Field guide
How to grow milkweed: planting, care, and harvest guide
Milkweed typically reaches first harvest in 120–365 days. This guide covers when to plant by USDA zone, common pests, harvest cues, and companion plants where relevant.
Open plannerWhen to plant milkweed by USDA zone group
- USDA Zones 1–4 — April to May
- USDA Zones 5–6 — March to May
- USDA Zones 7–8 — February to April
- USDA Zones 9–10 — January to March
Companion plants
Good companions: Tomato (Slicing), Cucumbers, Cabbage
Harvest
When to pick
- Flowers are newly opened and free of pesticide exposure
- Harvest before heat causes wilting
How: Snip flowers or seed heads with clean scissors while leaving enough bloom for pollinators.
Storage: Use edible flowers promptly. Dry medicinal or seed heads only with species-specific guidance.
Common pests and problems
Aphids and powdery mildew
Signs: Sticky clusters or pale powder on leaves
Control: Thin crowded growth, water soil rather than foliage, and leave some pest insects for beneficial predators.
About this field guide
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