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wildflower seeds

Kezsmum
11/02/2011 18:08

I'm a real sucker for seeds - I love it when those first two leaves pop up. Today's post has delivered 10 packets of wildflower seeds and I've enjoyed going through them for a nice gloat. Sadly, no planting instructions but as I carefully chose those that don't require flaffing about with vernalization I suspect it's a case of scattering them in pretty much the way nature intended. Pity we haven't got the ability to seed swap because I'd gladly pass on spares but as it is I'll just scatter them on waste ground around and about. I chose a Devon supplier on the grounds that Devon seeds will do well in Devon. Sorry to keep on but I never seemed to grown out of that childish pleasure seeds give me - all that promise in such a tiny little seed - it's magic.

  • 11/02/2011 20:34

    Hello Kezsmum - I ordered some yesterday and am looking forward to the 'gloat' moment when they arrive! 

    what seeds did you order?
    I have instantly forgotten half of my order but Corn Cockle, Corn Marigold, Tansy, and Musk Mallow are among them.

    Many of the large seed companies only offer mixes but as space is limited I need individual species, and found Chiltern seeds offer a decent range (but includes a few non-natives).

  • 11/02/2011 20:39

    I love sowing wild flower seeds and waiting to see what comes through. Some nice surprises sometimes

    Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain.
    ~ Mark Twain

  • 11/02/2011 22:22 in reply to JudiM

    Most can just be spread, but cowslips and a few others are best off in the propergator before being planted out. 

    I got double my seed order, first lot didn't hadn't arrived so I'd phoned up and they sent out more and BOTH packs arrived together!

    Millie & Fly the Border Collies

  • 11/02/2011 22:32 in reply to KatTai

    KatTai said:
    but cowslips and a few others are best off in the propergator before being planted out.  Glad I didn't know that KatTai because I collected seed from cowslips I had, sowed them in a pot immediately mnore or less, they were fresh anyway, and up they came and better still, survived the winter and now I have zillions of them ready to pot on if ever I can get of this damned (sorry - but I'm getting fed up with it)bed long enough to pot them on.

  • 11/02/2011 22:45 in reply to ratty

    Carole R said:
    what seeds did you order?

    Now for another nice little gloat, I do so love poring over my seed packets:-)Corn marigold, cornflower, corn cockle, Lady's smock, kidney vetch, common fleabane, field poppy, ragged robin, purple loosestrife, red campion, field scabious, birdsfoot trfoil. Non-natives- poached egg  plant (not sure if it's a native or not, appeared in wild seed catalogue but I thought it was a cultivated plant), Virginain stocks, Helichrysum (straw flower) and nasturtiums. My species sweet peas that I planted last autumn have not appeared, strongly suspect mice, despite the peppermint (it was recommended to put mice off - but I think I now have plump, possibly diabetic, they were big peppermints, rodents with sweet peppermint breath) and nasturtiums. I planted hesperis (dame's violet or sweet rocket) last year and they're quite beefy plants now so should flower this year and I'm hoping borage and various other things I planted as seeds will appear having survived the cold, the slugs and marauding, hungry field mice. I also had some foxgloves coming up nicely in a pot, ready to be potted on and hope they've survived winter too, must check when back on legs.

  • 11/02/2011 22:47 in reply to Kezsmum

    Kezsmum said:

    Glad I didn't know that KatTai because I collected seed from cowslips I had, sowed them in a pot immediately mnore or less, they were fresh anyway, and up they came and better still, survived the winter and now I have zillions of them ready to pot on if ever I can get of this damned (sorry - but I'm getting fed up with it)bed long enough to pot them on.

    Do you know what's even stranger?  One of my packets of seeds has cowslip in them and you just spread them on the ground!  Yet on cowslip packets it says use a propegator to start them off in!  I should have said that was what I'd read on the packets as well lol  If it is a wild flower it should just grow on it's own in my view!

    Millie & Fly the Border Collies

  • 11/02/2011 22:55 in reply to KatTai

    KatTai said:
    If it is a wild flower it should just grow on it's own in my view!

    Mine too! And slugs and snails should turn their noses up at them as well, if not why not?

  • 11/02/2011 23:05 in reply to Kezsmum

    Kezsmum said:

    If it is a wild flower it should just grow on it's own in my view!

    Mine too! And slugs and snails should turn their noses up at them as well, if not why not?

    [/quote]

    Because if they don't eat they don't get nice and juicy for the thrushes and blackbirds?

    Millie & Fly the Border Collies

  • 11/02/2011 23:38 in reply to KatTai

    POPPY'S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I just love them, every year there is a small patch down the bottom of my garden reserved especially for my Poppy's to come up and show off. Also have a few that show in the front garden.  A glorious flower which is also very symbolic.

    Feed The Birds....not the cats!!!!

    I know....my spelling's crap !!

  • 11/02/2011 23:40 in reply to Big Robbo 27

    Robbo you sound like my OH, he likes his poppys too!  There's some in one of our wildflower mixes :-)

    Millie & Fly the Border Collies