Texas bluebonnets bloom for a few weeks usually in April. They are stunning along the highways & fields in Texas, particularly in the Hill Country. We can thank Lady Bird Johnson for establishing our love for wildflowers in Texas & especially the bluebonnet. Texas Bluebonnets can be disappointing for home gardeners. The seed coat is extremely hard & the plant needs a cold vernalization period we may not experience every winter in parts of Texas. My seed were ordered in July from Outside Pride & immediately placed in the freezer for 2 months when they arrived. The middle to end of October is the best time to sow them in a prepared bed. Prepared means weed free - do not fertilize bluebonnets. The soil should be loose. Before sowing I use a piece of wood & 80 grit sandpaper to just scratch the surface of the seed coat. You don’t want to crush or break the seed so a gentle slide of the wood over the seed is sufficient. Then carefully sow in your bed, sowing seed is not a speed event. Obviously this advice is for home gardeners, if you’re sowing several acres I would expect you are using mechanical sowing equipment.
Once you have the seed spread use a rake to gently distribute soil. You want to ensure good contact between the seed & soil. Next, turn on your sprinkler or irrigation & water the area well. I over sow with a winter cover crop of annual rye grass to help reduce weed pressure in the spring. If you post pictures of your Texas Bluebonnets on social media using my techniques here please use the tag #EastTexasFlowerFarm so I can see your success Happy Growing! Melanie