Flax
Linum usitatissimum • Linaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Grain
🌍 Origin Region
Middle East and Mediterranean region, widely cultivated globally in temperate zones.
📅 Days to Maturity
90 to 100 days from planting to harvest.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, grown as a cool-season annual.
About This Seed
Seeds are flat, oval-shaped, smooth, and glossy with a reddish-brown color and pointed tips. The resulting plant is an annual herb growing up to 2 feet tall with slender stems, narrow linear leaves, and delicate bright blue flowers, followed by rounded capsule fruits containing the seeds.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Spring, direct sow as soon as soil can be worked. Tolerates light frosts.
Germination
Germinates in 7 to 10 days at soil temperatures between 55°F and 75°F. High germination rate. Requires light for best germination; press lightly into soil.
Planting Instructions
Plant 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, spacing seeds 1 inch apart in rows 6 to 12 inches apart. Prefers well-draining loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (6-8 hours daily). Needs moderate, consistent watering, though established plants tolerate mild drought.
Companion Plants
Companions well with carrots and cabbage. Avoid planting near potatoes.
Special Characteristics
Highly attractive to beneficial pollinators, produces edible seeds rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and stems yield strong fibers for linen production.