Can I plant Forget-Me-Not seeds now for next year’s blooms?
Question:
Can I plant Forget-Me-Not seeds now for next year’s blooms? Will they survive the winter?
Answer:
Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) is technically a winter hardy biennial, but is often grown as an annual. However, because it is such a prodigious self-sower, once planted it often continues on in successive generations and functions almost as a perennial. All of that said, we generally recommend planting new seeds no later than mid-summer to allow germination and seedling establishment before winter frost kills off the above-ground portions of the plant, leaving the roots intact to resprout and bloom the following season. At this point, I think you would run up against cold weather before the seeds could get a firm toehold, so you’re probably best off waiting until next spring after the threat of frost has passed to avoid the risk of killing off germinants or producing cold damage in the survivors this winter. If you have plenty of seed and don’t mind losing some, you could try it in a sheltered area, but moderate your expectations and be prepared to re-sow next year.
Also, please note that forget-me-not is considered invasive in many places, and water forget-me-not appears on the State of Maine’s invasive advisory list (not quite prohibited, but watched closely). Keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t run amuck through your lawn or garden.