Flower Mix Seed Packets

 

As an experienced gardener, I have a love/hate relationship with flower mix seed packets. I received this for Christmas from my children and of course I'm happy and elated about anything gardening-related that I receive. On the picture, there's everything pictured that I LOVE - sunflowers, poppies, marigolds, basil, dill, and more. These are mostly annual flowers in my growing Zone, so straight from the get-go it looks like this will be a great mix for one of my flower beds.

However, sometimes expectations of these seed mix packets can be high and I've been disappointed in the past of a lot of these mixes. I don't mind bringing the huge mix packets from Burpee to the school garden every year - they're mostly annuals and not hardy through our winters so my expectations are pretty low, plus there's no irrigation so it's all hand watering, the general public doesn't know the difference between an invasive or an annual (in fact, two years ago one facility maintenance worker suggested planting Crown Vetch to spread, and let me tell you... I WAS HAPPY TO STOP PULLING THE THISTLE IMMEDIATELY, like oh hell no, you have zero clue of what you're doing, y'all deserve to be poked in the ankles by a thistle). 

But let me get back to the seed packet mix instead of being distracted by invasives. Let's take a closer look at the back of this packet so we can investigate and decipher a little bit more about what's actually in the packet so we're not deceived by the pretty picture.

So there's only 2 grams of seeds in this packet. I didn't take a picture because I only thought of posting this AFTER I tossed the seeds into my front garden bed so I'm a little disappointed in myself. But let's get to it. 

So many factors go into planting flowers - some need cool vernalization, which is what this packet is recommending - why I know this is because it states that these should be planted 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE the average last frost. This means that these seeds need a couple of freeze/thaw cycles to soften the seeds so the seeds can actually germinate. Do average gardeners do this or expect to do this? Er, as a Master Gardener, I have learned that people don't usually read the seed packets. 

The packets also states that it plants 20 seeds per square foot and will cover 20 square feet. The amount of seeds in the seed packet didn't even take up a whole tablespoon. It barely made a mound in my hand. Disappointing? Yes. The majority of the seeds were Basil seeds which are TINY. And there were maybe 5 sunflower seeds. There should have been 400 seeds in the packet and there definitely were not. So right off the bat, my expectations have been lowered. We'll see what comes up.

Next, let's look at the seeds in the mix: it contains mostly borage, sunflowers, bachelor's button, and calendula. And then the fine print - it contains the amount of seeds BY WEIGHT not by amount of seeds so by that, my expectations definitely don't include it covering a 20ft x 20ft space. Luckily, borage is pretty, calendula smells good, and I like everything in this mix. 

I sprinkled everything over a 3ft x4ft area and I'm on Day 5 waiting for the little seeds to germinate. Obviously I didn't follow the seed packet directions of planting BEFORE the last frost - but this went into the bed that contained the wasp nest last year. I will not plant edibles in this bed so it will only be flowers for the next several years.

I have zero expectations of what will come up, I'll try to remember to update and take photos when I can. Happy planting!