Seed Sowing Guidance for your wild flower seeds

We provide condensed planting instructions within the gift pack. Each seed  packet has a planting direction number which corresponds to instructions on how to plant on the  planting direction card. 

1. These ANNUAL wild flower seeds can be  sown in both  the autumn or the spring.  It  doesn't matter if you want to plant in seed trays/pots rather than direct in the garden.  However if you do plant in trays/pots make sure you do not separate before planting.  This method avoids the root disturbance  which these species don't like.  Seeds sown in the autumn will give bigger plants than those sown in spring.   Annuals die in autumn & grow again the following year from the seed they dropped in the autumn.
2. Plant these PERENNIAL  seeds in the autumn or spring. Best sown directly into trays/pots as they are slow growing and therefore difficult to distinguish from weeds if sown directly onto flowerbeds.  Transplant into pots to be allowed to grow bigger before you plant them  in their final flowering position in late spring, ready for them to flower over the summer.  Perennials die back in the autumn but come back year after year.  Autumn sowings will produce bigger plants than spring sowings.
3. These BIENNIAL  flower seeds are best sown in the Autumn. Sow directly into trays/pots & transplant into larger pots to grow bigger over the summer.  Plant out into their final position in autumn.  They will overwinter ready to grow even bigger over the following spring, ready to flower in the summer.  Biennials die after they have flowered & shed their seed.
4. STRATIFICATION is exposure to prolonged moist cold & naturally occurs over a harsh winter. The seeds need this to kick start their germination in spring. If you are in an area that tends to have mild winters or you have purchased the seeds in spring, to help them along you can place with some sand in a bag & place in the fridge for about 6 weeks before you plant them out . Moving the mixture in & out of the refrigerator to give alternating temperature levels will promote this artificial stratification process. Afterwards sow these perennials as in direction no 2.
5. SCARIFICATON ( breaking of the seed coat) is required to allow for germination of these seeds, as they have a hard seed coat which prevents water access & resultant germination.  This is natures way of ensuring all seed shed germinates immediately but over an extended period giving better chance survival of the species. It can be done simply by rubbing between 2 pieces of sand paper.  Sow as Perennial direction no 2.

• Try and avoid the seeds from drying out. But also be carefull not to leave them sat in water or they will rot.
• Late direct seed sowings should be avoided on sites prone to water logging in winter.
• Summer  direct seed sowings should be avoided on sites prone to drought.
• Sowing seeds directly into existing grassy sites work best in the autumn. 

• Plants are living things & therefore  are unpredictable when growing.
• We have stored the seeds at 3-5 degrees to maintain their viability & to give them the best possible chance of  successful germination.
• Do not eat the seeds.
• Some plants when grown have parts that are toxic. We therefore advise caution with all the plants & seeds around animals & children & advise against consumption.