I am in zone 5 in northern New England with 3 swales we built in mid May of this year.
I am trying a couple of different things with my swales. I have a 224'
swale I have planted buckwheat, diakon and other radishes, white and red clover, vetch, field peas, rye grass, sunflowers, summer and winter squash, comfrey, left over tomato plants, chives, garlic chives, watermelon, wheat seeds from the
straw and a few other random spouting seeds I had. The radishes sprouted first. Everything else is just starting to sprout. I have no idea how well it will work and what I will harvest out of it.
I planted one 55' swale with annual and wild flower seeds from FEDCO. I have also put a bunch of flower seedlings, bulbs and comfery in it. My plan is to use it a a nursery and propagate stuff out of once the perennials are established. This is the list of wildflowers in seed mix I planted.
(Latin name, Common name, Plant type, Height, Color(s), Season)
Achillea millefolium, White Yarrow, P, 18-36", White, S
Aster novae angliae, New England Aster, A, 24-36", Purple, F
Centaurea cyanus, Cornflower, A, 24-48", Mixed, S
Cheiranthus allionii, Siberian Wallflower, P, 10-18", Orange, SP
Chrysanthemum maximum, Shasta Daisy, P, 16-24", White, S
Coreopsis lanceolata, Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, P, 18-36", Yellow, S-F
Delphinium ajacis, Rocket Larkspur, A, 12-36", White/Pink/Blue/Violet, S
Dianthus barbatus, Sweet William, P, 12-24", White/Pink/Red, S
Echinacea purpurea, Purple Coneflower, P, 24-36", Purple, S
Gaillardia pulchella, Gaillardia, A, 12-24", Yellow-Red, S
Gypsophila elegans, Annual Baby's Breath, A, 8-18", White, S
Liatris spicata, Gayfeather, P, 24-48", Purple S-F
Linaria maroccana, Spurred Snapdragon, A, 18-24", Pink/Yellow/Violet, SP-S
Linum grandiflorum rubrum, Scarlet
Flax, A, 12-36", Scarlet ,S
Lupinus perennis, Lupine, P, 12-36", Blue, SP-S
Oenothera lamarckiana, Evening Primrose, P, 24-60", Yellow, S
Papaver rhoeas, Corn Poppy, A, 12-30", White/Pink/Red, S
Rudbeckia hirta, Black-Eyed Susan A/B/P, 12-36", Yellow, S-F
Silene armeria, Catchfly, A/B, 16-22", Pink, S
I also added a bunch of cosmos and zinnias because I like them.
The 50' swale is full of cooking herbs. rosemarys, sages, thymes, loveage, chamomile, catmint, oregano, basils, parsley, lavender, fever few, lemon grass, and chives. Again the perennials will be propagated an planted elsewhere.