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How to grow Black-eyed Susans (rudbeckia) in the UK
Golden daisies with dark middles from late summer into autumn.
- DifficultyEasy peasy
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunfull sun or part shade
- Grows to70cm
- Spacing45cm
- Time to first pickabout 10 weeks
- Typeperennial
When to sow, plant and harvest black-eyed susans (rudbeckia)
| Plant | mid April to mid June or early September to late September |
|---|---|
| In flower | mid July to mid October |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Water your new plants in their pots first
- Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
- Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
- Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
- Space the plants about 45cm apart each way
Top tips for growing black-eyed susans (rudbeckia)
- Very easy and tough - comes back every year.
Soil and feeding
Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.
Harvesting and eating black-eyed susans (rudbeckia)
Cut them for a vase - they last well.
Saving your own black-eyed susans (rudbeckia) seed
Late summer and autumn, as the flowers fade.
- Stop deadheading a few flowers - let them fade on the plant
- When the seed heads are dry and brown (and the seeds rattle), snip them off on a dry day
- Shake the seeds into a paper bag
- Spread on a plate to dry for a week
Where to buy black-eyed susans (rudbeckia) plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Black-eyed Susans (rudbeckia) questions
When do I plant out black-eyed susans (rudbeckia)?
Plant black-eyed susans (rudbeckia) out from mid April to mid June or early September to late September.
When can I enjoy black-eyed susans (rudbeckia)?
Black-eyed Susans (rudbeckia) is ready from mid July to mid October. Cut them for a vase - they last well.
How long do black-eyed susans (rudbeckia) take to grow?
Roughly 10 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are black-eyed susans (rudbeckia) easy to grow?
Black-eyed Susans (rudbeckia) are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
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