Wild Seeds

We have a very unique well house. Every spring we get many varieties of white daisies, when they are just about gone, the yellow daisies start, then the cornflowers. I have a bucket of wild flower seeds I want to 'toss' around there to surprise Ed. My question is: We probably have one more good snow coming before March, so should I put them out before that or wait until the end of Feb? I know I can put down my grass seed now, but I don't want to kill these wild flowers (many varieties).

Hi Janni, a lot of wild flowers need the cold of winter to germinate. If you can, I would start these in flats, expose them to the cold for a few weeks, then grow them on to transplant size. That is your best bet getting wildflowers to naturalize in an area. Most of the ones that are broadcast-planted just don't grow; they can't get established soon enough, even if they do germinate.

Yes, I have had a couple years' experience trying to get wildflowers to grow, and I never had success with the broadcast method.

Thanks!! This is what I will do!

lupinelover: I thought I was the only guy who did that! Of course, I go one step further by starting them indoors, then transplanting to six-packs. I try to get Alaskan wildflower mix, or at least for the northern climes, and I prefer the perennial, biennial mixes. I have reserved one bed in my yard for these, and now I have mountain bluet, daisies, sweet william, silene, and more growing there. It's aways fun!

I love the huge variety of native wildflowers we have on our property. Without me putting them there!!! Last year we took in two rescue LARGE dogs and all the daisies and cone flowers suffered because they made their area their day bed! I plan to fence off with string (somehow) to keep them out this year. Then when things come up that Ed won't expect, it will be a good thing!! LOL

You know, Janni. If your seeds are from local wildflowers, they would probably benefit from fall or winter sowing, since that is what nature would do. If they are from packaged wildflower mix, it's quite another thing. When propagating real wildflowers, I try to duplicate the experience they would have in the wild. If the pods spread seed in the fall, that is the best time to broadcast them outdoors. If the seeds sit for a year or two before germination, you'll probably have to knick the seed surface to promote germination, just as the seed would experience rolling around outdoors. Just watch what God does and imitate.

If you have poppy seeds, sow now on top of snow...