Learning how to plant forget me not seeds is a simple way to add a cloud of soft blue to your garden. Planting forget-me-not seeds at the right time and depth encourages these charming blue flowers to self-sow. This means you can enjoy them year after year with minimal effort.
Forget-me-nots are beloved for their delicate, five-petaled blooms. They create a beautiful, informal look in borders, containers, and woodland areas. This guide gives you clear, step-by-step instructions for success.
How To Plant Forget Me Not Seeds
This section covers the core process. You will learn the best methods for sowing seeds both indoors and directly in your garden. Following these steps will give your seeds the best start.
Choosing Your Seeds And Planting Time
First, select your seeds. The common forget-me-not is *Myosotis sylvatica*. You may also find Alpine (*Myosotis alpestris*) and water forget-me-nots (*Myosotis scorpioides*). For most gardens, the common type is perfect.
Timing is flexible. You have two main windows for planting:
- Late Spring to Early Summer: Sow seeds directly outdoors after the last frost. These plants will flower the following spring.
- Late Summer to Early Fall: This is often the best time. The seeds will germinate, establish a small rosette of leaves, and then bloom robustly in spring.
For a head start, you can sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost. This works well if you have a very short growing season.
Preparing The Planting Site
Forget-me-nots are not fussy, but they do have preferences. Choosing the right spot makes a big difference in their health and flowering.
Light Requirements
These plants thrive in partial shade. They enjoy morning sun with afternoon shade, or dappled light under trees. In cooler climates, they can tolerate full sun if the soil is kept consistently moist. In hot areas, shade is essential to prevent them from scorching.
Soil Conditions
The ideal soil is moist, well-draining, and rich in organic matter. They can tolerate a range of soil types, from clay to loam, as long as it doesn’t dry out completely. Before planting, work some compost or well-rotted manure into the top few inches of soil. This improves texture and fertility.
A soil pH that is slightly acidic to neutral (6.0 to 7.0) is ideal, but they are quite adaptable. If your soil is very poor, a light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time can help.
Step By Step Sowing Instructions
Now, let’s get to the actual planting. Here are the detailed steps for both direct sowing and indoor starting.
Direct Sowing In The Garden
- Clear the planting area of weeds and debris. Loosen the soil to a depth of about 6-8 inches with a garden fork or tiller.
- Rake the soil smooth, creating a fine, level seedbed. Remove any large stones or clumps.
- Because the seeds are tiny, mix them with a handful of fine sand. This helps you distribute them more evenly and see where you’ve sown.
- Scatter the seed-sand mixture lightly over the prepared soil. Do not bury them deeply. Forget-me-not seeds need light to germinate.
- Gently press the seeds into the soil surface with the back of a rake or your hand. You can dust a very thin layer of soil or vermiculite over them, but no more than 1/8 of an inch.
- Water the area gently using a fine mist or a watering can with a rose attachment. You must keep the soil consistently moist until germination, which takes 10 to 14 days.
Starting Seeds Indoors
- Fill seed trays or small pots with a moist, seed-starting mix. Do not use garden soil, as it can compact and harbor diseases.
- Sprinkle the tiny seeds on top of the soil mix. Do not cover them, as they need light.
- Lightly press them into the mix to ensure good contact. Mist the surface thoroughly with water.
- Cover the tray with a clear plastic dome or plastic wrap to retain humidity. Place it in a warm location (65-70°F) with bright, indirect light.
- Check daily for moisture and germination. Once seedlings emerge (usually in 1-2 weeks), remove the plastic cover.
- When seedlings have their first set of true leaves, thin them or transplant them into individual cells. Keep them under grow lights or in a very bright window.
- Harden off the seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting them outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Space them about 6-10 inches apart.
Caring For Forget Me Not Seedlings And Plants
Once your seeds have sprouted, proper care ensures they grow into strong, flowering plants. The good news is that forget-me-nots require very little maintenance.
