Finding ways on how to plant forget-me-not seeds? Below are a number of quick steps to start off.
Forget-me-nots grow pretty easily. If you’re planning to thicken your landscape with small flowering plants, it’s a good option. This ornamental can grow around 30 centimeters long. It’s a perfect ground cover supporting the soil with its root system.
Its blue colored petals topped with a tiny yellow center make it appear pleasing to the eye. Other varieties of forget-me-nots can have pink and white flowers as well. Though it looks tiny, it can make the garden appear bulky when all the plants bloom all together.
Forget-Me-Nots Seed Selection
Quality and Availability
Start with certified seeds. It’s best to use them for planting because you can be sure that it’s clean, pure and has superb quality. Check it’s germination rate and expiry date to make sure it’s viable.
You can find seeds on sale here.
Variety
Forget-me-nots have a long list of varieties you can choose from. Consider certain features such as characteristics, color, size, and its growing requirements. For example:
- Field Forget-Me-Not: this is a winter or summer annual or biennial variety, you can find it in meadows and fields. It grows on well-drained sand and loam soils, mainly flowers from April to July.
- Early Forget-Me-Not: this annual forget-me-not variety grows in dry soil and flowers from April to June.
- Tufted Forget-Me-Not: it grows in wet and moist soils, it flowers from June to August. This is an annual or biennial variety.
- Water Forget-Me-Not: this perennial variety grows in wet to moist conditions with partial sun exposure.
Soil Preparation
Soil Mix
Preparing good media that has a good combination of garden soil and organic matter will ease germination. Improve the soil’s drainage by incorporating soil amendments. like compost or manure before planting. This will also ensure enough supply of nutrients for plants as they grow.
Soil Moisture
Once proper soil mix is established, water the seedbeds just before sowing. This is to imitate a wet environment where they love to thrive.
How To Plant Forget-Me-Not Seeds
Timing
May or June is the perfect sowing time. You would not want your seeds to suffer from frosting, that’s why.
Distance
Although overcrowding isn’t much of an issue, maintaining a proper distance would be good to save seeds. At least maintain a 4-inch distance in between holes. You can put a wider distance if you plan to allow the plants to do self-seeding.
Sow the seeds and cover them with a thin layer of compost. Germination should take place around 8 to 14 days after sowing.
Forget-Me-Nots Care and Maintenance
Mulching and Watering
Add 2 inches of mulch on top of seedbeds to conserve moisture. This will help the seeds germinate faster. Water them regularly until moisture reaches 2 to 3 inches deep. Never leave it dry.
Thinning and Weeding
Make enough space for the strongest seedlings by thinning. Retain those that are healthier, taller, and thicker. Remove the ones that are not. Do this when it’s height is about 2 to 3 centimeters tall.
Fertilization
Add slow-release 10-10-10 fertilizer once a year during springtime for continuous nutrient supply.
With the proper environment, forget-me-nots grow well. They are not susceptible to pests and diseases so it will not require so much work. Flowering occurs after a year.
The good thing though is that there is no need to replant seeds after that. Just wait for the dried flowers to drop their seeds and germinate into new sets of lovely tiny plants. Quite easy, right? [wp-faq-schema title=”FAQs” accordion=1]
Learning how to plant forget-me-not seeds is one of the simplest projects a beginner gardener can take on, and few things are as rewarding as the first blue blooms in spring. To recap how to plant forget-me-not seeds: choose a quality variety, prepare moist well-draining soil, sow at the right time with enough spacing, and keep up with light watering, mulching, and thinning. Within a couple of seasons these cheerful little flowers will be self-seeding and filling every corner of your landscape with color.
Tony Manhart is a passionate gardener who has been tending to gardens for over 20 years. He takes pride in creating beautiful outdoor spaces with plants, trees, and shrubs that can thrive in any environment. He loves to share his knowledge with others and has taught classes on gardening basics and advanced techniques. He is committed to sustainability, using natural and organic methods to create and maintain gardens. He also works with local organizations to create green spaces for communities. When he’s not gardening, Tony enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with his family.