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direct spring sow annuals and perennials

17 years ago

can anyone give me a list of the best flowers to direct sow both annuals and perennials. I am sure what they offer at walmart in the packs are not all direct sow or are they?

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Comments (5)

janet_grower
17 years ago
Not all are direct sow, in fact most are not direct sow, here are a few I sure more members can add to the list, Poppies, Black eyed Susan, Portulaca, Four O'clocks (Mirabilis), Larkspur, Bachelor Buttons, Sweet Pea (start when you can dig the soil), Aquilegia or Columbine, and Alyssum. There's a good start for you, I'm sure there are lots more. Janet
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ymaddox
Original Author
17 years ago
this is great i can take my little list shopping with me and look and see what i think would be pretty height wise etc.. Thanks so much janet! I would appreciate any others as well. If my bleeding heart and hosta's dont make it through these freezing temps i might be replacing alot of stuff before its over :(. And i just cut back all my roses to, i think it will all be okay though.
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I would like to try direct sowing some flower seeds in the Fall to assure that I get blooms in the Spring from them. Here's my dilemma..For the last two years,We have paid somebody to do our Fall maintenance and put down mulch. My husband insists we have mulch spread both in Spring and Fall. How can I continue to have the fall mulching session and direct sow flower seeds where I want them to grow? I feel that the Fall mulching keeps the soil too moist or wet. The soil is very rich, I think it needs to be lighter if that makes sense. Hubby wants the flowerbeds to look neat, even in the winter. I feel that there's still mulch left on the flowerbeds from the Spring Mulching..why pay for adding more? If I direct sow before Mr. B comes to do the Fall mulching, won't the mulch smother the seeds and they not be able to germinate? If we do have Mr. B to Fall mulch, can't I just pull the mulch away to sow the seeds and not put the mulch back where the new seeds are sown? This question seems so long but I need to work this out in my mind. I have never sown any seeds in the Fall.
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Thanks for the invitation, moonphase! I am learning so much, and having such a good time on the WS forum, that I may have to change my "favorite forum" on my member page, LOL!!! It seems almost everyone I have heard from so far, recommends direct sowing the Cosmos, and the African daisies. The peppers and basil I will hold off on and probably start them indoors in April. I have started basil indoors once before, and I was able to keep them alive without growlights long enough to get them planted outside. So far I've WS the Agastache, Asclepias, Chives, Marjoram, Oregano, Spearmint, Thyme, and Verbascum. The Cilantro, Parsley, and Dill haven't been winter sown yet, because I ran out of containers. DH drinks a lot of soda, so I should have enough 2L bottles to finish up in a week or so. That is assuming I don't acquire any more seeds, LOL! I am still nervous about giving up control, but I am trusting you experienced WSers not to steer me wrong : )
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I'm not an expert in what you're trying to do, but I do know that seeds have temperature profiles that vary by species. Ever notice that crab grass germinates towards the height of summer? If its too warm, peas won't germinate. Of course this isn't what you're planting. There's usually a range of acceptable temps however, I've never seen a listing for flowers that shows the range for a species. I'd try the seed outdoors, but make sure you're keeping a close eye on moisture, because the higher temps are going to dry the soil out faster. You may want to (if you have the space) to try some in doors under lights where your temperatures may be more moderate, and then acclimate them to the outside. One other thing. Some of the annuals (and some of our 'annuals' are actually perennials from warmer areas that we grow as annuals), may be sensitive to the daylength, and if the daylength is decreasing, they may not flower. Again, I don't know which annuals may or may not have this sensitivity.
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Comments (19)
Bronze Fennel n the back for color, texture, butterflies and can be direct sown. Dill and Parsley also have that umbrel type flower that attracts beneficial insects. Parsley is Biennial but starts easily from seed with patience, you just have to wait until the second year for bloom. I planted seed every year for awhile, so I always have some seedlings getting ready for the next year and bloom for that year. I use mine mid border. Try wintersowing Hollyhocks when your house is finished. I gave up on Hollyhocks due to rust. Maybe you'll have better luck. They are gorgeous. Delphiniums are a great cottage garden plant, but not easy to start from seed and germination is low. The newer Millennium varieties are the best, and if you find seedlings for sale somewhere, you would probably be better off. I am talking about the perennial. Not sure if there is an annual? I grow my 4 oclocks in pots rather than the ground because they produce tubers that can keep coming back and I'm overly cautious about anything that can become a pest. They are very fragrant but open around dinner time not during the day. On a warm summer night the fragrance can really travel. I wouldn't be without them. Calendula is very easy and good for front of border. And easy to save the seed from year to year. Cosmos 'Double Click', I had this briefly, but it didn't stay upright Other single cosmos are great and do reseed in a mannerly way. I found that once I planted them, I was never without them again without any need for me to start more. Love Verbascum, but have not tried to grow hybrids from seed. It can be front of the border or mid border Achillea will spread a lot and quickly. Echinacea is a wonderful perennial addition and some varieties will reseed for you once established. I have a lot of seedlings this year. Some people find Verbena bonariensis a pest eventually. I have been growing it for about 3 years and this year I am starting to see it pops up in a lot of area that requires my attention. Still liking it though. Columbines are very easy but they reseed a little too vigorously for me. I still like them, but I deadhead carefully now. Dianthus is easy from seed, but I have only winter sown them not direct sown. I think they may need a cold period? They are a nice cottage garden plant for the front of the border and will give a good period of bloom if you don't mind deadheading them. They are another plant whose seed are very easy to save and start for year to year. Wintersowing them is as easy as it gets. There are perennial and annual versions. Some are fragrant. Four years, your Butterfly Bush should be performing well. Is it growing in full sun?
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rivers1202
17 years ago
Well, in my zone I can direct sow just about anything and get results -- sometimes spectacular, other times not so much. You don't say where you live. I mostly purchase my annual seeds at Walmart, and every now and then on eBay. Just got a great deal on eBay for 150 Cleome seeds.

Here's a short list of some annuals I've recently sown:

Alyssum - great plant that often reseeds. High germination rate for me.

Cleome (spider flower)- but germination is a bit "iffy" with them, and suckering insects seem to like the seedlings a lot, which cuts back on my success rate with them. However, it is such a large plant that you don't really need bunches of them. I, for one, don't have the space. So the insects aren't too much of a problem. A striking plant that is good for the back of a border, or the middle of an island bed.

Marigolds (different varieties...dwarf and tall) Always get good results with them. And they're pretty much pest-free in my garden...nothing seems to like them. I rarely find bug damage on them.

Zinnia -- with this one I get nearly 100% germination and they grow like crazy, both the short and tall varieties. I get spectacular blooms until cold weather kills them to the ground. They're quite prolific self-sowers, as well. I end up with lots of volunteer seedlings from them every year..... just not always where I want them. Another plus for Zinnias is that bees and humming birds seem to absolutely looooove them. I wasn't surprised that the bees would be attracted to them, but WAS a bit surprised that they attracted so many hummers, too. I think my Zinnia flowers attracted more good garden critters (butterflies, hummers, bees, spiders that eat bad bugs) to my garden than any other flower I had growing last year.

HTH~
Renee
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poisondartfrog
17 years ago
My favorite direct sown annuals are Nigella, Nicandra, and annual the pink or white Gypsophilas. They all work great in annual beds and the cutting garden, and they don't look out of place in perennial garden beds.
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green_devo
17 years ago
Scarlet Flax is a favourite for me.
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