Love In a Mist Seeds (heirloom)

How to grow the best heirloom love-in-a-mist seeds

Love-in-a-mist will have you believing in fairies. With their delicate petals and airy foliage, these flowers appear to be from another world. Heirloom love-in-a-mist, also known by its Latin name, Nigella, is a Mediterranean annual wildflower that has adapted to different regions of the world.

The addition of this heirloom bloom to your yard will delight pollinators. Whether in a container garden or in the field, love-in-a-mist is simple to cultivate and manage. Keep this gem nearby so you can enjoy its lovely jewel-toned flowers throughout the season. The most frequent colors are blue and lavender, however Eden Brothers offers a yellow variety, Love-In-A-Mist Transformer Seeds. Heirloom love-in-a-mist, hardy in zones 4 through 9, is a low-maintenance plant that will thrive almost anywhere, and its prolific seeder will return year after year.

Direct sowing heirloom love-in-a-mist seeds

Once all threat of frost has passed, heirloom love-in-a-mist prefers to be direct sown. In colder areas, plant in the spring, although love-in-a-mist overwinters well in zones 8 and 9, therefore gardeners in these zones can plant in the autumn for the earliest flowers. Before sowing heirloom love-in-a-mist, make sure the soil temperature is at least 60°F. Choose a location that receives full sun for optimal results, although love-in-a-mist may also take partial shade. To ensure that the location is rich and drains effectively, amend the soil using compost and sand.

Sow your heirloom love-in-a-mist seeds directly on the soil's surface and gently rake them in. Seeds require light to germinate, so don't cover them too deeply. It might take up to three weeks for love-in-a-mist to germinate, so be patient. Thin the seedlings to around eight inches apart once they've started to grow their second set of genuine leaves to give them room to expand. Heirloom love-in-a-mist plants may reach a height of two feet if properly spaced.

Extend the blooms of heirloom love-in-a-mist 

While the seed pods of heirloom love-in-a-mist are attractive, deadheading wasted blooms will extend the bloom duration. Order a few extra seeds and plan on succession planting a fresh crop every three weeks to lengthen the bloom window of these cottage garden beauties to get the most out of your heirloom love-in-a-mist plants.

Flowers and leaves from the love-in-a-mist family offer a magical touch to cut flower bouquets and arrangements. Allow the seed pods to dry on the plant for additional textural aspects to work with! The flower love-in-a-mist dries beautifully. Once the stripes are visible, harvest the seed pods, group them together, and hang upside down to dry. To collect dropping seeds, wrap the seed pods in a brown paper bag.

You'll look forward to these tiny blossoms year after year if you cultivate heirloom love-in-a-mist once. While choosing a favorite variety is difficult, we adore Eden Brothers' Heirloom Miss Jekyll Double Love-in-a-Mist Mix for her feathery blossoms in shades of blue, pink, and white.

For more information about planting, growing, and harvesting heirloom love-in-a-mist seeds, see the Love-In-A-Mist Seeds Planting Guide.