Spring/Summer Perennial?Biennial Sowing List

16 years ago

I have noticed that a bunch of WSers are interested in Spring/Summer sowing. It's a lot of fun and I do it every year. The technique is the same, except the containers are in the shade and you have to watch the watering. I put the jugs in shallow pot dishes to keep their feet wet. Now, here is what I have sown. It's not a complete list of course, but it is a list of MY favorites. Other SS sowers, please add your favorites as well.

Maltese Cross

Sea Holly (every year!)

Asclepias

Veronica

Lychnis

Dianthus (can you have enough dianthus?)

Sweet William

On my sea holly (plant from storygardener) I harvest the seeds in June or July, and then turn right around and sow them. The robust babies are ready in the fall and into the ground they go. I love sea holly in my drought area. The cool blue is such a show stopper.

What do YOU Spring/Summer sow?

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Comments (13)

flowered-corners
16 years ago
I would like to start some but I must clean up my large mess first.I still have tons of babies,some waiting to grow,some waiting to id.I sure did a terrible job labeling and pretty much they all look the same right now! The lady whos yard butts to mine is having a party outside in 2 weeks.I either clean up or hang curtains.lol
gunnysax
16 years ago
BIENNIALS:
Dames Rocket
Sweet William
Hollyhocks
Lunaria
PERENNIALS:
Lambs Ears
Oregano
Tall Blue Baloon Flower
ROOTINGS:
Prickly Pear Cactus
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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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This is going to be challenging, I think, unless you start them indoors under lights. I plan to start several types of perennials in late summer, indoors under lights, say around July/August. They'll be big enough to plant out just as the summer heat is breaking (September or so), and hopefully develop nice root systems before the ground freezes. I've had success doing this in years past. The issue with starting anything outdoors now is that it's just too darn hot, and you're in a tough spot because seedlings need light to grow, but direct summer sun is too much for them; hence why seedlings sprout in spring when it's cool. Just some thoughts.
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OK, thanks, I think I'll give it a whirl then and WS them. Never have grown them from seed before so I wasn't sure what to do. Kmpsmom, our weather here in Zone 6B tends to be sort of similar to Zone 7, so that's great to know you had success with WS'ing them. We had a cool spring and summer here in PA too because of all that rain. Aliska12000, I think I'll hold a few pansy seeds back too, that's a good idea. Maybe I'll sow them in containers in the spring just to see how those work. Thanks again for your follow up posts! Now I just need to get more seed starting mix...
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I often summer sow perennials. There are a few things you can do to assure success: 1) Choose seeds that don't need cold-strat to germinate. If you're using packaged seeds then most will have germination info on the back so you can easily tell what's needed. If you're sowing trade seeds then check the Clothier Database. 2) Use large and deep containers, I like at least six inches of soil. Bigger containers hold more soil at a greater depth, it retains more moisture. 3) Place the containers in a partly shady site, do not place them where they will get direct overhead sunlight during midday. 4) Set up a sprinkler on a spigot timer and let it water the flats for at least an hour during the hottest part of the day. 5) Work early or late in the day to prep the beds you'll be transplanting the seedlings into. Once you begin transplanting water the beds daily for about a week and then taper off gradually so the seedlings become used to a drier schedule--ultimately, they'll get used to getting water from Ma Nature only, this conserves water and saves you lots of time also. Good luck! T
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isamae
16 years ago
To bakemom, I sowed some Sea Holly seeds in April that someone had sent me and they never germinated and I thought maybe they had to be sowed in the winter. Is it that they have to be sowed immediately after they seed? Thanks. Isamae
pitimpinai
16 years ago
I sow everything that ripens as the season progresses
-Eranthis
-Forget-me-not
-Columbine
-Scilla sibirica
-Feverfew
-Larkspur
-Rudbeckia hirta
-etc. etc...etc
I mean everything. Then I just pull the excess the following spring & summer. This spring I found several Clematis seedlings. All right! Wonder which parents they come from. The leaves look kinda like Clematis montana. Has anyone had volunteers from C. ternifera?
My Geranium seedlings are blooming everywhere in the garden. Must be babies of Geranium 'New Hamptshire Purple'. And, of course, Columbine in every shape, color and form.

I love the mess called my garden. :-P
sheltieche
16 years ago
I am deciding on planning for fall show- so far I will do pansy, ornamental kale and cabbage and am thinking about dwarf snaps. Also thinking of mixing annual dianthus with pansies, dianthus should hold cool weather nicely as well as pansies.
bakemom_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
isamae: I don't know of any rule that requires the seed of sea holly to be sown fresh. I do know that folks have complained of lack of germination when the seeds are too wet and kinda just rot in the containers. I have near perfect germination summer sowing it, so that's my recommendation.

Add to my list:

platycodon - balloon flower
echinacea
mrsgalihad
16 years ago
I'm planning on doing some penstemons as soon as they ripen. I haven't thought much further than that but maybe I'll give the sea holly a try. Let's see... Galliardia for selling later in the season and then the chocolate foxglove since I forgot to WS it. That's all for now but I'm sure there will be more.
isamae
16 years ago
bakemom, thanks for the info. I will just try them again :) Isamae
spartangardener
16 years ago
I plan to do the following for the fall/next year:

flowering kale
pansies
salvia farinacea
beans
peas
spinach
lettuce
columbine
sweet william

I have some things that require warm-cold-warm too, so I'll be starting those in july:

clematis
trout lily
laburnum
eryngium
some others

I also already have done a large number of my annuals that sprout in warm weather, rhododendrons, kalmias and warm weather grasses.

In addition to the seedlings, I also plan to do a bunch of rootings in the next week or so, including

coleus
wave petunias
lamium
chelone
phlox
sedum
russian sage
roses
bonnys
16 years ago
I am going to plant some pink for get me not seeds tonight when I get out of work. I am also going to plant some rose campion (which I desperately want)if I can ever find some seeds. I really don't need any more plants but I really want these two.

Bonny
storygardener
16 years ago
Sea Holly..am I a Grandma??? Sounds like fun!!
bakemom_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Beverly, you are a great great grandma. NO kidding. I started seeds from year one and harvested seed from those. This is multi generational from those first two plants you gave me. Plus, the seeds have been sent all over the country.
storygardener
16 years ago
Mozel Tov!

Spring/Summer Perennial?Biennial Sowing List

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flowered-corners

gunnysax

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Spring/Summer Perennial?Biennial Sowing List

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