How To Grow Annual Flowers From Seed – 4 Beautiful Annuals That Grow Fast!
There is something so fulfilling about immediately putting seeds into the soil and witnessing gorgeous annual blooms flourish!
The four beautiful annual flowers presented today are perfect for adding color and scent to your landscape or to your existing flowerbeds.
Marigolds are probably familiar. These flowers are gorgeous and great companion plants for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and more. Best of all, they bloom in 6–8 weeks from seed!
Marigolds – Great Annual Flowers To Grow From Seed
These versatile flowers thrive in zones 3–11. Warm orange, red, yellow, and white marigold blossoms are abundant. The blooms are 2–5 inches wide.
Marigolds need fertile, well-draining soil. They grow best at 70–75°F (21–24°C) soil temperatures, but can be sown once frost is gone.
Planting Marigolds
Go somewhere with full to almost full sun. Place seeds 1 inch apart in 6 inches of loose soil. Only plant seeds ⅛ inch deep. Help seeds establish with light soil and water.
Marigolds need 1 inch of weekly rainfall or hand watering. Early morning and plant base watering. Natural mulch helps preserve moisture.
Maintaining Marigolds
Deadheading old blossoms speeds up new growth. Cut and dried marigolds are great, and saving their seeds for next year is straightforward.
One of the easiest flowers to grow from seed is zinnia. They offer height and color to flowerbeds, pathways, and other areas. Zinnias thrive in zones 2–8.
Zinnias – Great Annual Flowers To Grow From Seed
Zinnias need rich, healthy, well-draining soil. Increase organic matter using compost to help zinnias thrive.
Planting Zinnias
Zinnias can be overwatered, so only water new plants when the soil is dry. Once established, only water after a protracted drought. A 2–4-inch layer of organic mulch can help stabilize soil temperatures and prevent weeds.
Maintaining Zinnias
Has a spot you want to cultivate flowers but the soil is poor? Cosmo flowers are the answer!
Cosmos – Great Annual Flowers To Grow From Seed
After frost has passed, you can directly sow cosmos seeds. However, they grow best in soil heated to 60° F (° C). You should not add compost or other organic matter to your soil before planting since they favor poor soil.
Planting Cosmos
Seeds should germinate in 7–10 days. Once seedlings are a few inches tall, thin to one plant per foot. The cosmos blooms 7–8 weeks after planting.
Maintaining Cosmos
Nasturtium flowers are tasty and lovely! These ground cover flowers are great companion plants for vegetable gardens, raised beds, and containers.
Nasturtiums – Great Annual Flowers To Grow Seed
Nasturtiums like somewhat infertile soil like cosmos. Select a sunny, well-draining spot. After your soil reaches 55–65° F (12–18° C), loosen it at the planting spot. Nasturtiums should be sown half-inch deep and 12 inches apart.
Planting Nasturtiums
Provide 1 inch of water weekly to plants. Nasturtiums prefer damp soil but are drought-tolerant. Nasturtiums prefer infertile soil, therefore no fertilizer is needed.