Watering And Moisture Management
Consistent moisture is the most important factor, especially for young seedlings. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. As the plants mature, they can handle slight drying between waterings, but they perform best with consistent moisture. A layer of mulch around the plants helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Thinning And Spacing
If you direct-sowed seeds, you will likely need to thin the seedlings. Crowded plants compete for light and nutrients, leading to weak growth and disease. When seedlings are a few inches tall, thin them so they are spaced 6 to 10 inches apart. This allows for good air circulation and healthy development.
Fertilizing For Growth
Forget-me-nots are not heavy feeders. If you prepared the soil with compost, they may need no additional fertilizer. If growth seems slow or leaves appear pale, you can apply a half-strength balanced liquid fertilizer once or twice during the growing season. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Encouraging Self Sowing And Managing Spread
One of the joys of forget-me-nots is their ability to self-sow. This natural reseeding creates lovely, spontaneous drifts of color in subsequent years. Here’s how to manage it.
How Self Sowing Works
After the flowers fade, they produce small, nutlet-like fruits. These fruits contain the seeds. When they are ripe, they drop to the ground nearby. If conditions are right, these seeds will germinate on their own, creating new plants the next year. This cycle can continue indefinitely, giving you a perennial display from an annual or biennial plant.
Controlling The Spread
While self-sowing is desirable, it can sometimes lead to more plants than you want. To control their spread, you can deadhead most of the spent flowers before they set seed. Simply snip off the flower stems as they fade. If you want them to reseed in a specific area, allow some flowers on the outer edges of the planting to go to seed naturally. You can also collect the dry seed heads and scatter them where you want new plants.
Common Problems And Solutions
Forget-me-nots are generally trouble-free, but they can encounter a few issues. Being able to identify and address these problems early is key.
Pests To Watch For
Aphids and slugs are the most common pests. Aphids can be dislodged with a strong spray of water from a hose. For slugs, use organic deterrents like diatomaceous earth, beer traps, or copper tape around planting beds. Good spacing and avoiding overhead watering helps prevent pest and disease issues.
Disease Prevention
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that can appear as a white, powdery coating on leaves. It thrives in humid conditions with poor air circulation. To prevent it, ensure proper spacing between plants, water at the base to keep foliage dry, and remove any affected leaves promptly. Crown rot can occur in poorly draining, waterlogged soil, so good site preparation is the best defense.
Forget Me Not Varieties To Consider
While the classic blue is most common, several cultivars offer different colors and habits. Exploring these can add variety to your garden.
- Myosotis sylvatica ‘Victoria Blue’: A compact variety with intense blue flowers, excellent for borders and containers.
- Myosotis sylvatica ‘Rosylva’: Features soft pink flowers, a lovely alternative to the traditional blue.
- Myosotis alpestris ‘Indigo’: A true alpine type with deep blue flowers, well-suited for rock gardens.
- Myosotis scorpioides: The water forget-me-not, perfect for pond edges or consistently wet soil areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is The Best Time To Plant Forget Me Not Seeds?
The best times are late summer to early fall, or late spring after the last frost. Fall planting often results in stronger, earlier blooms the following spring.
Do Forget Me Not Seeds Need Light To Germinate?
Yes, they do. Do not cover the seeds with soil when sowing. Just press them gently into the surface, as light helps trigger germination.
How Long Do Forget Me Nots Take To Grow From Seed?
Seeds typically germinate in 10 to 14 days. Plants sown in spring or summer will usually flower the following year, as they are typically biennials.
Will Forget Me Nots Come Back Every Year?
The plants themselves are usually biennial, meaning they flower, set seed, and die in their second year. However, they readily self-sow, creating the illusion of a perennial patch that returns annually from new seedlings.
Can I Plant Forget Me Not Seeds In Pots?
Absolutely. Use a good quality potting mix and ensure the container has drainage holes. Keep the soil moist and place the pot in partial shade. They make lovely, delicate container displays.