A lot of annual flowers offer seeds with high rates of germination and mature fast. This means you can sow them indoors now and get a head start on your spring garden.
You’ll love the quick blooms that will beautify both your sunny and shady spots of the yard. If you’re looking to sow some seeds indoors now, check out the list below.
These are the five best annuals to grow from seeds for your outdoor garden!
5 Flower Seeds to Sow Now for the Spring
- Celosia, cockscomb
The unusual blooms of this flower remind of brain coral or feathers and are a stunning addition to every garden.
It has tiny seeds, but they germinate fast and should be started indoors, some six to eight weeks before the first frost.
Opt for three to four seeds per pot and press them lightly into the soil to make contact and maximize moisture.
You can find various color options, including purple, pink, and bright red. They prefer rich and moist soil that’s well-drained.
- Cosmos flowers
These flowers are sturdy and remain like that from germination day to the first frost in fall. You plant them once and then enjoy in their lovely ferny foliage beautifying your garden every year.
Sow them in your garden in spring and the plant will know when to germinate. They’re awesome for beginner gardeners.
You can find two types; one is the C. sulpherous and the other is C. bipinnatus. The former is an upright flower that reminds of daisies and grows up to three feet in height. Its flowers are yellow-orange.
The latter has more delicate foliage that’s threadlike and the daisy-like flowers are white, pink, or red. They can reach up to four feet in height.
- Impatiens
Despite being tiny seeds, don’t buy the pelletized option with a coating because it will slow down their germination. These seeds need a lot of light, warmth, and moisture.
Sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil indoors, some two months before the last frost. It’s less practical to sprinkle them directly into the garden because they need some three months to mature into flowers.
You can find them in various colors, including purple, salmon, orange, white, pink, bicolors, etc. Grow them in the partly shadier or full shade area of the garden.
- Morning Glory
Soak the seeds overnight in warm water and then plant the swollen seeds under a quarter-inch of soil. Do it indoors some two weeks before the last frost in your area.
You can find these flowers in numerous colors, including red, pink, white, blue, purple, and magenta. The soil that they grow in needs to be well-drained and moist. They love full sun exposure.
- Sunflowers
Sunflower seeds are included in every kid’s garden kit because they’re best started by seeds planted directly into the ground and ready to go as soon as their tiny hands push them into the soil.
The seedlings will get quite big if planted in small pots so if you need to start them inside, ensure they have a strong source of light that will keep them stocky.
There are different varieties with different height sizes in a range between three and ten feet.
After they fade, don’t deadhead them. The heads will be food for the birds in your garden. You can find them in multiple colors, from yellow, red, and orange to mahogany and there are even bicolors.
They love full sun exposure and well-drained soil with dry to average moisture.
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