It's Time to Sow Some Seeds! | |
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Did you know that fall is a great time to sow seeds outdoors? Many hardy annual and perennial seeds appreciate the stratification that being outdoors all winter provides. They germinate in spring when conditions are perfect, and get a head start on establishing themselves all on their own while you're busy with the crazy spring rush of pruning, clearing, planning and planting.
Sowing in fall is pretty simple. Wait until well after a killing frost. Clear a spot in a bed, dig in compost and rake the soil smooth. Scatter seeds a little thicker than you normally would in spring. Lightly rake them in and tamp them down, but don't worry too much about getting them covered. Fall rains and winter snow cycles will have those seeds settled into the soil by spring. Be sure to mark where you've sown so that you don't dig up that spot next spring or weed out seedlings. Scroll down for the best seeds to sow in fall.
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Still growing? Stock up on seeds for cold-hardy greens like Spinach, Kale, Arugula, Asian Greens and Lettuces.
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Seeds to Sow in Fall
When searching out seeds to sow in fall, think of perennials and hardy annuals that often self-sow anyway, and those that prefer cold stratification for good germination. There is a bit of trial and error involved, of course, and some varieties may work well in some areas and not in others. But these are the varieties most likely to succeed in most gardens.
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Myosotis sylvatica. Sown in fall, these nostalgic blue, pink and white biennials will send out foliage next spring and flowers the following spring.
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Papaver rhoeas. Poppies love to be sown in fall! The Flanders Field Poppy is a universal symbol of remembrance, a vivid splash of red from June on.
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Echinacea spp. Coneflowers (not just purple--white and yellow, too!) are garden classics, an essential component of summer butterfly gardens.
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Aquilegia spp. This perennial may bloom its first summer if sown in fall, as it will germinate earlier and get a head start over seeds sown in spring.
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Nigella damascena. Love-in-a-Mist is an easy-to-grow self-seeding heirloom with intricate, star-shaped flowers, spindly foliage and dramatic seed pods.
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Lupinus polyphyullus. Lupines hate root disturbance, so direct-sowing is a must. Sow them in either late fall or spring for blooms the following summer.
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St. John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum. This European perennial has prolific 1"-wide, golden-yellow flowers amidst deep emerald leaves on upright, branching stems.
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Johnny Jump-Ups
Viola tricolor. With their mild, wintergreen-mint flavor, Johnny Jump-Up blossoms are a prized, decorative edible flowers from olden days.
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Bachelor's Buttons
Centaurea cyanus. Used as edible garnishes and cut flowers, Bachelor's Buttons are as gorgeous as they are versatile and practical.
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Maltese Cross
Lychnis chalcedonica. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and gardeners all love this old-fashioned, easy-to-grow, deer-resistant perennial.
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Polygonum orientale. This old fashioned, cottage garden classic requires a cold period to germinate reliably--late fall sowing does the trick!
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California Poppies
Eschscholzia californica. Native to the U.S. and Mexico, these Poppies are easy-to-grow, drought-tolerant, sun-loving and beautiful.
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Papaver somniferum. Mauve-pink flowers produce the tiny blue-gray seeds that bakers crave. Direct-sow seed in late fall or very early spring.
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Linum perenne lewisii. Easy to grow, perennial Blue Flax can be sown outside in fall or early spring. It may bloom the first year if started early enough.
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Consolida ambigua. This cottage garden and bouquet favorite, a hardy annual, prefers to be directly sown into the garden in fall or early spring.
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Hollyhocks
Alcea rosea. These stately favorites reign over gardens with spires studded with magnificent cup-like flowers reminiscent of old English gardens.
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Black-Eyed Susans
Rudbeckia hirta. An easy-to-grow garden favorite, Black-Eyed Susans have graced display beds and cutting gardens forever.
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Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum. Anise Hyssop produces purple spikes of compound florets, loved by beneficial insects. This ornamental sometimes self-sows.
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Chamomile
Matricaria recutita. Diminutive daisies with yellow centers are perky on stems growing to 2' tall. Dry flowers or use fresh in herbal tea, soothing to the stomach.
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Blazing Stars
Liatris spicata. This drought-tolerant, perennial American wildflower has 2' to 3' tall, violet-purple bottle-brush flower spikes and grassy foliage.
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Yarrow
Achillea millefolium. Yarrow is a terrific fresh and dried cut flower and good for garden display with its densely flowered, sturdy, tall stems.
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Delphiniums
Delphinium elatum. Featuring old-fashioned, elegant spires of delicate flowers, these cottage garden favorites also make terrific cut flowers.
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Calendula
Calendula officinalis. An old-fashioned favorite, this edible flower is varying shades of deep saffron-yellow; hence its nickname, The Poor Man's Saffron.
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Shirley/Corn Poppies
Papaver rhoeas. These charming Poppies have single, semi-double or double, tissue-paper blooms on hairy, leafless stems. Charming!
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Our current office hours are 8:30 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday and from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm over the weekends. Questions? You can email us or call us at (860) 567-6086. Lance Frazon, our seed specialist, is happy to help you in any way possible. He loves to talk seeds.
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