Sowing wild flower seeds

[andy]

I have been collecting a few seeds this year to be sown on an over grown bank at work. Among the seeds are welsh poppy, another orange poppy, polemonia (sp ?....jacobs ladder), fox and cubs, a tall campanula and a few others.

Now obviously, these seeds would be hitting the ground naturally around now so in theory. i should scatter the seeds tomorrow when i go to work.

However, there's something telling me to wait until spring and i don't know what to do.

Over to you guys

Andy

[4pygmies]

I would hedge your bets and do both Andy! It seems silly but I have found some wild flower seeds hellishly tricky to germinate.....as a rule I think they are better sown in trays but left outside somewhere where they will get the benefit of the cold. Jacobs Ladder seem to grow whatever you do, as do the poppies but others such as Scabious can be a bit temperamental, in my experience. Now I tend to sow most in cells but leave them in an open cold frame or something similar. I've found that works the best for most sorts. Hope that helps.

[Chuckles]

What a lovely idea Andy.

I'd agree with your theory of "seeds would be hitting the ground naturally around now" however I have had very little luck with things self seeding in my garden for some reason

In 2003 a friend gave me loads of those tall double poppy seeds, not the oriental type but the ones that are more wild flower looking, sorry not sure what they are called. Any how, I scattered loads in parts of my garden in 2003, guess what, they didn't appear until this year for years on and then only a few germinated I have read somewhere that seeds can stay dormant for years and years in the soil. Maybe some more will germinate next year.

Sorry I've waffled on, I'd do as 4P suggested and hedge your bets

BTW the seeds I had left along with a load of Hollyhocks and Foxgloves got scattered in an unused overgrown garden not far from mine the other day ;D

[Ladygardener]

what a lovely thing to do