choose your planting spot wisely.

Direct sowing is a viable option for Echinacea, especially if you're patient. Sow seeds from mid-April through early July, once the soil has warmed up. Prepare the soil by removing weeds and loosening it to a depth of about 6 inches.

Keep the soil consistently moist until the seedlings emerge. Thin the seedlings to 18-24 inches apart once they're a few inches tall. Direct sowing can be a bit slower than transplanting, but it eliminates the risk of transplant shock and allows the plants to develop strong, deep roots right from the start.

Echinacea is a true prairie native and thrives on neglect, so resist the urge to overwater! Once established, it's very drought-tolerant, which is a lifesaver during our hot, dry summers.

In spring, water regularly until the plants are established. During the heat of summer, check the soil moisture using the finger test – if the top 2 inches are dry, it's time to water. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week during dry spells. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage fungal diseases in our sometimes humid conditions.

Yellowing leaves are a sign of overwatering, while wilting leaves indicate underwatering. A layer of mulch around the base of the plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, but don't overdo it, as Echinacea prefers well-drained soil.

Deadheading Echinacea is simple and can encourage more blooms. Throughout the summer, snip off spent flowers just below the flower head. This prevents the plant from putting energy into seed production and encourages it to produce more flowers.

Alternatively, you can leave some of the seed heads on the plants to provide food for birds during the fall and winter. In late winter, after the worst of the cold is over, cut the plants back to the ground to make way for new growth in the spring.

You can expect your first Echinacea harvest from mid-July through late October, about 90 days after planting. The flowers are ready to harvest when they are fully open and vibrant in color. You can harvest the petals for tea or medicinal purposes.

To harvest, simply cut the flower stems near the base of the plant, leaving some foliage behind to support continued growth. Leaving some seed heads on the plants not only provides food for birds but also allows the plant to self-seed, ensuring you have more Echinacea in the years to come. As the first frost approaches in mid-October, you can harvest any remaining flowers and seed heads to dry for later use.

Here are some common problems you might encounter with Echinacea in the Great Plains:

Aster Yellows

• What it looks like: Distorted, greenish flowers, often with tufts of leaves growing from the flower heads. The plant may also be stunted.
• What causes it: A disease transmitted by leafhoppers. It's more prevalent in areas with high leafhopper populations.
• How to fix/prevent it: There's no cure for aster yellows. Remove and destroy infected plants immediately to prevent the spread of the disease. Control leafhopper populations with insecticidal soap if necessary.

Powdery Mildew

• What it looks like: White or grayish powdery coating on leaves, stems, and sometimes fruit. Leaves curl, yellow, and die. Reduces plant vigor.
• What causes it: Various fungi that thrive in warm days, cool nights, and moderate humidity. Dry leaf surfaces actually favor it (unlike most fungi).
• How to fix/prevent it: Improve air circulation through spacing and pruning. Remove affected leaves. Neem oil or potassium bicarbonate sprays help. Milk spray (1 part milk to 9 parts water) is surprisingly effective. Plant resistant varieties.

Japanese Beetles

• What it looks like: Skeletonized leaves, where the beetles have eaten the tissue between the veins. You'll likely see the metallic green beetles themselves on the plants.
• What causes it: Japanese beetles are attracted to Echinacea flowers and foliage. They can cause significant damage in a short amount of time.
• How to fix/prevent it: Handpick beetles off the plants and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. Use row covers to protect plants during peak beetle activity. Neem oil can also deter beetles.

Great Plains Specific Challenges: Our hot summers and low-to-moderate humidity can stress Echinacea, making it more susceptible to powdery mildew if air circulation is poor. Variable rainfall means you need to be vigilant about watering during dry spells but avoid overwatering during wet periods.

Echinacea benefits from companion planting. Tomatoes and peppers make great companions because they enjoy similar sun and soil conditions. The strong scent of herbs like rosemary and thyme can help deter pests that might bother your Echinacea.

Avoid planting Echinacea near anything that will compete for resources, like aggressive spreaders.