Annual Seeds to Plant in Fall
Sowing Annual Flower Seeds in Fall? Are We Crazy?
The truth is, many of the varieties we label simply as “annual” are very hardy, half-hardy, or tender annuals. Some are perennials, but only in tropical climates. All of these can be direct sown outdoors in autumn for beautiful blooms next spring and summer.
Sweet Peas
In warm-winter climates (generally zone 7 and farther south and/or west), sweet pea seeds are best sown outdoors anytime from September through November. They love the cold and will be ready to pop up and start growing in spring.
Nasturtium
There’s never a wrong time to start nasturtium for indoor growing. This well-behaved little trailing plant makes a splendid addition to the kitchen — its flowers are edible and very decorative on salads and cakes! Tip: Soak the seeds overnight in water before sowing, to speed up the germination process.
Pot Marigold (Calendula)
Start seeds right now (late summer/early fall) for a quick fall crop in warm winter areas.
Foxglove
Okay, these are biennials, but they love being sown in fall so we have to mention them. Sow the seeds as early in fall as you can, scattering them on top of the soil in the garden or in pots. (They need light to germinate.) These seeds can take up to a month to sprout, but they aren’t difficult — just slow to start! If you live in a severe climate, let them overwinter in a coldframe. They will be ready to take off in spring.
California Poppy
Staggeringly beautiful, California Poppy is easy to grow.
Pop these seeds into the ground in late fall, just before the first freeze is due. The seeds will patiently over winter. Tip: No matter when you sow California poppies, remember to put the seeds directly into the ground or into their final pot — they do not transplant well.
Eryngo
Fall is the perfect time to sow seeds of this gorgeous Native American annual
Coreopsis tinctoria
Roulette is a C. tinctoria that goes from sprout to bloom in about 3 months.
This is the coreopsis that decorates the Great Plains and pops up just about everywhere in the country at one time or another! Toss the seeds onto the soil in mid- to late fall and let them overwinter. They will be up and at ’em next spring!
