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hi pollinator attractions
and of course, as a calming medicine for the overwrought.
The greatest benefits of allowing plants to seed themselves , I think, is that 99 percent of the time, these plants will pop up at the very best time for their growth cycle and be of exceptional quality— more vigorous, less diseaseprone and more richly colored. Nature is, after all, a more knowledgeable and experienced gardener than you and I.
In a vegetable garden, there are many good reasons to set aside a portion for planting self-sowers: rustic arugula (arugula selvatica), claytonia or miner’s lettuce, mache, mustard greens, kale, chervil, celery, Swiss chard and bunching onions.
Plants love to be able to fulfill their cycle and go to seed: that’s their final goal. Birds will be happy, too, to eat the seeds of lettuces, kale and mustard. The more diverse their seed diet, the healthier they will be. For the gardener, judging when is the best seedstarting time, in and out, given the vicissitudes of each season’s unique weather patterns, is a challenging combination of knowledge, intuition and preparedness to act. Even then, we may miss the mark.
With volunteer seedlings, though, lettuce, kale, arugula, fennel, etc. will emerge exactly when they’re supposed to and point to the very best window of opportunity for us to plant these crops (intentionally).
In one area behind my compost heaps, I have a self perpetuating kale and chicory patch, initiated two years ago by leaving some cut plant stalks with seed pods attached on a rather Lare spot of ground. I wanted to see what would happen. Now, after making themselves at home, these vegetables hold their own against the weeds and are extra hardy and plentiful. All 1 do is mow it after seeds set and pick! The cabbage worms aren’t even interested in this kale, either!
Finally, if you’re not convinced, especially in the vegetable department, you could try this little experiment: in the late fall, sow some seeds just as you would in spring— lettuce, arugula, spinach, kale, chard, etc., marking them well and covering them lightly with straw. Keep an eye on them come the following late February through March. No watering will be necessary.
At some point, when the seeds know it is time for them to appear, you will find they have sprouted. Thin them and care for them as you would usually. Just see for yourself if nature hasn’t one up on you!
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