Forget-me-knots

19 years ago

Hi all,

I know this may sound naive, but i have just discovered 'forget-me-knots'. Can someone tell me more about them. How high do they grow, are they annual or perennial, are they hardy, where i can get A LOT of seed and what is their down-side (if any)?? I am trying to establish an 'orchard groundcover' and thought this could be a "pretty" solution to my problem. Any advice would be great!

Cheers

Lyn

Comments (8)

ginnybee
19 years ago
Hi Lyn forget me nots are very pretty but they will self seed & you will not have to buy them again they are an annual from memory they are frost tender & if you walk though them when in flower they stick to your cloths I think this is why they are called for get me not you will find seed packets any where seed is sold
Jan.
Liatris
19 years ago
plant a punnet now and you will have a LOT of seeds for next year. Once they're past their best they will look ratty, and as Jan mentioned, brushing past the seedheads will cause the seeds to stick to your clothes and to any pets.

They wouldn't tolerate being walked on, and bees might be a problem when attempting to collect your fruit in the orchard.

It would make a stunning display when in flower, though.
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As Corp.Jones would say "Don't Panic!". Many gardeners in UK recommend late sowing as you get fewer losses from damping off.I'm going to suggest you use a cold frame, however. Site it next to the house where you get night warmth from the brick.If you need advice on this I'm sure there is a FAQ. Cosmos - needs warmth but is fast. Sow direct mid June to flower August- October. Save the seeds and next year start them about now. Can't be planted out till June anyway. Pansies - sow in modules in cold frame ideally from March but not too late now.Hardy so will flower until winter. Sunflowers - likewise but less hardy. Don't sow direct. Swan River Daisy - best sown early in warmth in sandy modules with good light. Wait until next year. Johnny Jump Up - Viola? Pansy ?? If you have light soil you could try a few direct in mid May for late flowering. Surface sow and cover with sand. Geranium - I'm not a fan of geranium from seed as it is slow and needs both warmth and light. You won't get any to flower this year whatever you do. Buy a few plants - it's not a lot more expensive than from seed anyway and cuttings are so much easier. Cherry Tom - sow now in cold frame, plant next to a S wall if possible. Lobelia - tough from seed. Buy a few plants.Is getting hardier in UK with GW though. Can self seed even. Don't ask me why it will do this, but damps off so easily. Leave the dying plants on a sunny, mossy wall! Snapdragon: Sow in sandy modules in the cold frame, plant out as soon as risk of frost is past. Save the seed.Can be hardy so sow a few late (mid June) to flower next year. Tagete: sow direct, late (mid june) in a hot dry spot. Save the seed. Will flower Aug - frost. Anagallis: never tried this but it's a very delicate plant, so probably best first in the cold frame. Final word: There is a saying in N England, "Ne'er cast a clout till May be out" ie. "Don't plant out tender plants until June." On the positive side with GW fall has been getting milder and frosts are not coming until late, some years not until November, so late sowings can often give an excellent autumnal display. Good luck - Ian. PS: Where in NW ENgland?
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leyla
19 years ago
I remeber as a child going to the kitchen garden ar Ripponlea (the historical homestead, before it was)and their apple orchard had an under carpet of forget me nots - never forgot it and yes I do have forget me nots growing like weeds in my garden, and the do stick to everything and come up forever but I will never forget the image of the sea of blue - wonderful
Leyla
robyn5760
19 years ago
If you have a fluffy, white dog you will Never have to worry about the forgt-me-nots sticking to your clothes... (Bad dog design if you ask me, still, if I watered her, I might get a nice display;-) They come up everywhere in my garden and can be a bit if a pest, but they are easy to pull out, and they are so pretty that I always forgive them.
Robyn
living_simple
Original Author
19 years ago
Hi everyone
Thanks for the advice. I think i will bite the bullet and scatter some seed around the acre and see what happens?! What's the worst it could do - look pretty?
Cheers
Lyn
dejaco
19 years ago
Do you live in town or well away from bushland or farming areas? Are you certain you can contain your forget-me-nots to your property forever? If not, the worst it can do is become an environmental weed which will long outlast your enjoyment of it. Best to think twice before encouraging these "garden thugs" (the plant - not you!)
darthvaderess1_yahoo_com
16 years ago
The story behind forget me knots is a knight and a lady was walking by a lake. The lady saw these beautiful blue flowers growing out of the water. The knight went over to pick some as he did he slipped into the lake. But his armor was to heavy he couldn't get out. As he went under he threw the lady the flowers and said,"forget me knot." Isn't this the most sad romantic story you ever heard. But I wanted everyone who knows about the flower to know the story behind them.
mariaanastasia
10 years ago
I hate them as I do have a white fully dog and they stick to the dog and are hard to get out and if i don't get them out dog may need surgery i am told. Also a pain to get off jeans and pants, i pulled mine all out

Forget-me-knots

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ginnybee

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Forget-me-knots

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ginnybee

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