100 Seeds- Blue Alpine Forget me not Flower Seeds - Heavenly Hybrid-MYOSOTIS ALPESTRIS/Pure Beauty/FL492

Myosotis alpestris or alpine forget-me-not is a herbaceous perennial plant in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae. The alpine forget-me-not is the county flower of Westmorland in the United Kingdom and the state flower of Alaska in the United States. Wikipedia

Scientific name: Myosotis alpestris

Higher classification: Scorpion grasses

Rank: Species

Forget-me-nots generally grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 9. Garden or woodland forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica), which grow in USDA zones 3 to 8, are the most common but others are available. Seeds for true forget-me-nots (Myosotis scorpioides), which grow in USDA zones 5 to 9, and alpine forget-me-nots (Myosotis alpestris), which grow in USDA zones 3 to 9, are also easy to find. Forget-me-nots bloom in blue, pink or white.

This fairly low growing perennial is often used as a ground cover or edging plant. Forget Me Not prefers moist meadows and grassy slopes. Occurs in subalpine elevations up to tundra ecosystems. Blooms from late spring into summer. Forget-Me-Nots are liberal self-sowers. Each spring the garden will have a few more charming Beautiful blooms!

Directly sow Forget Me Not flower seeds in prepared soil in the garden in spring. Press the seeds into the soil and very lightly cover the flower seeds with fine soil. Keep the seeds moist until germination. When seedlings appear, thin to 9 - 12 inches apart. Water Forget-Me-Not plants weekly, and apply an application of a balanced liquid fertilizer in the spring. In cold climates, mulching in the fall will help the plants survive the winter. In milder climates, Forget-Me-Not plants need no winter protection.

Temperature: 68 - 72 F (20-22 C)

Average Germ Time: 10 - 20 days

Light Required: No

Depth: 1/16 inch

Moisture: Keep seed moist until germination

Plant Spacing: 9 - 12 inches

Season: Perennial

USDA Zones: 3 - 8

Height: 12 inches

Bloom Season: Spring to summer

Bloom Color: Blue

Growth Rate: Moderate

Environment: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Type: Moist, pH 6.1 - 7.8

Deer Resistant: Yes

 

Starting from Seed

Start forget-me-not seeds in moistened seed-starting mix or vermiculite two months before the last expected frost. Use either a seed flat or 2- to 3-inch pots. Make sure the pots or flats have drainage holes. Sow lightly and do not cover the seeds because they need light to germinate. Just press them down gently to make sure they make good contact with the seed-starting mix or vermiculite.

Keeping them Moist

Cover the flat or pots with a flat piece of clear plastic or put the entire container in a clear plastic bag to keep the medium moist. Place them in a bright area out of direct sunlight with temperatures between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20-22 C). Check the growing media every few days and gently mist with room-temperature water if it begins to dry. Do not let it dry out. The forget-me-not seedlings should sprout in 10 to 20 days. Remove the covering as soon as the seedlings emerge. Water them when the top of the potting mix or vermiculite begins to dry.

Thinning the Seedlings

Thin the seedlings to 6 to 8 inches apart after they develop one set of true leaves. The first set of leaves they develop are "seed" leaves which are not true leaves. Wait for another set of leaves which will look different from the first set. Snip the weakest seedlings off at the soil line with scissors that have been wiped with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. Continue to keep them in bright, indirect sunlight with temperatures around 65 F.

Fertilizing and Watering

Continue to water the seedlings when the top of the media begins to dry. Give them one dose of fertilizer after thinning them. Use water-soluble 10-5-5 houseplant fertilizer with nitrate nitrogen rather than ammonium nitrogen. Dilute the fertilizer at a rate of 3/4 teaspoon per 1 gallon of water. Pour the fertilizer evenly over the germination mix after a regular watering.

Transplant Seedlings

Transplant the seedlings into individual pots with drainage holes in the bottoms two weeks after they develop their first set of true leaves. Use houseplant potting soil. Continue to water them when the top of the potting soil begins to dry.

Getting them Ready

Get the seedlings used to direct sunlight gradually. Begin setting them outside in bright or dappled shade in an area protected from drying winds for an hour or two during the day when there is no danger of frost. Move them into 30 to 60 minutes of direct morning sun after a few days. Increase the length of time they are exposed to the sun by about 30 minutes each day until they are in the sun for four hours each day. Allow the potting soil to dry slightly before wateri