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How to grow
Wild Flowers from seed
This project is supported by the Department of the Environment
Environmental Partnership Fund.
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Growing Wild Flowers
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September is an ideal month to start growing wildflowers. The temperature is right for the germination of many species and winter is nigh for those seeds which need a bout of frost to break their dormancy.
Seeds may be bought from specialised nurseries or some of the very common ones can be collected from the wild.
Examples of seeds which can be collected from the wild at this time of the year, are: meadowsweet, plantain, common poppy, yarrow and knapweed. (These should be dried on a window-sill after they are gathered). |
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Bluebell Oxeye Daisy Cow Slip
Requirements You will need seeds of wildflowers such as, oxeye daisy, cuckoo flower, ragged-robin, cowslip, primrose, selfheal, meadow buttercup, common dog violet, bluebell, greater stitchwort, red campion, tufted vetch, field scabious, cornflower and red clover.
Cornflower seeds germinate very quickly, perhaps six or seven days. Since native cornflowers are almost extinct, it is worth sowing seeds in trays for conservation purposes.
Tufted vetch and clover should be scarified before sowing.
You will also need Clean plastic seed trays 37cm by 23cm approx. Seed compost. This can be made by simply mixing equal parts by volume, of horticultural sand and peat. You may also use a peat substitute such as coir. Watering can with a fine spray. Small panes of glass or clear plastic or perspex, to fit over the trays. Be careful if using glass! Plant labels and a light-fast felt marker. (So-called 'Permanent' markers can fade very rapidly outdoors.)
Definitions Dormancy: Some wildflower seeds such as primroses, cowslips, bluebells and ramsons (wild garlic) will not germinate unless they are exposed to frost. This dormancy can be artificially broken by placing the seeds mixed with wet sand in a plastic bag in the fridge for a period of four to six weeks. Scarification: Some hard-coated seeds such as vetches and cranesbills need to be softened to allow moisture in to speed up germination. These should be rubbed between two sheets of sandpaper before sowing. Horticultural sand: This is sometimes called silver or granite sand. It is used on golf courses and in children's play-pits. All garden centres stock it. Coir: For those who wish to conserve dwindling peat resources coir is a perfect substitute. It is made from ground coconut shells and holds water extremely well. It can be bought in many garden centres.
Specialist Nurseries of IrishWildflower Seeds Design By Nature, Monivea Cross, Crettyard, Co. Carlow.
Irish Wildflowers Ltd., The Wood, Dingle, Co. Kerry.
Ecoseeds, 1 Barview Cottages, Strangford, Co. Down. BT30 7NN.
Willow Greeting Cards & Postcards, Cootehall, Boyle, Co. Roscommon. (They supply cards filled with wildflower seeds). |
What to do
As a general rule, all seeds should be lightly covered, to their own depth, with compost.
Large seeds like bluebells, corncockle, field scabious, greater knapweed and cornflower should be sown about 1 cm apart and covered to about twice their depth.
Fine seeds such as yarrow, mullein, foxglove, corn chamomile, poppy, lady's smock, harebell, ragged robin, cowslip, primrose, red clover, wild pansy and purple loosestrife should be scattered thinly, by tapping the back of the hand containing the seed with the other hand and pressed lightly into the soil and left uncovered.
Water again with the fine spray, label the trays with name and date of sowing, and then cover the trays with glass or plastic.
A glass or plastic cover prevents evaporation and keeps the compost moist. This saves the bother of watering. It also keeps cats and mice away from the trays.
Aftercare Leave the trays in a lightly -shaded sheltered spot away from the rays of the midday sun. An ideal place is beside a north-west facing wall. Note: If vandalism is a problem at school, it may be wiser to store seed trays at home.
The seedlings can then be transplanted to small pots (4-6cm), filled with soil-based potting compost and kept outside.
The only care that they need from now on is to ensure that they don't dry out. Don't be too disappointed if seeds do not germinate before winter. Wild flower seeds can be erratic in germinating. They will eventually appear. Keep them covered until they do appear.
Seedlings can be planted out to a permanent position e.g. a meadow area or a nectar border in the following autumn.
Text:Patrick Madden
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Tel. 056- 42 526
