How To Plant Forget Me Not Seeds

If you want to bring a cloud of delicate blue to your garden, learning how to plant forget me not seeds is the perfect place to start. These charming flowers are surprisingly easy to grow from seed and will often happily reseed themselves for years of effortless color.

Forget me nots are wonderful for filling in shady spots, lining pathways, or creating a beautiful, informal look. Their tiny, bright blue flowers with yellow centers are a classic sign of spring. This simple guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from choosing the right time to plant to caring for your blooming flowers.

You can plant forget me not seeds in two main ways: directly in your garden or starting them indoors in pots. Both methods are straightforward, but the timing is different. The best method for you depends on your climate and when you want to see blooms.

When to Sow Forget Me Not Seeds

Timing is key for success. Forget me nots are cool-season plants that dislike hot weather.

For Spring Blooms: Sow seeds directly in your garden in late summer or early fall. The seeds will germinate, form small plants that overwinter, and then burst into bloom the following spring.
For First-Year Blooms (in cooler climates): Start seeds indoors about 8-10 weeks before your last expected spring frost. Transplant the seedlings outside after the danger of hard frost has passed.
Alternative Timing: You can also sow seeds directly in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, but flowering may be later and less robust.

Choosing and Preparing the Planting Site

Forget me nots are not fussy, but they do have preferences. Choosing the right spot gives them a great head start.

Light: They thrive in partial shade to full shade. In cooler climates, they can tolerate morning sun. In hotter areas, shade is essential to prevent them from scorching and fading quickly.
Soil: They prefer soil that is consistently moist but drains well. Rich, humusy soil is ideal. Before planting, loosen the soil with a garden fork and mix in some compost or well-rotted leaf mold. This improves texture and provides nutrients.
Space: Plan for them to spread about 6-12 inches. They look best in drifts or clusters, so don’t be afraid to sow them generously.

Step-by-Step: Direct Sowing in the Garden

This is the easiest and most natural method. The process mimics how forget me nots spread themself in the wild.

Prepare the soil bed by weeding and raking it to a fine, crumbly texture.
Because the seeds are tiny, mix them with a handful of dry sand to help you distribute them more evenly.
Scatter the seed-and-sand mixture lightly over the prepared soil. Do not bury them deeply.
Gently press the seeds into the soil surface with the back of a rake or your hand. They need light to germinate, so a very light covering of fine soil or vermiculite is all you need—if any.
Water the area carefully using a fine mist or a gentle spray nozzle to avoid washing the seeds away. Keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings are established.

Step-by-Step: Starting Seeds Indoors

Starting indoors gives you more control and can lead to earlier blooms, especially if your springs are short.

Fill a seed tray or small pots with a moistened, sterile seed-starting mix.
Sow the tiny seeds on the surface of the soil. Do not cover them, as they require light to sprout.
Lightly mist the surface with water from a spray bottle.
Cover the tray with a clear plastic dome or plastic wrap to retain humidity.
Place the tray in a bright location out of direct sun. A temperature of 60-70°F (15-21°C) is perfect for germination, which typically takes 10-14 days.
Once seedlings appear, remove the plastic cover. Keep the soil moist and provide bright, indirect light.
When seedlings have a few sets of true leaves, you can thin them or transplant them into individual cells.

Transplanting Your Seedlings

Whether you started them indoors or bought seedlings, hardening them off is a crucial step.

Harden Off: About a week before transplanting, begin acclimating your seedlings to outdoor conditions. Place them outside in a sheltered, shady spot for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their time outside and exposure to sun and wind.
Planting: Dig a small hole for each seedling, spacing them 6-10 inches apart. Gently remove the seedling from its container, place it in the hole so it sits at the same depth it was growing before, and firm the soil around it.
Water the transplants thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.

Caring for Your Forget Me Nots

Once established, forget me nots need minimal care. A little attention will keep them looking their best.

Watering and Feeding

Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during dry spells in spring. A layer of mulch around the plants helps retain soil moisture and keeps roots cool. They don’t require heavy feeding. An application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a side-dressing of compost in early spring is usually sufficient.

Managing Growth and Reseeding

Forget me nots are prolific self-seeders. This is a benefit if you want a naturalized look, but it requires some management.

To encourage self-seeding for next year, simply leave the flowers in place after they fade. The plants will form seed pods that will eventually dry and burst, scattering seeds for the next season.
If you want to control their spread, deadhead the flowers (remove them) before they form seeds. You can also pull up unwanted seedlings in spring or fall—they are easy to identify and remove.
After blooming is complete, the plants often become ragged. You can pull them out to make room for summer annuals.

Common Pests and Problems

Forget me nots are generally trouble-free, but a few issues can occassionally appear.

Powdery Mildew: This white, powdery fungus can appear on leaves in crowded, humid conditions with poor air circulation. To prevent it, ensure proper spacing and water at the base of plants, not on the leaves. Neem oil can be used as a treatment.
Slugs and Snails: These pests love the tender foliage. Use organic deterrents like crushed eggshells, diatomaceous earth, or beer traps to protect young plants.
Rust: Look for orange pustules on the undersides of leaves. Remove and destroy affected foliage and avoid overhead watering.

Creative Uses in Your Garden

Their easy-going nature and lovely color make forget me nots incredibly versatile in garden design.

Plant them under deciduous trees or shrubs where they’ll bloom before the canopy fills in.
Use them as a charming, informal edge along a woodland path or shady border.
Let them naturalize in a wildflower garden or a cottage garden setting.
They make excellent companions for spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils, hiding the bulb’s fading foliage with their fresh green leaves.
Grow them in containers or window boxes for a spring display, paired with other shade-loving plants like pansies or primroses.

FAQ: Your Forget Me Not Questions Answered

Do forget me nots come back every year?

They are technically short-lived perennials or biennials, but they are best grown as self-seeding annuals. The parent plant may fade, but it will drop seeds that grow into new plants the next year, creating the illusion that they are perennial.

Can I plant forget me not seeds in the spring?

Yes, you can plant seeds in early spring. However, for the most robust and early display, sowing in late summer or fall is generally recommended. Spring-sown seeds may bloom later in the season.

How long do forget me nots take to grow from seed?

Seeds typically germinate in 10-14 days under the right conditions. From sowing, you can expect to see flowers in about 3-4 months for spring-sown seeds. Fall-sown seeds will bloom the following spring.

Do forget me not seeds need cold to germinate?

No, they do not require a cold period (stratification) to germinate. They germinate readily in cool, moist soil. The fall sowing method works because the seeds germinate in the cool autumn weather, not because they need winter cold.

Why are my forget me nots not flowering?

The most common reasons are too much heat or not enough light. While they prefer shade, dense, deep shade can reduce flowering. Ensure they get dappled light or morning sun. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer can also promote leaf growth at the expense of flowers.

Can I grow forget me nots in pots?

Absolutely. Use a good quality potting mix and ensure the container has drainage holes. Keep the soil consistently moist and place the pot in partial shade. They can make a lovely spring container display.

With their simple requirements and reliable beauty, forget me nots are a joy for any gardener. By following these steps on how to plant forget me not seeds, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying their signature blue haze in your own garden. Remember, the key is cool weather, moist soil, and a willingness to let them find their own happy place. Before you know it, you’ll have a beautiful, repeating display that welcomes spring year after year.