Sowing Wildflower Butterfly Mix for June through September
I have recently purchased a box of 4oz. "wildflowers butterfly mix" and would like to plant directly outside for the summer. When is the best time and what is the most accurate and simpler way to plant them outside? I do not believe I will be using a garden box.
Thank You
Thank You
Posted
by: Roseann Sorrentino
(3 points)
Posted: May 3, 2013
Answers
It depends on your climate. Where do you live? In my climate, Northern California, it doesn't rain in the summer, so the best time to plant wildflowers is in the fall for the following spring and summer. Sometimes you can get away with early spring planting, but it will require more watering. I've even known someone who planted wildflower seeds in the summer and watered liberally twice a day! You will need to manually water the seeds or rely on the rain.
You may also want to protect your seedlings from birds and other hungry wildlife. Otherwise the birds may think you are offering them birdseed! You can use overturned nursery flats, floating row cover, or other physical barriers that allow water and light to reach the seeds. If snails and slugs are a problem, be prepared to block them as well. In my area, lupines are difficult to grow from seed unless you use beer traps or other snail/slug diversion methods.
And finally, the most important factor in a successful direct planting is to make sure the ground where you are planting your seeds is as weed-free as you can get it. Most soil has a substantial weed-seed bank and, once you disturb the soil and expose those seeds to light, the weeds will grow. Once you start watering and tending that ground, the weeds will often overtake and outcompete your desired seedlings. An important strategy is to learn to recognize your wildflower seedlings when they are quite small so that you are not weeding them out! If you don't already know these plants, you can pick out all the different seeds and germinate them on a moist paper towel (to make sure all the different plants are represented), and then grow them in a small container using sterile potting soil (to ensure that no weed seeds are in the mix). Googling seedling photos can help, but in my experience, there's no substitute for learning to recognize tiny seedlings. Subtle differences in color, shape, etc. are easy to spot on real seedlings, whereas a photo might look like 5 different plants.
Of course, the easiest way is to loosen your soil, broadcast the seeds, cover them with a very thin layer of soil as a bird barrier, step on the soil to get good seed/soil contact, make sure they get enough water, and then let nature decide which flowers flourish.
You may also want to protect your seedlings from birds and other hungry wildlife. Otherwise the birds may think you are offering them birdseed! You can use overturned nursery flats, floating row cover, or other physical barriers that allow water and light to reach the seeds. If snails and slugs are a problem, be prepared to block them as well. In my area, lupines are difficult to grow from seed unless you use beer traps or other snail/slug diversion methods.
And finally, the most important factor in a successful direct planting is to make sure the ground where you are planting your seeds is as weed-free as you can get it. Most soil has a substantial weed-seed bank and, once you disturb the soil and expose those seeds to light, the weeds will grow. Once you start watering and tending that ground, the weeds will often overtake and outcompete your desired seedlings. An important strategy is to learn to recognize your wildflower seedlings when they are quite small so that you are not weeding them out! If you don't already know these plants, you can pick out all the different seeds and germinate them on a moist paper towel (to make sure all the different plants are represented), and then grow them in a small container using sterile potting soil (to ensure that no weed seeds are in the mix). Googling seedling photos can help, but in my experience, there's no substitute for learning to recognize tiny seedlings. Subtle differences in color, shape, etc. are easy to spot on real seedlings, whereas a photo might look like 5 different plants.
Of course, the easiest way is to loosen your soil, broadcast the seeds, cover them with a very thin layer of soil as a bird barrier, step on the soil to get good seed/soil contact, make sure they get enough water, and then let nature decide which flowers flourish.
Posted
by: Tanya in the Garden
(128 points)
Posted: May 4, 2013
Roseann Sorrentino commented,
live in state of NY central along the Hudson River line between NYC and Albany. ;-) Lots of mountains and natural areas here. but not a lot of meadows where I live. just planning on doing a basic wildflower bed. to look fancy and hopefully have butterflies and honey bees.
almost 11 years ago.
live in state of NY central along the Hudson River line between NYC and Albany. ;-) Lots of mountains and natural areas here. but not a lot of meadows where I live. just planning on doing a basic wildflower bed. to look fancy and hopefully have butterflies and honey bees.
almost 11 years ago.
Roseann Sorrentino commented,
I want to plant them in the fall, how late should I plant them in the fall for them to try and flower around this time? well would like to keep them flowered for May 31st. almost 11 years ago.
I want to plant them in the fall, how late should I plant them in the fall for them to try and flower around this time? well would like to keep them flowered for May 31st. almost 11 years ago.
Tanya in the Garden commented,
I don't know the wildflower cycle in your climate, so I hope someone with experience there responds. But I do recall the story of an environmental organization based in Wash. DC that decided to make the big lawn in front of its HQ into a wildflower meadow. So they tilled the soil, planted the seeds, and voila! In the spring, a lush crop of weeds... because the tilling had exposed all the weed seeds to light. almost 11 years ago.
I don't know the wildflower cycle in your climate, so I hope someone with experience there responds. But I do recall the story of an environmental organization based in Wash. DC that decided to make the big lawn in front of its HQ into a wildflower meadow. So they tilled the soil, planted the seeds, and voila! In the spring, a lush crop of weeds... because the tilling had exposed all the weed seeds to light. almost 11 years ago.
Tanya in the Garden commented,
If you want flowers this summer, one idea is to buy a few native plants now. Or if you want to attract the widest variety of butterflies, you can research which butterflies are likely to be in your area, then research which wildflowers they use as host plants (to nurture their larvae, which will nibble on those plants -- many butterflies prefer specific plants) and as nectar plants (they're not as picky about these, but native plants are still preferred). A good resource is Doug Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home. almost 11 years ago.
If you want flowers this summer, one idea is to buy a few native plants now. Or if you want to attract the widest variety of butterflies, you can research which butterflies are likely to be in your area, then research which wildflowers they use as host plants (to nurture their larvae, which will nibble on those plants -- many butterflies prefer specific plants) and as nectar plants (they're not as picky about these, but native plants are still preferred). A good resource is Doug Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home. almost 11 years ago.
I don' t know what mix you bought but the one that wal-mart sell are only 5-10% seed the rest is just filler. So Don't expect a lot. I have bought wildflower mixes before. I do a light tillage, and broadcast seed just before it is going to rain. I sow 5-10 acres of cover crop seed a year and in the spring before June I have good luck so far.
Posted
by: David Lawson
(5 points)
Posted: May 4, 2013
You need to log in if you'd like to add an answer or comment.
0 Comments