Dandelions

[dave45]

If I strim my dandelions, will the dead heads still mutate into viable seeds?

[MKG]

If they haven't formed seeds by the time you strim them, they certainly won't afterwards. Has someone been spinning you tall tales?

Mike

[grahamhobbs]

MKG, are you absolutely certain about that. Often a dandelion flower will still form the fluffy ball of seeds even if the flower has been cut. Whether these seeds are viable or not, probably not but I don't actually know for certain.

[orangey]

I agree with graham. Last year I half-filled the brown recyling bin (with a closed lid) with yellow dandelions, next time I opened it they all seemed to have become the fluffy seed heads. Presumably I'd dug them up after they'd been pollinated but before the seeds had set.

[MKG]

Well, I've done a bit more research, which I should have done before opening big gob.

All the dandelions I pick for winemaking, even if I forget about them, never develop seed heads. However, I pick them almost as soon as they appear. Apparently, if they're left (for far longer than they should be!!! ) and enter the seed cycle, it takes only 24 hours for a flower head to turn into a seed head. If you happen to strim during that period then, yes, the flowers can go to seed overnight.

Orangey - if you dig up the whole plant, roots and all, it will contain enough energy to keep going for quite some time before giving up the ghost.

So, I amend what I said - yes, they can go to seed, but only if you've been lazy and not got the buggers out before . And the timing's critical - if the plant hasn't entered the seed cycle when you strim, then it won't happen.

Mike

[Green Aura]

But if you pick up the flower heads and make wine with them then they won't!!!! It's my favourite wine.

[dave45]

so strimming the buggers and leaving them on the ground looks like a bad idea if the yellow heads turn fluffy and seedy.

no wonder they survive so well and infest everywhere

[MEL78]

as I've said on other posts I've justr got my plot...went up this morning and took all the heads of the dandelions and I could swear I got them all...went back this afternoon and there was about 20 of the things!!!!!....

[Flo]

You forgot to deadhead the "buds" that had yet to turn into flowers