How to Plant Alyssum From Seeds

Alyssum is a sweet-smelling flower that is easy to grow and needs little care after it has become established. It is resistant to heat and to drought. Alyssum is often grown because it needs little attention and because it blooms with a huge number of tiny flowers. Some varieties produce white flowers and some bloom in bright yellow flowers.

Wait until the winter frost and ground freezes are over before planting alyssum seeds. The soil should be 55 to 75 degrees F for the seeds to germinate.

Plant alyssum in an area that gets either full sun exposure or shade for part of the day. Alyssum with thrive in either condition. It does not need any special soil preparation and thrives well in just about any soil type. Press the alyssum seeds into the soil, spacing them about 1/2 inch apart. Once the seeds are in place, sprinkle a little bit of soil over the seeds so that they are barely covered.

Water the alyssum seeds gently, making sure that the seeds are not washed away by the water. To water them gently, sprinkle water over the seeds instead of pouring too much water at once. An indoor plant watering can will work well for gentle watering.

Thin out the seedlings once they grow to about 2 inches tall. It will take about 2 to 3 weeks for the seeds to sprout. The seedlings should be thinned until the plants are about 6 inches apart.

Add fertilizer about once a month to keep your alyssum blooming abundantly. A gentle fertilizer like fish emulsion or peat moss will keep it nourished and healthy.

Water your alyssum each week if there is little to no rain. Alyssum is drought tolerant, but it will thrive better if it has water regularly.