Wildflower seeds

[goosey]

I have just bought a packet of Butterfly Flower mixture seeds, with 20 un-named types of flowers and decorative herbs to attract butterflies. I have got a wooden trough (82x34cm) to home my wildflower meadow . Can I plant them now - I can't wait until April .

Thanks

[sunnydale]

I think cutecoot has recently sown some wildflower seeds and already has a few shoots poking up....so I'd say go for it!

[Hedge Witch]

I collect seeds from the wild and from the local area. I just plant them there and then. I cannot see the harm in doing the same, assuming they are really indigenous wild seeds.

Like cutecoot, some are coming up fine.

You could keep hold of some, and, if there is a natural disaster, plant them when you have remedied it.

[goosey]

Thanks Sunnydale and Hedge Witch, that's just what I was hoping to hear!

[Susie]

I am afraid that I would caution patience. I have tried planting seeds early in the past and it just hasn't worked successfully.

Either sow in the early autumn and let them harden off before winter comes or wait for spring.

The trouble with sowing now is that the plants germinate when it warms a little and then get caught by a hard frost, a prolonged cold dry spell or drown by heavy rainfall and fail.

I know how hard it is to wait, I am champing at the bit to get going too.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Susie

I am afraid that I would caution patience. I have tried planting seeds early in the past and it just hasn't worked successfully.

Either sow in the early autumn and let them harden off before winter comes or wait for spring.

The trouble with sowing now is that the plants germinate when it warms a little and then get caught by a hard frost, a prolonged cold dry spell or drown by heavy rainfall and fail.

I know how hard it is to wait, I am champing at the bit to get going too.

I agree with Suzie, don't be too eager to sow just yet, wait at least until April when the temperature is around 16-18c at least, even then I'd still be cautious as April can bring a lot of rain causing germination to be somewhat patchy! I sowed my heavy clay soil meadow mix back then, taking the risk I wish now hadn't . I have more seed & I'll wait out until late September this time around and prepare the soil once again in the meantime!

[Susie]

If you are really eager to get going, Goosey, you could always sow your seeds into plug trays and germinate them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse. Then when you do put them into your trough you will have a head start. Some flowers don't like too much handling but if you plant into large plugs it is fairly simple to transplant them without damaging the roots.

[cutecoot]

Have to say, bit disappointed with the rate of germination so far, Hedgie and Sunny Perhaps I should have waited a bit, although I've never had too much trouble in the past .. I think the problem may be that I haven't really used the right sort of 'compost' .. was so eager to start growing that I just used a bit of multi-purpose compost I had hanging about in the greenhouse, but after years of experimenting in the past, I found that a growing medium consisting of mainly loam .. john innes, or even topsoil .. or something (I can't quite remember 'what' now!) .. was the best thing to get seeds growing. After all, they don't grow in composty stuff in the wild, they grow in soil!

[Hedge Witch]

I thought that, but they do tend to fall on a substrate that is humus-rich initially.

Anyway, the little plants I have are as yet unidentified, but I think one's a wild carrot. The Goose-grass is waiting for warmth (or possibly light) I think.

Anyway, they may live or they may die, but it's fun having a go.

[coasty]

Dont try and rush nature, Its way to early yet wait until april... You will get faster and better germination and they will be better for it..