I was checking out my borage seed packet, and it says to directly sow them after the last frost. However, it also mentions that they're aggressive self-sowers. If the seeds can lie dormant over winter, what's the big deal about when I plant them? Don't they just respond to the same environmental cues when they germinate?
3 Answers
Timing your sowing matters mainly for the best germination results. If you wait until after the frost, those seeds will sit on the ground for the shortest time before sprouting. Since borage is a self-sower, it’ll produce a ton more seeds than you initially put down, and most will become food for various critters.
Honestly, many seed packets give basic info that works for everyone, but I’ve been growing from seed for over 30 years, and I usually toss the packet instructions. I research the specific plant's life cycle instead. Some self-seeders or 'cool season annuals' actually thrive when sown in cooler spring temps! For instance, poppies have poor germination in warm soil. Borage does great in cool weather too. You can scatter seeds anytime based on the season, even toss them on snow in winter. You might want to check out winter sowing; it uses natural temperature shifts in winter and often leads to awesome spring results!
A lot of seeds have built-in dormancy to stop them from sprouting in the autumn and getting killed by the winter. They need to hang out in cold conditions for a bit so they can wake up and sprout when spring shows up. If you don't want to sow outside in winter, you can also store seeds mixed with damp sand in the fridge for a similar effect!
That's good to know! So, sowing now shouldn't be a problem? I’m also looking to get my cosmos sown.