Heirloom

Dandelion, Red

Cichorium intybus

Wikimedia Commons

Harvest

16-25d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

3–8

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

3-4 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Harvest

Start Indoors

Harvest

Showing dates for Dandelion, Red in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 microgreen →

Zone Map

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Dandelion, Red · Zones 3–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

WaterModerate — regular watering

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorMildly bitter with a delicate peppery bite, characteristic of young dandelion greens.

ColorRed

Size4 g

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 4	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 5	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 6	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 7	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 8	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 9	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 10	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 1	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 2	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 11	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 12	January – December	—	—	January – December
Zone 13	January – December	—	—	January – December

Succession Planting

Red dandelion microgreens are done the moment you cut them — no second flush, no regrowth — so succession is the whole game here. Sow a fresh tray every 7 days and you'll have a continuous harvest once the first cut lands around day 16–25. Since these grow entirely under lights with no cold or heat threshold to manage, you can run that cadence straight through the year. The only real reason to pause is running out of shelf space.

Complete Growing Guide

Mildly bitter flavor. Based on our yield trial, we recommend seeding 4 gm per tray at approx. 7 flats per oz of seed. Avg. days to maturity was 18 days when harvested at the first true leaf (as opposed to cotyledon) stage. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Dandelion, Red is 16 - 25 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Hydroponic Performer.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High, Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Dandelion, Red reaches harvest at 16 - 25 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 4 g at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Brown oblong and 5-ribbed achene with blunt ends. The wider end has a bristles across the top.

Color: Brown/Copper, Cream/Tan. Type: Achene.

Edibility: Leaves can be used in salads or cooked to reduce bitter flavor. Roots can be dried and used as a coffee substitute.

Storage & Preservation

Red dandelion microgreens are best stored in a breathable container lined with paper towels to wick away excess moisture, kept at 35–40°F in the refrigerator's crisper drawer. They'll maintain quality for 5–7 days when harvested at the 16-day mark. For longer preservation, freezing works well: blanch briefly in boiling water for 30 seconds, shock in ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in airtight bags for up to three months. Alternatively, dry the microgreens slowly at 95–105°F in a dehydrator until completely crisp, then store in an airtight container away from light. Red dandelion's characteristic bitterness actually intensifies slightly after freezing, making it particularly suited to cooked applications like soups or braised dishes rather than fresh salads post-thaw.

History & Origin

Dandelion, Red is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Europe

Advantages

+Fast maturation at 16-25 days fits efficient production schedules
+Mildly bitter flavor adds sophisticated taste complexity to salad mixes
+Low seeding rate of 4 gm per tray reduces input costs
+Easy difficulty rating makes it suitable for beginner growers
+High yield potential with 7 flats per ounce of seed

Considerations

-Bitter flavor profile limits appeal to customers preferring mild greens
-Red variety may show less vibrant color than other microgreen options
-First true leaf harvest timing requires careful monitoring and experience

Companion Plants

Red dandelion microgreens spend their whole life in a tray, so "companions" means what you grow alongside them on the same shelf or bench. Lettuce, arugula, spinach, and Swiss chard share nearly identical light and moisture needs — around 14 hours of LED light and a bottom-watered medium — so you can run them on the same schedule without juggling conditions. Mustard greens and kale germinate 2–3 days faster, so stagger your sows if you want everything cutting at the same time. Fennel is the one to keep off the same growing surface; its volatile allelopathic compounds are potent enough to suppress germination in trays sitting right next to it.

Plant Together

Lettuce

Similar growing conditions and harvest timing, efficient space usage

Arugula

Compatible growth rates and water requirements for microgreen production

Radish

Fast germination helps break soil surface for slower-sprouting dandelions

Spinach

Similar light and moisture needs, complementary nutrients

Kale

Both brassica family members with compatible growing conditions

Mustard Greens

Similar harvest window and growing requirements

Pea Shoots

Nitrogen fixation may benefit dandelion growth

Swiss Chard

Compatible water and light requirements for microgreen production

Keep Apart

Fennel

Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit germination and growth

Sunflower

Releases allelopathic chemicals that suppress smaller plant growth

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to many plants including dandelions

Nutrition Facts

Calories

69kcal(3%)

Protein

1.5g(3%)

Fiber

5.3g(19%)

Carbs

17.6g(6%)

Fat

0.1g(0%)

Vitamin C

54.1mg(60%)

Vitamin A

5mcg(1%)

Iron

1.61mg(9%)

Calcium

8mg(1%)

Potassium

304mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #167782)

Troubleshooting Dandelion, Red

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings stretching tall and pale (leggy) within the first 7–10 days, stems thin enough to flop over

Likely Causes

Insufficient light — grow lights too far above the tray, or a windowsill getting fewer than 12 hours of usable light
Sowing too densely, which forces seedlings to compete and reach upward

What to Do

1.Drop LED grow lights to 2–3 inches above the canopy and run them 14–16 hours per day
2.At next sowing, spread seeds so they're just touching, not stacked — dense sowings compound the problem fast
3.Harvest what you have early (around day 16) before the stems get any weaker

White or gray fuzzy growth at the base of stems near the soil line, sometimes spreading tray-wide by day 12–15

Likely Causes

Damping-off mold complex (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — almost always triggered by overwatering or standing water in the tray
Poor airflow around the tray keeping humidity trapped at the surface

What to Do

1.Bottom-water only — fill the reservoir tray, let the growing medium wick up what it needs, and dump any standing water after 20 minutes
2.Run a small fan on low nearby to keep air moving across the surface
3.Toss the affected tray — mold at the base spreads fast and the greens aren't worth eating at that stage — then sanitize with a 3% hydrogen peroxide rinse before the next sow

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Red Dandelion microgreens?▼

Red Dandelion microgreens are ready to harvest in 16-25 days, with an average of 18 days when harvested at the first true leaf stage. They're one of the faster microgreen varieties, making them ideal for quick turnover in home or commercial growing.

Is Red Dandelion microgreens good for beginners?▼

Yes, absolutely. Red Dandelion microgreens are rated as easy to grow, making them perfect for beginners. They require minimal care, have reliable germination, and produce consistent yields with straightforward seeding at 4 grams per tray.

Can you grow Red Dandelion microgreens in containers or trays?▼

Yes, Red Dandelion microgreens are specifically designed for tray cultivation. Standard practice is to seed at approximately 4 grams per tray, yielding about 7 flats per ounce of seed. They thrive in shallow growing trays without requiring traditional soil.

What does Red Dandelion microgreens taste like?▼

Red Dandelion microgreens have a mildly bitter flavor profile, similar to mature dandelion greens but more delicate. The tender leaves offer a pleasant peppery bite that works well in salads, sandwiches, and as garnish for both savory and complex dishes.

How much light do Red Dandelion microgreens need?▼

Red Dandelion microgreens require full sun exposure, ideally 6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily. This ensures proper development of the red coloring and optimal flavor development during the growing cycle.

What is the recommended seeding rate for Red Dandelion microgreens?▼

Based on yield trials, seed Red Dandelion microgreens at 4 grams per tray. This seeding rate yields approximately 7 flats per ounce of seed, providing consistent and efficient production for both home growers and commercial operations.