Planting Wildflower Seeds

The only consideration for growing healthy wildflower plants is selecting species that are native to your region. If this condition is being taken care of, nothing can stop you from growing attractive wildflowers that will definitely turn your flower garden into a show stopper.

The best time to sow wildflower seeds depends upon certain aspects, like wildflower seed dormancy, growth habits of the plants, the rainy season in your area and arrival of heavy frost. You should avoid planting wildflower seeds in the dormant period, waterlogged condition and most importantly, during heavy frosting.

For sowing annual and perennial wildflower seeds, spring is the perfect time, while those having biennial growth habit can be planted in spring, late summer and fall. For some wildflower species (wild carrot, sweet violet, clustered bellflower, etc.), dormant seeding can be done in late fall, when the temperature is too low to induce germination.

In the native habitat, these seeds are exposed to chilling period and germination occurs when favorable conditions arrive in the following year. The same can be achieved by sowing seeds outdoors in the dormant period and covering them with compost. This method of subjecting seeds to low temperature condition is called stratification.

The fact is, these flowering plants cover a large space in the natural habitat and grow as wild species. Thus, the name itself signifies ease in planting these flower varieties. Direct and good contact of seeds with soil is imperative to promote germination of wildflower seeds. It's for this reason why hobbyists prefer dormant seeding in late fall or winter.

The growing tricks for wildflowers are no different from the cultivated easy to grow flowers. But, purchasing their seeds is more of a difficult task than actually sowing and planting them. This is because, many of the suppliers mix true seeds with fillers and grasses, which later become a cumbersome task for gardeners to control unwanted plants.

So, make sure you contact a trusted wildflower seeds supplier to avoid future headache. Detailed info for planting of wildflower seeds in your garden are explained ahead.

✔ Inquire whether the wildflower seeds you have purchased require sowing in seed tray or not. While this is a prerequisite for most of the species, some wildflowers like cornflower, violet, corn marigold, corn poppy, etc., should be sown directly in garden soil.

✔ Rake planting soil to about 1 inch depth and remove unwanted weeds by tilling, uprooting and pulling them. If required, supplement a good amount of compost to the garden beds. For planting wildflower seeds over a large area, mix them with a bulk material (like sand) and use a broadcast spreader.

✔ In case, the seeds require sowing in a garden tray, fill the tray with good quality seed compost and sow them. If available, keep it in a glasshouse for providing optimal conditions. Also, keep the medium moist to promote quick sprouting of the seeds.

✔ Based on the wildflower species you have opted and the sowing time, the seeds will germinate within a few weeks or several months time. Say for example, wildflower seeds that call for stratification are sown in late fall for sprouting in spring of the next year.

Thus, wildflower seeds require less effort for sowing, except for the basic growth factors. Hoping that you have purchased wildflower seeds native to your region and correct care is provided, they will germinate and grow luxuriantly.