Well, now, talking about them little blue flowers, forget-me-nots, is like chatting about growing a good batch of potatoes, only a bit gentler. Them forget-me-nots, they’re real pretty, and they don’t need too much fussing over, which is just what us folks like. So, if you’re asking, “how long do forget-me-nots take to grow?” Well, grab yourself a cup of tea, sit back, and I’ll tell you all about it in simple terms.
First Off – Planting Them Seeds
Alright, so if you got a little packet of forget-me-not seeds, you’re already halfway there! These little things don’t ask for much. When you plant ‘em, make sure you got a spot that’s got a bit of shade – not too much sun. Full sun can be a bit much, so give them some shelter. Now, sprinkle them seeds right on the soil and pat ‘em down gentle. You don’t even need to bury them deep, they like to stay close to the surface.
After you’ve planted those seeds, give ‘em a good drink of water, not too much, just enough to keep ‘em moist. Now, here’s the bit where patience comes in: germination, which is a fancy word meaning when the seeds start sprouting, takes about 10 to 14 days. That’s just the start. Once those little green bits start popping up, you know you’re on the right track!
Growing Time – Slow But Steady Wins the Race
Now, if you’re looking for flowers soon after planting, well, sorry to say but forget-me-nots take their time. They don’t rush, and that’s why they end up so lovely. After about two weeks, when you see those sprouts, you’re looking at another year or so before they’re full-grown and ready to bloom. Yep, they’re a bit like us in the village, taking time, but it’s worth it.
After those first little shoots come up, give them space. When they get big enough to handle, pull out any weaklings, the ones looking a bit scrawny. You want to leave about 30 cm of space around each plant so they don’t crowd each other. It’s like making sure your chickens have room to roam; they grow better that way.
Types of Forget-Me-Nots
There’s a couple of types of these little beauties. You’ve got your woodland forget-me-nots – the real blue ones, called Myosotis sylvatica – and then there’s the Chinese forget-me-nots, called Cynoglossum amabile. Now, they both take their sweet time to grow, so don’t expect a big difference there. Woodland ones do well in shady areas, just like we talked about, and them Chinese ones, they’re a bit tougher, handle sun better, but still love a bit of shade.
Flowering Time – When They Finally Bloom
So, when do you get to see those lovely blue flowers? Well, most forget-me-nots start to bloom after about 160 to 350 days, depending on where you’re growing them and the weather. Sometimes, they might take a little longer if it’s cooler, so don’t go worrying if they don’t flower right on time. When they do start flowering, it’s like a little sea of blue that pops up – real beautiful!
Why Folks Think They’re Perennials
Here’s the funny thing: folks sometimes think forget-me-nots are perennials, which means they come back every year. Now, technically, they’re what’s called biennials. That just means they spend the first year growing up nice and strong, then the second year they flower and die back. But don’t be sad! They’re sneaky little plants – they seed themselves. So, once you’ve got them, they tend to pop up again the next year as if by magic. You don’t even have to do much work – they come back on their own.
Taking Care of Forget-Me-Nots
These plants don’t need much looking after, just like I don’t fuss too much with my chickens. Give them water every now and then, especially if it’s dry out. Keep an eye on weeds, though. You don’t want weeds crowding them out. A little bit of mulch around the base can help keep the soil moist, which they like. And as for pests, well, they don’t tend to have too many issues. Maybe a few bugs, but nothing to go fretting about.
Wrapping It Up – What You’re In For
So, to sum it up, here’s what you’re looking at:
- Plant the seeds close to the soil surface in a shady spot.
- Germination (sprouting) takes about 10 to 14 days.
- Full growth to blooming takes around a year, sometimes a bit more.
- Thin the seedlings to give each plant about 30 cm space.
- They flower the second year but tend to reseed themselves, so you’ll see them pop up again without replanting.
And there you go! Growing forget-me-nots takes a little patience, but once you’ve got them, they’ll come back year after year, making your garden look like a little blue sky on the ground. These flowers might take time, but they’re like family – you nurture ‘em a bit, give ‘em space, and they’ll keep coming back to brighten your day.
Tags：[Forget-me-nots, flower growth time, how to grow forget-me-nots, forget-me-not care, flower blooming time, biennial flowers, shade-loving plants]
