Planting forget-me-nots: flowering time, location & Co.

The small flowers add fairytale charm to any garden. We show what needs to be considered when planting forget-me-nots.

forget Me Not (myosotis) is a popular early bloomer in our gardens. The plant with the small blue flowers and the famous name is one of the first flowers to bring color back into the bed after winter. Forget-me-not is also considered a very easy-care and simple garden plant. So that the special flower can also find its way into your garden, we will tell you everything about the ideal location, the right planting time and the procedure for planting forget-me-nots.

What flower lovers appreciate about the forget-me-not are its delicate blue flowers. In the spring bed they are a real eye-catcher in every garden. In order for perfect flowering to occur, however, the time of planting is crucial. If the plant is sown too late or planted in the garden, it may not flower next year. So that you don't have to do without the magical flowers of the forget-me-not, we'll tell you everything for the perfect forget-me-not flower.

When should you plant forget-me-nots?

If you prefer your forget-me-nots, you can sow them on the windowsill or in the heated greenhouse in autumn. This allows the forget-me-not to develop in a warm place over the winter and then bloom the following year.

In spring, from mid-May, the forget-me-nots brought forward in autumn can be placed in the garden. Or you prefer forget-me-not plants in spring, from April, and place them in the bed in late summer or autumn. However, the plants will not flower until the following year. You can plant purchased plants in containers as early as the end of May after the ice saints. Direct sowing outdoors can begin from mid-June and is still possible until mid-July.

Planting time of forget-me-nots at a glance:

• Forget-me-nots can be brought forward from autumn and planted from mid-May; so it blooms the following year
• If the plant is not brought forward until spring, it is planted in the bed in late summer or autumn; However, flowers will not appear until the following year
• Container goods are planted out after the ice saints at the end of May
• Direct sowing outdoors takes place between mid-June and mid-July

Planting forget-me-nots: the right location

The right location for forget-me-nots depends very much on the type and variety. Most often, the forget-me-nots that are planted or sown as ornamental plants for gardens are of the forest (Myosotis sylvatica) or swamp forget-me-nots (Myosotis scorpioides). The forest forget-me-not is at home in shady forests and therefore prefers a shady or partially shaded location in the garden. He doesn't like blazing sun at all. The swamp forget-me-not can be in a partially shaded or sunny location. Only “wet feet” are important to him. It feels particularly comfortable in damp locations, for example at the edge of a pond or in wet areas.

The soil conditions for all forget-me-not species should be permeable, nutrient-rich and slightly acidic. The optimal pH is between 6.5 and 7.

Summary of the right location for forget-me-nots:

• Forest forget-me-not: Shady to partially shaded
• Swamp Forget-Me-Not: Half shade to sun, swampy and humid
• Well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
• Soil pH: 6.5 - 7

Tip: Forget-me-nots look particularly good when combined with other spring flowering plants in the bed. They are particularly good for this tulips (Tulipa gesneriana) and primroses (Primula).

Planting forget-me-nots: instructions

When planting forget-me-nots, you have several options. Either you prefer the plants, sow them directly in the bed, or place bought seedlings in the bed. It is also possible to plant forget-me-nots in pots. In the following we will present all the options in more detail.

prefer forget-me-not

If you would like to prefer your forget-me-nots, then proceed as follows: Prepare suitable ones seed trays with seed soil and place the seeds on the soil. These are then only lightly pressed. are forget-me-nots light germinator, which is why the seeds must not be covered with soil. Forget-me-nots germinate best in a place that is not too bright and rather shady. At temperatures of 18 °C, the seeds then begin to germinate. The germination period is about 14 days.

Prefer forget-me-not at a glance:

• Fill the seed trays with seed soil
• Press the seeds down lightly, do not cover them with soil
• Let germinate in a shady place
• Optimum germination temperature: 18 °C
• Germination period: Approx. 14 days

Sow forget-me-nots in the bed

If you don't want to prefer your forget-me-nots, you can also sow them directly in the bed. For this purpose, the soil is well loosened and freed from weeds. You can also use the floor compost or enrich with organic long-term fertilizer. This improves the soil structure and provides your plant with sufficient nutrients after sowing. Our is ideal for this Plantura organic flower fertilizer with organic long-term effect.

