Wildflower seed- when to disperse

Ixlandia

Hi all, I had collected a lot of wildflower seed from last year and stored in the dry shed since late autumn last. I have yellow rattle, scabious, meadowsweet, and knapweed.

I also have some bare ground prepared ready for sowing. Would it be a good time to spread these to sow now that it is February? My soilis still quite cold despite the mild enough winter. Should I wait a few weeks more, or have I missed the boat?

Thanks.

magicbastarder

i generally treat non-cultivated plants like nature would. the plants would have scattered the seeds into the soil long before now.

SnowyMuckish

The gardener Monty Don says when it’s warm enough for weeds it’s warm enough for seeds.

Ms2011

Yellow Rattle needs a period of cold to germinate so its usually advised to sow no later than December.
That said you could try a few weeks in the fridge and sow the lot in March.

Ixlandia

Thanks for the advice we’ve had a good few chilly nights also, I’ll bring the lot in and place them in the fridge, it’s my first attempt at this

SnowyMuckish

Don’t add any goodness to the soil. Wildflowers prefer poor soil

taxusbaccata

Autumn or spring when its warm enough to germinate. Planting in winter seeds are at risk of being lost to fungus, birds, mice etc. I'd advise when average air temp above 12oC.

http://www.wildflowers.ie/growers-manual/index.htm

Day Lewin

Yellow rattle also needs to be among grass roots, it needs a particular fungus to grow well.

Quite a specialised plant, you often see it around dunes: a clue that it needs full daylight, lime underfoot, and good drainage, as well as the grassy neighbours.

Day Lewin

Also, some seeds actually need a period of being frozen in winter soil, to germinate well.
Nature leaves them in the soil all winter!

SnowyMuckish

Day Lewin wrote: »

Yellow rattle also needs to be among grass roots, it needs a particular fungus to grow well.

Quite a specialised plant, you often see it around dunes: a clue that it needs full daylight, lime underfoot, and good drainage, as well as the grassy neighbours.

Yellow rattle plays a very important role in wildflower meadows, it’s parasitic with grass and feeds off it, therefore suppressing it and allowing the flowers room. I wouldn’t plant it too close to lawn or it could be a pest!

Ixlandia

Thanks all !

Ix