Flower seeds to sow indoors before spring
Getting a good start at sowing flowering annuals in spring and summer is the best way to prolong the seasonal color without breaking the bank. Some seeds can be sown indoors or in the greenhouse, 10-12 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Here, they are protected from the cold and are ready for planting in the garden when spring comes.
How to sow
Once your growing medium has been placed on a tray, sow the seed in the soil and cover the seed bag with the required depth.
Some seeds are sown in the soil without covering. These require light to germinate. Other seeds require darkness and cover to germinate.
If you use trays with cells, plant 2-3 seeds in a cell to give the best chance of success. They grow to a height of a few inches and can be thinned if needed.
Instead of pouring the seeds into a cluster of washable water, spray the seeds with a fine mist water sprayer. Keep the seeds moist and check daily.
Label the seeds with the plant name and date so you can track their progress.
Flower seeds to sow before spring
These are just some of the flowering annuals to start indoors for plenty of spring and summer gardening.
1. Phlox
There is a type of phlox for all parts of a garden, from mulch to medium height and tall varieties.
The annual phlox variety, Phlox Trumandi, comes in medium height and in shades of blue, white, pink, purple, and red.
Phlox is drought tolerant and attracts pollen. They can be grown in zones 2-11 in full sun with little afternoon shade. Start the seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date.
2. Alyssum
The beautiful fragrant Lobularia meridian is the perfect complement to pots, hanging baskets, and flower beds. The flowers appear in many colors, from pure white to dark purple.
Sow the seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Sweet Alyssum bloom takes only 6-8 weeks and continues until autumn. These plants are best for zones 5-9.
3. Cosmos
Cosmos is the perfect cottage garden that blooms in bright pink, soft pink, and brilliant white that will delight the garden. There are some varieties that are red, yellow, or chocolate.
The seeds take a while to germinate, but once in the garden, they are self-seeding and grow in relatively poor soil. They are low-maintenance plants that tolerate drought. The cosmos needs good ventilation to avoid attracting pests and diseases.
Sow the seeds indoors 4-5 weeks before the last frost date and sow every 2 weeks for longer distribution. They are easy to grow in zones 2-11.
4. Lobelia
The bright blue lobelia is happy in any garden, but the lobelia is also available in pink, purple, white, and red variations. This plant is named a perennial plant, but its delicate nature makes it an excellent annual.
It can be grown in full sun or partial shade, which will make the garden versatile. However, it does not work well in heat and will require extra water for its best appearance.
Sow the seeds indoors for 6-8 weeks after the last frost date before planting in the garden. Check with your local nursery for what seeds are best for your zone.
5. Pansies
Containers for long flowering pansies and garden beds are perfect fillers. They offer a range of colors that can be applied to any color scheme and can be grown in full sun and partial shade.
Most varieties are very narrow, preferably as floor coverings or at the edges of beds. Grow in zones 7-11 and sow the seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before the last frost date. They are easy to germinate but take a while to mature.
6. Petunia
The best versatile plant and container for mass planting is humble petunia. For maximum impact in the garden, many plants are needed, so it is best to grow these beauties from seed.
Petunias are heat-loving plants that should not be planted too soon. Sow the seeds at least 10-12 weeks before the last frost date.
They are gentle on their early growth and do not want to disturb their roots. Use decomposable pots for petunias so that the roots are not disturbed when planting in the garden or in containers.
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