7 Reasons to plant Milkweed NOW! 🦋

7 reasons to plant milkweed right now. Number one, it needs a process called cold stratification. You can read about it right here. Cold stratification is the process of exposing dormant seeds to a cold, moist environment to simulate winter. This tricks the seed's where seeds need a cold period of time in order to break dormancy and sprout in the spring. So fall right now. Number two, since you are cold stratifying it, it is going to have amazing strong roots for you. Number three, it is going to save monarch butterflies. Milkweed (Asclepias) is the exclusive host plant for monarch butterflies. Egg-laying: Female monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweed plants. Caterpillar food: Newly hatched caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves. Natural defense: Milkweed contains toxins called cardiac glycosides that caterpillars absorb, making them toxic to predators. Instagram: @its.katy.powers. because it is the specific host plant for monarch butterflies and monarch butterflies would die without this plant. Number four, it is a perennial. What's the difference between annual and perennial plants? Annuals: Plants live only one season, bloom non-stop for months, great for adding variety and instant impact to your garden. Perennials: Plants come back year after year, more low-maintenance and cost-effective, perennials bloom at different times, adding seasonal interest. A perennial means it comes back every single year from its roots. Plant it once, never have to do it again. Save time and money. Number five, it has beautiful blooms, like you can see this butterfly milkweed right here in my garden. Number six, it is easy and beginner friendly. I mean, who wouldn't want to grow this? And finally, number seven, you can start them right now since it is fall. Let me tell you exactly how to start it really fast. You're gonna directly sow these out in your garden since it is fall, especially up north. You want to do this before you get your first snow. Down south, we are going to plant these around the holidays, but don't worry, these are gonna sell out, so you need to get them ASAP. I have butterfly milkweed, you get 100 common milkweed, pink swamp milkweed, showy milkweed and prairie milkweed. You get 100 each, so 500 heirloom non-GMO seeds. You can always save these and replant them. If you guys don't have these, make sure you guys get them in the link below because like I said, they sell out every fall because right now it's the time to plant them. Don't forget to follow along for my daily gardening tips, especially with this fall garden coming up.