Planting Wildflowers

funkey_monkey

I planted some wildflower seeds about 7 - 8 weeks ago. There is growth - but it is mostly chickweed. Has the wildflower seeds failed or is there hope for them coming through yet?

looksee

Wildflower/mixed/annual seeds are very hit and miss. I would suggest you don't use mixed packets, get the actual seeds you want and grow them according to the instructions. For the most part wildflowers drop their seed some time after they have flowered, then the new plants grow over the following 12months depending on type. Unless all your flowers were ones that set seed in April/May you are a bit out of season with them. Leave the area till next spring and see if anything happens.

What kind of seeds were they? Have you a pic of the packet?

funkey_monkey

There were multiple packets - I sowed them for my mother. I think most of them were those small sample/gift packets about the size of an individual tea bag.

What she done was mix them all up with some sand and then gave it to me to spread with a lawn sower.

ttnov77

that depends, annuals are quick to bloom but perennials take longer, also it is the supermarket mix or some good quality native mix

funkey_monkey

They haven't come up again this year and nor have some new ones that were sown.

I've read that wildflowers are difficult to get to grow. is this correct? I'm not sure whether to persevere or give up with them. I was lead to believe it was just sow and forget, but they seem as difficult or more difficult to grow than others plants.

Liath Luachra

Really tricky to get a wildflower garden going - Ive tried cheap seed mixes and also, specialised much more expensive mixes based on our soil type. The most effective have been ox eye daisies and poppies that continue to come back to the the point we have had to remove swathes of them due to overtaking. If you're new to gardening and want to grow from seed, while not native it is attractive to pollinators and v pretty is cosmos. Soo easy to grow in seed trays and runs well into autumn and beyond, this with nepeta and ox eye etc interspersed with grasses has the wild garden look but easier to start and to maintain. you could give cosmos a try now in seed trays or direct - it will take quick in this heat - gentle watering daily. remember sowing direct and many seeds will be eaten before they have time to take.