echinacea indoors?

Discussion in 'Herb Gardening' started by kubrasera, Jun 22, 2013.

  1. kubrasera

    kubrasera New Seed

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    Hi everyone,

    I want to start an indoor herb garden. I picked greek dwarf basil and regular basil so far, read that they do ok indoors. I hope my information is right. Now, I was wondering if it is possible to grow echinacea indoors?

    Thanks so much!
     
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  3. Jerry Sullivan

    Jerry Sullivan Garden Experimenter Plants Contributor

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    Ohh, as an herb hmmmm. I'm so use to it as outdoor coneflowers......thinking.

    Jerry
     
  4. kubrasera

    kubrasera New Seed

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    I should have done a better research, hmm they are coneflowers and are perennials. You are right. I guess its not qualified as a herb, which in that case sorry for posting in the wrong forum - forgive a newbie :) As I was going through a website to buy seeds from though, it was listed under herbs. Confused, and learning :)
     
  5. Jerry Sullivan

    Jerry Sullivan Garden Experimenter Plants Contributor

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    It is grown for its herbal properties, I just don't think of it as an herb. I grow them outside in the flower garden.

    Jerry
     



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  6. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    It is an herb, herbs are any plants that are grown for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume.

    But they are not really for growing indoors. But you mentioned in your post about tomatoes that you have access to the roof, that would be the best place to grow them. They can get quite tall and do require heat and full sun. Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

    Did you choose Echinacea for a particular reason...like medicinal? There might be other plants more indoor friendly that could be substituted. Echinacea is one of those medicinal herbs that much easier to buy in the already prepared medicinal form you prefer than to grow and make your own.

    Echinacea purpurea is edible, the petals can be added to salads, but I don't know about the other species or the cultivars.
     
  7. Jerry Sullivan

    Jerry Sullivan Garden Experimenter Plants Contributor

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    E. purpurea, E. angustifolia and E. pallida are grown for medicinal purposes. Echinacea seeds need a period of cold before starting. About a month in the refrigerator seems about right.

    Jerry
     
  8. kubrasera

    kubrasera New Seed

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    Oh I see. No particular reason to choose Echinacea, I am merely just deciding what to grow at this point. I thought the medicinal qualities were pretty awesome so I wanted to give it a shot. But I can definitely start with something easier indoors. So far I keep seeing basil as a suggestion to most people who want to start growing indoor herbs.

    Only problem with the roof, I am thinking they will all die in winter :(
     

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