Wild Flower Seeds: Planting And Harvesting

Wild flower seeds will not germinate without moisture, which is why it is necessary to wait for the rainy season. Therefore, it is a requirement that the soil is not really dry, although wild flowers are not picky and most soils will do. Just like any other garden, the soil needs to be dug up, turned and raked. Do not be to meticulous about weeding because wild flowers themselves are like weeds and are very strong and sturdy to natures attacks. Also for this reason, fertilizer is not essential.

Opt for a wind free day so the wild flower seeds are not picked up and scattered about. Mix the seeds with a sand mixture for more even distribution and sprinkle, by hand, throughout the tilled soil. To insurance the seeds will germinate when the rain comes, use a lawn roller to press the seeds into the soil. Do not completely cover the seeds with the soil.

When to Harvest Wild flower Seeds

After the seeds have developed completely and reached maturation, identified visibly, they are ready to be harvested for another years bloom. According to Brian Governski in his article titled "Harvest Seeds for Next Year's Bounty," collecting the seeds and drying them at around one hundred degrees Fahrenheit is the correct way to begin the harvesting process. Do not use a microwave, oven or direct sunlight because they can cause over-drying. Use an airtight container to store, otherwise moisture might creep in a cause the wild flower seeds to germinate. To maintain appropriate levels of humidity, store at a temperature of around forty degrees.

Any wild flower lover knows that British Columbia is known for their wild flowers. Some native flowers include: the American Vetch, the Bull Thistle, Butter & Eggs, Cattail, Dandelion, Fireweed, Oxeye Daisy, Stinging Nettle, the Wild Rose and the Yellow Water Lily. For more information visit www.bcadventure.com. Some websites offer British Columbia wild flower touring packages.

Another great place to visit for a wild flower adventure is Alaska, where growing is difficult, but beautiful against the landscape. Because a lot of wild flowers are not native to Alaska, the seeds can be expensive in that region and re-seeding may not occur from year to year. Some native plants include: Artic Lupine, Blue Flax, Fireweed, Golden Rod, Harlequin flower, Jacob's Ladder and Wild Sweet Pea. For more information, visit the University of Alaska Fairbanks at www.uaf.edu.

American Meadows. 2006. 09 November 2006. www.americanmeadows.com/plantinst.cfm.

Governski, Brian. Harvest Seeds for Next Year's Bounty. Colorado State University. 24 August 2002. 15 November 2006. www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/COLUMNGw/gr020824.html.

Holloway, Dr. Patricia and Ouina Rutledge. Wild flower Meadows for Interior Alaska. University of Alaska Fairbanks. 2006. 15 November 2006. www.uaf.edu/shras/gbg/pubs/Notes/30.html.

Wild flowers of British Columbia. 2000. 15 November 2006. www.bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/wild flowers/index.html