{"product_id":"300-graines-de-pissenlit-dent-de-lion-taraxacum-officinale","title":"300 Dandelion Seeds (Taraxacum officinale)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTaraxacum officinale\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDandelion, lion's tooth, lion's tooth plant, gold florin, dog lettuce, monk's crown: the lawn's least-loved plant is one of the most useful plants in the garden. Its taproot descends as far as one metre and brings up minerals inaccessible to other plants — and its flowering, one of the very first of the year, literally saves pollinators as they emerge from winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCharacteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIndestructible perennial:\u003c\/strong\u003e once established, it returns every year without any care.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree uses:\u003c\/strong\u003e leaves in salads, flowers in syrup, and roasted roots as a coffee substitute.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVery early flowering:\u003c\/strong\u003e from March, when almost nothing else is blooming.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought-resistant:\u003c\/strong\u003e its long taproot allows it to draw water from deep underground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrecautions:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt self-seeds very effectively, with its parachute-topped seeds travelling far on the wind. Cut off the faded flowers before they form their “clocks” if you do not want it to spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIts taproot makes it difficult to move once established: choose its location carefully.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSowing advice:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExposure:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e light, cool, well-drained, even poor soil. It adapts to almost anything, but deep, loose soil produces finer roots if those are what you are aiming for.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMethod:\u003c\/strong\u003e sow in spring or autumn, directly in place or in pots, barely covering the seeds. Stratification is not required, but a period of 2 to 3 weeks of cold improves the germination rate. Germination in 10 to 20 days depending on the temperature. See \u003ca href=\"\/tr-intl\/blogs\/le-coin-des-graines\/comment-semer-graines-coton-godet-terre\"\u003ehow to sow your seeds\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare advice:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater moderately; it withstands drought well once established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe growers' trick:\u003c\/strong\u003e to obtain tender, much less bitter leaves, cover the clump with an opaque upturned pot for two to three weeks before harvesting. They blanch and become considerably milder.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvesting advice:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePick the young leaves in spring, before flowering: this is when they are most tender. Afterwards, the bitterness increases noticeably.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest the flowers in full sun, when fully open. Dig up the roots in the autumn of the second year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBeneficial pairings:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt pairs well with \u003ca href=\"\/tr-intl\/products\/2500-graines-de-camomille-matricaire-plante-aromatique-medicinale-semences-paysannes\"\u003echamomile\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/tr-intl\/products\/1000-graines-d-ortie-sauvage-plante-amie-potager-legumes-semences-paysannes\"\u003enettle\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/tr-intl\/products\/1000-graines-dachillee-millefeuille-fleurs-medicinale-aromatique-semences-paysannes\"\u003eyarrow\u003c\/a\u003e to create a corner of useful, nectar-rich wild plants. See \u003ca href=\"\/tr-intl\/blogs\/le-coin-des-graines\/plantes-vivaces-comestibles\"\u003eour edible perennial plants\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBenefits for biodiversity:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIts early flowering makes it a \u003cstrong\u003evital\u003c\/strong\u003e resource for the first pollinators of spring — bees, bumblebees emerging from hibernation, and early butterflies — at a time when almost nothing else is available. This is the number one reason not to mow in March.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIts deep root loosens the soil and brings minerals up from lower layers for the benefit of neighbouring plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIts seeds feed goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUses:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYoung leaves in salads, traditionally with bacon and a poached egg. Flowers in syrup or jelly — the famous cramaillotte, or “dandelion honey”. Roasted roots as a coffee substitute. Flower buds pickled like capers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA traditional medicinal plant, listed in the French Pharmacopoeia. See our \u003ca href=\"\/tr-intl\/blogs\/le-coin-des-graines\/plantes-medicinales-a-semer\"\u003emedicinal plants to sow\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSymbolism:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA symbol of freedom, perseverance and hope, the dandelion evokes wishes blown into the wind — a universal childhood gesture that is also, quite literally, its dispersal strategy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvesting your own seeds:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNothing could be simpler: pick the “clocks”, those fluffy spheres, just before they fly away, and detach the seeds from their parachutes. See \u003ca href=\"\/tr-intl\/blogs\/le-coin-des-graines\/conserver-ses-graines\"\u003ehow to store your seeds\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommitment to Quality:\u003c\/strong\u003e at SemiSauvage - Permaculture, we grow and select our seeds with respect for all living things as our guiding principle. Based near the Volcanoes of Auvergne, we choose reproducible, non-hybrid varieties, tested for their germination rate, sorted and carefully packaged, without any chemical treatment. Our conviction: to give gardeners back the ability to resow, year after year, seeds that truly belong to them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lawn's least-loved plant, indispensable to March bees.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SemiSauvage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51653298454861,"sku":"3760335363139","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1658\/2477\/files\/pissenlit-fond-blanc.png?v=1751970195","url":"https:\/\/semisauvage.com\/tr-intl\/products\/300-graines-de-pissenlit-dent-de-lion-taraxacum-officinale","provider":"SemiSauvage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}