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Forget-me-nots

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Children > For families > Plants to grow with kids > Forget-me-nots

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Grow Your Own for kids

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Season

Summer

Name

Myosotis sylvatica

Common Name

Forget-me-not

Description

Forget-me-nots have small, pretty, blue flowers and if sown this month will flower in the spring next year. They look lovely among spring bulbs such as tulips and you can collect the seeds to sow for the following year.

Growing conditions

These plants will grow in sun or part shade.

When to grow

Sow the seeds from May to September and they will flower from April to June.

What you need

Gardening gloves
A packet of forget-me-not seeds
A trowel
A rake
Plant label & pencil

How to grow

The seeds can be sown straight in to the ground where they are going to grow, so make sure the space you are going to sow is weed free by using a trowel to remove the weeds.
If the soil is dry, water the soil the day before you are going to sow your seeds. Rake the soil to a fine tilth (a fine, crumbly texture) and make some drills 12 - 20mm (¹/₂- ³/₄ in) deep. The rows should be spaced about 15cm (6 in) apart.
Sprinkle the seed in carefully and cover them up with soil. Remember to write a plant label so you know where you have sown the seeds! As they grow, if the plants are crowded then thin them out to about 15 cm (6 in) apart.
Remember to water the young plants, especially if the weather is hot and dry.