Planting Instructions for California Wildflowers

When to Plant

If planting into a “wild” area, where the seeds will be left on their own, it is best to plant in late fall (Oct or Nov). The seeds will germinate when the ground has received enough rain and can use the rain irrigation to get somewhat established before the rain season ends.

If you are planting the seeds into a flower bed and will be irrigating them, the seeds can be planted most any time. The key to starting them is to make sure the bed is kept moist until the plants have grown a few inches tall. Once the plants have reached this stage, they have developed a few inches of roots and can reach moisture that is below the surface.

How to Plant

If planting into a “wild” area, simply broadcast the seeds onto the ground. Some of the seeds will find their way below the vegetation litter and make good contact with the soil. Decaying vegetation, animal movements, wind, etc will cover them slightly with soil and humus.

If planting into a bed, prepare the bed as you would for any other annual plant seeds. The bed should be tilled and smooth. The seeds need only a small amount of cover, so try to burry them approx. 1/8″ to 1/4″ deep. For larger areas, sprinkle the seeds onto the prepared bed, and the lightly cover by gently raking with a garden rake.

Weed Control

When the seedlings are just emerging from the soil, it may be difficult to distinguish the flowers from the weeds. If you recognize any weeds, they should be removed to lessen the flower’s competition for moisture and nutrients. As the plants mature, try to keep the beds weed-free.