Tips for Growing Wildflowers Seeds:

Propagation: We know there’s no way to predict the winter and spring rains that bode well for wildflowers, but we can still plant a patch and use a hose for occasional sprinkling, if needed. Choose the sunniest place possible that drains well, and offers at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Lightly rake or “scarify” the area to be seeded… no deeper than an inch. (the less you disturb the soil, the fewer weed seeds you bring up). If you have rocky soil or decomposed granite you can skip this step, as the seeds will fall down in between the gravel and settle in, nicely protected. In order to most easily broadcast the seed, mix it in a bucket with some native soil or a few cups of sand. This helps rough up the seeds a bit for better germination, plus helps makes the seed easier to distribute where you want them! After sowing, walk over the area to make sure seed is firmly in contact with the ground, or lightly rake over it once. If seeds are too deep, the seedlings will exhaust their small food supply, before reaching the surface. Sowing desert adapted seeds needs good timing, too. The best conditions are between September and December, unless otherwise specified. You will also note that the same seed mix in the same soil may produce different results every year. That unpredictability and anticipation is all part of the seasonal fun! Keep the area moist until the seedlings emerge, and then gradually start tapering off watering, especially if you are fortunate enough to have occasional rainfall. Enjoy!