Love-Lies-Bleeding Seeds (US Climates – Zones 5-9)

Stage Timeline / Month Action / Detail
Indoor Seed Starting Late March – Mid April Start seeds indoors (Zones 5-6). Use a seedling heat mat to speed up germination.
Harden Off & Transplant Mid – Late May After the last frost date, gradually expose indoor plants to the outdoors. Transplant into garden beds or large containers.
Direct Sow Outdoors Late May – Early June Sow seeds directly into warm garden soil (Zones 7-9). Soil temp must be above 65°F.
Germination 7 to 14 days Keep soil consistently moist. Do not let the seedbed dry out.
Pinching / Early Growth June When seedlings reach 12" tall, pinch the top leaves. Begin weekly deep watering.
First Bloom Begins Mid July – Early August The first tiny tassels will begin to emerge from the leaf nodes.
Peak Bloom August – September Cascading tassels reach full length and color. This is prime time for cut flowers.
Seed Harvest Late September – October As tassels dry and turn brown, they can be collected for next year's seeds. Plant will die off at first frost.