How to Grow Flowers from Seeds – Tips for Success with Annuals

Though annuals do not come back by themselves, they produce color nearly all summer long, and it can be fun to gather seeds to plant the following year. Try these simple ideas for flower gardening success with less money.

Planting Flower Seeds

Because seeds take about a week or so to germinate, you are usually safe sowing seeds directly into the ground about a week before the last danger of frost. In colder climates you may need to start seeds indoors and transplant seedlings outdoors. In warmer climates, you can often plant annuals in the fall to come up in early spring.

Work the soil until loose and add humus or peat moss if needed. The easiest way to plant annual seeds is to dig a trench, sprinkle seeds generously in a row and cover lightly with peat moss. Planting flowers in rows makes it easy to distinguish the flowers from the weeds and ensures you will get an even spacing of plants after thinning. But many people prefer the more organic method of ‚”broadcasting ‚” seeds over the soil and covering lightly with topsoil or peat moss. You may have more success with this method if you purchase a package containing a variety of seeds combined with mulch and fertilizer.

Thinning Annual Flowers

‚”Sow thick, and thin” is the mantra for beginner gardeners. It’s best to sow the seeds thickly to begin with and plan on thinning them out in several stages throughout the growing process. When the seedlings begin to develop distinct leaves, thin them to about three inches apart. After the plants are well established, thin them again, choosing the hardiest looking plants and pulling the weaker ones. Use the spacing information on the seed packet as a general guide, but don’t be afraid to leave them closer together than recommended.

Watering Annual Flowers Throughout the Summer

Seeds need moisture to germinate. After planting flower seeds, water the bed with a light spray at least once a day. Once the seedlings are established, reduce watering to about three times per week. Starting in midsummer, when the plants are well established, give them a good soaking only once a week, using a hose directly on the stems. Avoid watering during the heat of the day, to ensure that the water is well absorbed without too much evaporation.

Caring for Annual Flowers

Annuals need regular fertilizing to produce lush blooms. Fertilize about every two weeks using an all-purpose fertilizer, such as 5-10-5 or 15-30-15. Follow package directions. Be careful not to fertilize nasturtiums, however, because these flowers produce fewer blooms when fertilized.

Flowers bloom longer if you regularly deadhead the spent blooms. Snip off the blooms when they start to look brown. However, if you want to save the seeds, make sure you stop deadheading in the fall.

Harvesting Flower Seeds for Future Use

Some annuals self-sow if left to themselves in the fall. Good candidates for self-sowing include alyssum, bachelor’s buttons, candy tufts, impatiens, marigolds, nasturtiums, petunias, poppies, and snap dragons. However, you may choose to harvest the seeds and replant for more control. To harvest seeds, let the flowers go to seed. When dry, cut or break off pods and place in a labeled paper bag for each variety. Hang the bags in a warm dry place to let the seeds dry thoroughly. When dry, separate the seeds from the pods and store in labeled envelopes or paper bags for use the following spring.

Although annual flowers have a short life, they make up for it by producing a riot of color all summer long. For a little bit of investment, you can enjoy a beautiful flower garden by growing annuals from seed.

For more on favorite annuals, see Easy and Cheap Flowers to Grow from Seeds – Favorite Annuals