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Seed
Mixture Specifications:
Origin: Native Irish Origin, Wildflower Seed Mixture.
EC01 contains annuals (plants that die after one seasons growth).
EC01 is used as a stand alone 'splash of colour' seed mixture to provide
a floral display, which is the equivalent of summer bedding or to
provide temporary colour, while a site is being developed.
EC01 you can act as a nurse crop to create conditions at the surface of the soil for slower
wildflower seedlings to germinate. In such cases. annuals are used to provide flowers in the first season and also to protect the slower seedlings from strong sunlight. (Seedlings also need protection during the annual spring ozone layer depletion).
Suitable for soil type: All types of soil, Clay. Loam, Sand, Light Soil, Heavy
Soil, but not Peat, in which case use Redshank Corncockle, Marigold and Mayweed on
wet soils.
Moisture Level: Dry, Normal, Moist, but not Flooded Wet
pH range: Best between 5.5 - 6.5, <7.5, >7.5
Aspect: Sunny, Semi Shade and not Shaded.
Morphology:
Life Cycle: Annual / Biennial /
Perennial.
Height Range: <30cm to >100cm
Flowering Period:
If autumn or early spring sown = Late May to August.
If spring sown = July to November.
Fertility Range: Will
grow in very fertile soil to poor, if very
infertile apply fertiliser (see below).
Wintergreen: No.
If the mixtures is allowed to set seed and the soil is then
turned every year the annual wildflower seed mixture will continue to
repeat germinate, flower each year, flowers will set new seed and complete
there life
cycle.
When the annual flowers finish, cut them and lightly cultivate the soil, hiding
the seeds from the birds.
Annual wildflowers will tend to grow as single species depending on the
time of cultivation, and the weather conditions.
For a 'Poppy field' with some of the other annuals, sow and prepare the soil in November, for all other
species cultivate in October and again in early spring. different
species will tend to dominate depending on the time of sowing. if you do
not want one species to dominate, collect seeds of all species in summer
and sow.
Rare, unusual, and feature species: Corncockle*,
Cornflower*, Corn Chamomile*, Corn Marigold.
Species which will grow if the conditions are ideal:
All
Annual
Species: All
Biennial Species: None
Species which will be affected by management:
Poppy
Additional species which could be added to this mixture as individual species of seeds or plants:
Design
Notes: Annuals can be sown into existing meadows, create beds in shapes, such
as half moons, which are large enough to cultivate and turn the soil
every year. If you can place the annuals in sight of a window as
they will cheer up the wettest of winter days.
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Sowing Specification:
As Normal, roll or rake into surface to
keep out of reach from birds. Click
here for more details
Soil Preparation:
Normal, create fine tilt on seed bed,
Optimum Sowing Time: Normal, best
sown early spring or in September. Poppy seed sown in such periods will
germinate and flourish. Sow the seed as soon as works are complete
as the soil will be at its best in microbial activity. You may not
believe this but our experience is seeds are best sown 3 days either
side of full moon, as there is always moisture available, even in summer
due to heavy dews.
 Sowing Conditions: Normal
Sowing Method: By hand is recommended, if
using seed spreaders be careful to insure the small varieties of seed do
not drop to the bottom of the seed spreader and get sown all in the one
place. Can be Hydrasown.
Fertiliser: None, unless very poor
fertility such as quarry, Esker or very poor subsoil. Powdered or liquid seaweed will aid germination.
Seed Sowing Rates:
2 grams per metre.
Normal
sowing rate 'without added grass seed': 1.5 to 3 grams per metre.
High sowing rate 'without added grass seed': Add 4 grams per metre.
Low sowing rate: 1 gram per metre.
If using annuals as a nurse crop you may sow Cornfield Annuals at a rate of
1 or 2 grams per
metre.
If you can afford it sow EC01 with a wildflower meadow mix.
Grass
seed or nurse crop requirement:
Nurse
Crop: No nurse crop is required.
Grass Seed Requirement: None.
Sow with or without grasses: Unnecessary,
Sowing rate with grasses: 2 to 4 grams per metre.
50% Flora / 50% grass seed.
If sown without grasses:
This mixture will not require a nurse crop.
Seed Specification:
Total number of seeds per gram: 2782
Once sown this mixture in normal conditions (mainly in early Autumn and Spring) should germinate
4 to 6 weeks
after sowing. 8 to 12 weeks in cold wet weather.
Up to 90% of all seed should germinate in the 8 weeks.
Late autumn and early summer sowings may be slow to emerge, depending on the weather.
Performance:
Persistence if unmanaged: High, but the
ground must be cultivated every year. This is not a normal meadow
mixture, it will die each year and needs to be re-germinated from seed.
Tolerance of Cutting: None, very light topping.
General Cutting Time: End of Summer to clear dead foliage.
Specific Cutting Time: When last flowers fade, after seeds set.
Management: Control weeds.
Species in this mixture are
Not 'Browse' resistant.
 Design
By Nature Crettyard, ©
Carlow, Ireland.
Telephone:
++ 353 (0)56 4442526
Email: info@wildflowers.ie
Web Site: www.wildflowers.ie
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