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Cottage Gardens

easiest seeds for SoCal (starting indoors now?)

13 years ago

Hey folks, I'm sure there's already been a similar thread, but I had a hard time finding it. I know some of you garden in warmer areas, so I'm hoping someone can help?

Earlier this year, I tried sowing poppies directly in the ground, and I got - some - coming up, but not nearly as many as I'd hoped. Also tried some in pots outside, watered them daily, and had, again, some results, but not that many.

So then, this week, I tried those little covered seed starter trays from the store, put them inside, and 2 days later I have a bunch of little baby seeds, so I'm really encouraged!

So now I want to try more!

What kind of seeds can I grow easily? (now?)

How easy are Guara, salvia, sage, obedient plant, penstemons, yarrow, anemone, chinese foxglove, delphiniums...

are there others you'd recommend?

or am I better off with some of these just buying a small plant at the nursery?

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Comments (5)

hosenemesis
13 years ago
I have successfully grown yarrow from seed. Salvia and Sage are the same thing, so if you have a specific plant in mind we would need a bit more info. Generally you are better off with small plants for Gaura, salvias, penstemon, anemones and chinese foxgloves.

Obedient Plant does not grow here, and delphiniums are best purchased already huge and blooming at the nursery. I have never had one last more than two weeks though- it's just too hot for them here. I know it's not the same, but larkspur is a much better bet for Southern California. They grow best sown directly into the soil.

Poppies- Oriental poppies do poorly in SoCal. Try Breadseed poppies (papaver somniferum) or Shirley poppies. These grow best direct sown.

Other easy to grow from seed flowers are Feverfew, Paludosum daisies, red flax, blue flax, California poppies, elegant clarkia, godetia, linaria, nigella, annual coreopsis, Mexican Hat, nasturtium. Blue flax and Mexican Hat are perennial, and benefit from being started in a seed tray.
Renee
aimeekitty
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Renee! That's a huge help and exactly what I wanted to know.
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gardenerme
13 years ago
Have you tried winter sowing? I do the california version. I already have seeds germinating for calendula (grows all year here!) purple and white coneflowers, rudbeckia, crazy daisy and marconi daisy (all perennials that I also grew successfully last year.

Last year I winter sowed even annuals, however, this year I have direct sowed: papaver somniferum, clarkia elegans, tidy tips, california poppies, forget me not, cosmos (especially cosmos orange) paludosum daisy, sunflower, delphiniums, and much much more. I have discovered that these all reseed by themselves as well, and if you disturb the soil, you will not have very good germination. The same happens if you mulch over the seeds. Feel free to contact me after you have browsed the wintersowing FAQ. It is really trouble free and easy, but you have to start seeds at different times here in CA.
aimeekitty
Original Author
13 years ago
gardenerme - Thanks, I'll read the faq and send you an email. :) I want to learn more.
pippi21
13 years ago
Check out the California website of Annie's annuals. You'll get lots of inspiration and tips there. Order her catalogue and dream on. I would love to live in her nearby area so I could visit her nursery but I live in Md.

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