Sowing and care of Blanket Flower 'Bremen'
Pre-cultivation can be started indoors or in the greenhouse from March to April. The seeds need light to germinate and are therefore scattered onto loose, well-drained seed compost, lightly pressed down and covered at most with a wafer-thin layer of soil or sand. At around 15 to 20 °C, they usually germinate within 14 to 21 days. Keep the substrate evenly moist during the germination phase, but do not let it become waterlogged.
From May, as soon as no stronger frosts are expected, direct sowing outdoors is also possible. Prepare a loose, weed-free seedbed, sow the seeds on the surface, press them down lightly and cover only very thinly. After emergence, thin the young plants to a spacing of about 30 to 40 cm.
Pre-grown young plants can be planted outdoors after the Ice Saints. 'Bremen' prefers a full-sun location with loose, well-drained, sandy-loamy soil. Heavy soils should be improved with sand or fine gravel so that excess water can drain away well. Waterlogging should be avoided, especially in winter.
Once established, Blanket Flower is well drought-tolerant and gets by with moderate watering. Restrained fertilisation is usually sufficient. Soils that are too nutrient-rich or heavy fertilisation can lead to softer growth and reduced flowering.
Cutting back to about hand height in late summer or autumn supports the formation of strong overwintering buds and encourages compact new growth the following year. 'Bremen' is reliably winter-hardy in Central Europe and is assigned approximately to USDA hardiness zone 6. In exposed locations, light protection with brushwood or mulch can be useful.
