Forget-me-nots are the ultimate spring wake-up call for your garden, showing off those gorgeous sky-blue petals that just make everything pop. These little beauties are usually annuals or biennials, meaning if you want that sea of blue every year, you’ll want to stay on top of your planting game—unless you’re happy letting them do their own thing!
Sowing Forget-Me-Nots
In the wild (or just a messy garden corner), forget-me-nots are experts at self-seeding. Once the flowers fade, they drop seed pods that get carried away by the wind or hitch a ride on passing animals. Before you know it, they can take over huge patches of your yard! If you’re not looking for a total blue takeover, the trick is to deadhead the spent flowers before those seed pods have a chance to form.
Growing Forget-Me-Nots the Pro Way
If you want a bit more control, growing them from scratch is super easy. You can grab seeds at your local garden center or harvest them from your own plants once the pods ripen. Just a heads-up: if you harvest your own, you might get some fun color surprises next year! If you’re looking for a specific variety or a very particular shade of blue, it’s best to buy a fresh packet of seeds.
When and How to Plant
Since these early bloomers usually don’t flower until their second year, you’ll want to get a head start by planting them the summer before. Here’s my go-to method for getting them started:
- Prep your seed trays or small pots with standard garden soil.
- Sprinkle the seeds thinly across the surface.
- Pro tip: Don’t bury them! Forget-me-nots need light to germinate, so either leave them on top or give them the tiniest dusting of soil.
- Give them a gentle misting with a spray bottle so you don’t wash the seeds away.
- Place your trays in a bright spot.
- Keep the soil damp, but make sure they aren’t sitting in a puddle.
You should see sprouts in about two to three weeks. Once they’ve grown their second set of leaves, it’s time to “prick them out” (thin them). Move the strongest seedlings into their own pots. By fall, they’ll be ready to move into their permanent homes in large planters or directly into your garden beds. If you’re planting directly outside, space your little clusters about 8 inches apart and weed out any stragglers that look a bit weak.
Starting Seeds Indoors
If you want an extra early show, you can actually start your forget-me-nots indoors to get blooms as early as March. Use seed trays or window boxes and keep them in a bright, cool spot. Keep that soil lightly moist, and once those tiny green shoots appear, just follow the same transplanting steps as you would for outdoor sowing. Happy planting!
