7 Easy Flowers to Grow from Seed

Here's a guide to seven easy flowers to start from seed perfect for beginners:

Columbine: Delicate and shade-loving, columbine prefers cool spring or early fall planting outdoors. Its flowers arrive in late spring to early summer. Columbines are a perennial flower that come back year after year.

Find Columbine seeds here.

Zinnia: Zinnias thrive in full sun and warm soil. Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost, or directly sow outdoors after danger of frost has passed. They'll bloom from summer through fall. There are many varieties to choose from. Zinnias are an annual flower which means you have to plant them every year.

A wide selection for purchase here.

Nasturtium: Varieties are slightly trailing or climbing heat lovers, nasturtiums are known for their edible flowers and vibrant colors. Direct sow outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Look forward to blooms throughout summer and into fall. Nasturtium is annual plant in most zones.

Order your seeds here.

Calendula: A daisy-like flower, calendula offers continuous blooms all summer long. Seeds can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost or directly sown outdoors in cool spring or early fall weather. They like well-draining soil.

Calendula seeds for purchase here.

Bachelor Buttons: These flowers bloom in shades of blue, pink or purple and are excellent reseeders. The blooms are about 1" wide on stems about 24" tall.

Find a variety to choose from here.

Morning Glory: These trumpet-like blooms come in a variety of colors. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, or sow directly outdoors in early spring. They'll flower in summer and are a vining plant. They bloom in blues, purples, pinks and whites. However, these may be very prolific depending on your zone as they are vigorous reseeders.

A wide-variety of morning glory seeds can be found here.

Coneflower: A low-maintenance flower, coneflower attracts butterflies and thrives in full sun. They can handle drought and don't need rich soil. Seeds can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost or directly sown outdoors in early spring. Expect blooms in midsummer to fall. There are hybrid varieties that I had mixed results growing. The classic Purple Coneflower is reliable and beautiful. Birds love to perch on them and eat the seeds from the plants in my garden.

Purple Coneflower Echinacea Seeds here.

Germination Tip: Most of these seeds don't require heat to germinate, but warm soil temperatures can help speed things up.

Soil Tip: A well-draining potting mix is ideal for starting seeds indoors. When transplanting outdoors, ensure the soil is loose and fertile.

With a little planning and care, you can enjoy these easy-to-grow flowers blooming in your garden all season long! Save your seeds after blooms dry and save for next year.

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Happy Gardening!

Estelle

Sources:

botanicalinterests.com

americanmeadows.com/content/perennials/columbine/how-to-grow-columbine

gardenia.net/guide/columbine-how-to-grow-and-care-with-success

gardenafa.com/the-art-of-growing-beautiful-flowers-from-seed

thisismygarden.com/2021/07/how-to-grow-calendula/

meadowlarkjournal.com/blog/calendula-from-seed

hilltopgardening.com/perennial-of-the-month-coneflower/