05/29/2026
This makes so much sense!
This is your sign not to give up on your wildflower seeds too early.. In May and June we sometimes get asked why certain seeds planted in fall or winter haven't sprouted yet? And nearly every time, patience is the answer.
For example, this tray of Prairie Dock seed we started indoors one spring. When we took the other trays of seedlings we started out to plant, this tray still had only about 4 seedlings germinate at that point. So we simply left this tray out in the sun at the farm. We almost forgot about it, only to find it again in late June to find that the rest had germinated! This variance in genetics that leads to some seeds germinating early and others waiting is actually really important in making a wild species resilient to events like a late spring frost, and part of growing native plants is embracing that variation you don't get with carefully bred cultivars.
Some native seeds are quicker to break dormancy and germinate than others, and in this case they just needed more time and warmth. Especially in cool springs like we had this year, don't give up on seeds too early. They may just be waiting for more time in warm soil.