Then create furrows with a distance of 20 centimeters for sowing, but they do not have to be deeper than one centimetre. The seeds are distributed in the furrows and only very lightly covered with soil and moistened. As soon as the seedlings are sufficiently large in mid-August, they are separated at a distance of 20 centimeters. This gives the forget-me-nots enough space to develop properly and grow well.

Sowing forget-me-nots in the bed at a glance:

• Loosen the soil and clear weeds
• Enrich soil with compost or organic slow-release fertilizer
• Create 1 cm deep sowing furrows
• Row spacing: 20 cm
• Cover the seeds very lightly with soil
• moisten
• Separate the plants in August
• Planting distance: 20 cm

Plant out forget-me-not plants

Another option is to plant forget-me-nots bought in bulk. Free the plant from its flower pot and place it in a bucket of water. This allows the root ball to soak up water. Then loosen the soil well and enrich it with compost or organic long-term fertilizer – like ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer with an organic long-term effect. Then dig planting holes 20 centimeters apart. The forget-me-not plants are placed in these - but not deeper than they were in the container - and watered well.

Summary of planting forget-me-nots:

• Place forget-me-not plants in a bucket of water
• Loosen the soil well and remove weeds
• Enrich soil with compost or organic slow-release fertilizer
• Dig a planting hole
• Do not put forget-me-nots deeper in the hole than they were in the container
• Water well

Plant forget-me-nots in pots

Forget-me-nots can also be planted in pots. However, it should be noted that they do not like direct sunlight on the balcony or terrace either. A location in partial shade is therefore better. Most forget-me-nots are planted in balcony boxes. Planting in pots and tubs is also possible. It is only important that all planters have a drainage hole so that there is no waterlogging. Normal potting soil or rhododendron soil are very suitable for planting. Here, too, you can treat the substrate with an organic long-term fertilizer before planting out – like ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer with organic long-term effect - enrich. The planting distance of forget-me-nots in the pot should be 15 centimeters.

Planting forget-me-nots in pots summarized:

• No direct sunlight
• Choose a sufficiently large planter with a drainage hole
• Use potting soil or rhododendron soil
• Enrich substrate with organic long-term fertilizer
• Planting distance in the pot: 15 cm

Tip: The forget-me-not is not a houseplant: the air inside is too warm and the humidity too high or too low. The forget-me-not only gets a really beautiful flower outdoors.

Caring for forget-me-nots after planting

The most important thing when caring for forget-me-nots is adequate watering. Therefore, water your forget-me-not regularly – but not too much. Allow the top layer of soil to dry before watering again.

You can fertilize with forget-me-nots for magnificent blooms in spring compost, horn meal or organic long-term fertilizer. Ours is ideal for this Plantura organic flower fertilizer with organic long-term effect.

In general, forget-me-nots are hardy and survive our winter without any problems. However, young plants that were only planted out in autumn can still be very sensitive to frost and should be protected with fleece in the first winter. Unlike their siblings in the garden, forget-me-nots in pots are not hardy. You should therefore ensure frost protection by covering the forget-me-nots with fleece or foil and placing them in a sheltered place.

Planting forget-me-nots: the flowering period

The flowering time of forget-me-nots depends heavily on the species and variety. The two most common forget-me-not species, the swamp forget-me-not and the forest forget-me-not, flower in May and June respectively. Depending on the variety, the forest forget-me-not can bloom blue, pink or white. The swamp forget-me-not flowers in the well-known blue. While the Alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) shows its flowers in June and July, the field forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) on the other hand from April to October. The imposing Caucasus forget-me-not (Brunera macrophylla) flowers from April to May in a radiant blue. Also the lawn forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa) begins to flower from April, but carries its flowers into June.

Flowering time of various forget-me-not species:

• Forest forget-me-nots: May
• Swamp Forget-Me-Nots: June
• Alpine forget-me-nots: June to July
• Field forget-me-nots: April to October
• Caucasus forget-me-nots: April to May
• Lawn forget-me-nots: April to June

Tip: If your forget-me-not flowers pink at first, this does not mean that something went wrong with the cultivation. Only after a few days do the young flowers of the forget-me-not turn their usual blue.

In addition to forget-me-nots, there are many other beautiful spring flowers. In our special article you will learn everything about the 5 most beautiful spring flowers.