Plan Ahead For Spring Blooms: Cool-Season Hardy Annuals

The secret to a garden full of beautiful blooms in the spring is starting seeds indoors during the summer. You might think summer is a little early to worry about next spring, but it’s the perfect time to start cool-season hardy annuals. In this blog post, I’ll explain cool-season hardy annuals, how to grow them and share my choices for which flowers to choose. 

What are cool-season hardy annuals? 

Cool-season hardy annuals are a group of flowers that produce beautiful blooms and include some of my favorite cut flowers. You need to plan ahead and start seeds in the summer. The seedlings are planted outside in the fall and grow strong roots through winter. They begin blooming the following spring, and often, the blooms last into summer.

Why start seeds for cool-season hardy annuals? 

• Hardy annuals planted during cooler weather have time to grow a strong root system before blooming. This usually means more blooms and longer stems when the time comes. Healthy plants with strong roots can withstand heat, pests, and challenging conditions better.
• Unmatched variety and selection of beautiful blooms when you start from seeds. These are seedlings nurseries often don’t carry. Or if they do, it’s next spring, and it’s too late to get them established and blooming. 
• It allows hot summer growers (like me) to grow flowers we may not have thought we could. 
• Early spring blooms mean your garden has earlier sources of nectar and pollen, so you can start creating habitat and food sources for beneficial insects that will help your garden all season long. 

How to grow cool-season hardy annual flowers

1. Choose the correct varieties for your climate

Variety selection is crucial if you want them to bloom the first year. Some of these plants are annuals, but others are biennials or perennials that grow easily in cooler climates. Choose first-year blooming types when possible.

2. Plan ahead and start seeds indoors

Many of these plants do best started indoors, so you’ll need to start them inside. Pay attention to the germination temperatures listed on the seed packet.

When starting seeds indoors, you’ll need supplies like a grow light (a bright window isn’t enough). For specifics about how to start seeds indoors, check this blog post. Here’s a list of my favorite seed-starting supplies.

Many of these crops need light to germinate. Check the seed packet to be sure. If that’s the case, gently press the seed onto the top of the soil and cover lightly with vermiculite. Then spray the vermiculite with water, use a humidity dome, and put it under grow lights. Once the seedlings sprout, remove the humidity dome. When seedlings are 3-5 inches (7-12cm) tall, they are ready to plant outside.   

3. Plant cool-season annual flowers at the right time

Use the temperature guidelines for each flower to ensure they survive your winter’s average coldest temperature. If they survive your lowest winter temperature, then go ahead and plant them in the fall. If not, plant them in the spring.

The fall planting date to plant the seedlings outside is 6-8 weeks before your first fall frost. Look up your first fall frost date here. For example, my first fall frost date is December 2, so my planting window for most of these flowers is from mid-September through October. 

If it gets too cold where you live and you need to plant in the spring, plant 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. In any climate, If you miss the fall planting date or want to add more plants, you can also plant during this spring window.

Start seeds indoors about eight weeks before you plant outside. Count back another eight weeks from your first frost date for your indoor seed starting date. I start seeds for most of these crops in July or August. Check my planting resources or find a planting calendar for your area for exact dates. 

Some crops have a larger planting window and can be planted through early spring. But remember, you’ll have more robust roots, stronger plants, and longer stems if you plant them earlier in the planting window. 

4. Plant in a good location

Choose an area with good soil that is well-draining. Once you plant, keep the seedlings watered until they get established. As temperatures cool, their water needs will be reduced, and growth will slow. Mulch the area to keep it weed-free and protect the soil. As temperatures begin to warm in the spring, they will take off. Get ready to enjoy all of the beautiful blooms.

Even if it’s too hot to garden outside this summer, you can still enjoy starting these seeds and dream of all the beautiful flowers! 

Additional cool-season hardy annual growing resources:

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