Forget-Me-Not Growing Guide

Myosotis species, Myosotis asiatica (Alpine forget-me-not), Myosotis scorpioides (water forget-me-not), and Myosotis sylvatica (woodland forget-me-not)

Forget-Me-Not

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost.

Position

Full sun to part shade.

Frost tolerant

Yes. Forget-me-not is best grown as a biennial, planted in late summer for bloom the following spring.

Feeding

Drench with a liquid organic fertilizer when plants show vigorous new growth in spring.

Spacing

Single Plants: 5" (15cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 5" (15cm) with 5" (15cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Start seeds indoors in late summer and expect seeds to germinate after 7 to 10 days. Set plants out in early autumn, while the soil is still warm.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Forget-me-nots are dainty, low-growing plants that form a cloud of blue color. They create a phenomenal show when used as companion plants for tulips, which bloom at the same time in late spring. A different flower, called Chinese forget me not (Cynoglossum amabile), is a cool-season annual that produces upright stems topped by clusters of blue flowers in summer. It is easy to grow and does not require cold exposure to trigger flowering.

Harvesting

Allow some plants to stay in the garden until they develop mature seeds. With encouragement, forget-me-nots will reseed themselves for a season or two. Keep a close eye on strains that are strong reseeders. In some areas forget-me-nots are considered weedy, including parts of the Pacific Northwest in the US.

Troubleshooting

Plants must be exposed to a period of cold before they will bloom well. In cold climates, start plants indoors in late winter and set them out in early spring so they experience several weeks of cold weather.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Forget-Me-Not