When to Plant Forget Me Nots

Forget me nots are delicate yet charming flowers that have long been associated with love, remembrance and loyalty. Their clusters of tiny blue blooms appear in spring and early summer, often blanketing garden beds with colour. While blue is the most common shade, forget me nots can also be found in pink or white, making them a versatile addition to borders, containers and wild style plantings. These flowers have a natural cottage garden appeal and work beautifully alongside tulips, daffodils and other spring favourites. To enjoy their full effect, it is important to know when to plant forget me nots so that they establish well and flower at the right time.

The life cycle of forget me nots
Forget me nots are typically biennials, meaning they grow leaves in their first year and then flower in their second year before setting seed and dying back. They can also behave as short lived perennials in some gardens, especially when conditions are mild. Because of this cycle, planting time is important. If sown or planted too late, forget me nots may not have enough time to establish before winter. If sown too early, they may grow too quickly and struggle to survive colder months. Understanding their life cycle is the first step in timing their planting correctly.

The best time to plant forget me nots in the UK
In the UK, the best time to plant forget me nots is in late spring to early summer, usually from May to July. This gives them time to establish strong foliage during their first season. The plants then overwinter as rosettes of leaves, which survive the cold and prepare for flowering the following spring. By planting in this period, you align with the natural rhythm of biennials, ensuring vigorous growth and reliable blooms. If planting forget me not plugs or potted plants, autumn planting is also possible, though care must be taken to protect young plants from frost.

Why timing matters so much
Forget me nots depend on sufficient vegetative growth in their first year in order to flower well in their second. Planting them at the right time allows them to develop enough leaves and roots before winter arrives. If they are planted too late, they may not have time to bulk up, leading to weaker plants and fewer flowers. Planting at the right time also ensures that they set seed at the correct point, allowing them to naturalise and provide blooms year after year without much intervention.

Sowing forget me not seeds
Seeds are the most common way to grow forget me nots. They should be sown thinly on the soil surface in late spring or early summer. Lightly covering them with a fine layer of soil or compost helps with germination. They germinate quickly in warm soil, usually within one to two weeks. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, they can be thinned out or transplanted to their final positions. Timing sowing to coincide with rising temperatures ensures quick establishment and gives plants the whole summer to develop before winter.

Planting forget me not plugs or young plants
For those who prefer to skip the seed stage, forget me nots are also available as plug plants or young potted specimens. These can be planted in borders or containers from late summer into early autumn. The timing here is slightly different, as young plants must have enough time to establish before frost. Planting in September is usually ideal, though in northern or colder regions it is advisable to plant earlier in August. This ensures that plants settle into the soil and strengthen before winter dormancy.

How climate influences planting time
In the south of the UK with its milder climate, planting can extend later into summer or early autumn. In colder regions such as northern England or Scotland, planting should be done earlier in order to give plants more time before the onset of frost. Timing also depends on soil conditions, as planting into waterlogged or frozen ground will hinder establishment. By observing local weather and soil, gardeners can adjust planting times to suit their environment.

What happens if you plant forget me nots too late
Late planting is one of the main reasons forget me nots fail to thrive. If planted too late in autumn, plants may not have enough time to establish before frost. This can lead to weak plants that either fail to survive winter or produce poor displays in spring. If planting slips into October or November, extra protection such as fleece or mulch may be needed. While late planting can still succeed in some cases, the strongest results come from planting within the recommended window.

Naturalising forget me nots
Forget me nots are excellent for naturalising, meaning they can spread themselves and return year after year with little effort. Their ability to self seed ensures they often pop up in the same spot or even spread to new areas. By planting them at the correct time, you encourage them to establish and complete their seed cycle naturally. Over time, this creates carpets of blue in spring that grow larger each year. To maintain this effect, it is important not to plant too late, as this interrupts their cycle and reduces their ability to self propagate.

Planting forget me nots in containers
Forget me nots are well suited to containers and hanging baskets. The planting time remains the same, with seeds sown in late spring or early summer or young plants added in late summer to early autumn. Containers are more vulnerable to frost than ground soil, so plants may need protection in winter. Timing container planting well ensures strong root systems that can withstand seasonal changes. This makes them a versatile option for patios, balconies and small gardens.

The link between planting time and flowering success
The quality of flowering in forget me nots is directly tied to when they are planted. Seeds sown in late spring or early summer have months to establish before winter, which results in vigorous plants that burst into bloom the following spring. Seeds sown too late may still grow, but the plants often flower poorly or fail to return. Timing is therefore the most important factor in creating reliable displays. Planting at the correct time ensures not only a single season of flowers but also the continuation of forget me nots through self-seeding.

Conclusion
So, when should you plant forget me nots? The answer is late spring to early summer if sowing from seed, or late summer to early autumn if planting plugs or potted plants. This timing allows the plants to establish well before winter, ensuring that they survive the cold and flower strongly the following spring. Forget me nots planted at the right time will reward you with carpets of colour, easy naturalisation and reliable blooms year after year. Their charm lies not only in their dainty flowers but also in their resilience and ability to return with little effort, provided they are planted at the right time.