Starting Annual Flowers from Seed

Annual Flowers are already the biggest bargains in the garden. Because they only live for one season, annual flowers can be purchased for a lot less investment than perennial flowers. But if you âre a true do-it-yourself fan, you can make your annual flowers even less expensive by starting them from seed.

Many annual flowers can be grown successfully from seed, including popular flowers like daisies, sunflowers, impatiens, poppies and zinnias.

They keys to success for starting annual flowers from seed are to buy good-quality seed and to provide your seeds with the best possible growing conditions.

Purchase Quality Seeds

Buying good-quality seed means you aren't buying the packets of seed at your grocery store that retail for 88 cents. Find a trusted manufacturer of annual flower seed and make sure you are getting the current years stock. Some companies sell old seed at a rebate, but you're not guaranteed that the seeds will grow. Many seed packages are stamped with the year so you will know you are getting fresh seed.

Fresh seed is more likely to grow into good, strong plants. But it doesn't happen quickly or easily. To start seeds for your annual flowers, you will need patience and a little bit of equipment.

Seeds can be started in just about any container you like, from a purchased seed-starting kit with plugs of soil in a rack to yogurt containers or small pots. Each seed starter has his or her own favorite containers and planting medium.

Starting Your Seeds

Timing is very important when starting seeds for [annual flowers]. You don't want to start your seeds so late that your flowers aren't blooming until late in the season, but if you start them too soon the plants get leggy, which means they're kind of stringy, ugly and not very strong.

The best schedule for planting your seeds is printed right on the packet of seeds. Generally seeds for annual flowers can be started eight to 10 weeks before the last spring frost, but some flowers take a long time to get started while others are quite speedy.

Whatever containers you choose for planting, scatter the seed conservatively. Too many seeds in the same area can result in weaker plants. Consult the seed package for information about whether the seeds need to be covered with soil, and how deeply.

Use a Grow Light

Seed flats or pots should be placed under a fluorescent grow light and covered with plastic wrap or a clear humidity dome (if you purchased a seed starting kit, it should have come with one of these). Leave the light on around six hours a day.

When the seedlings sprout you can take the plastic off, but leave them under the light. Thin seedlings so there is a half to one inch of space around them. Make sure you water them regularly and keep using the grow light to make the plants strong.

Once the annual flower seedlings have two sets of true leaves (not the leaves you see when the seed first breaks the soil) you can transplant them into larger homes. When it is about time to plant them, you'll need to get them used to living outside. The way this is done is by taking the plants outside for a little while during the day. Leave them in the shade, but it should be warm outside when this is done.

Increase the amount of time they are left outside each day until they can spend all day outside. This hardening off period should take about a week.

Planting Your Flowers

When you are finally ready to plant your annual flowers, choose a cloudy morning or late afternoon. Use a weak fertilizer as you water the plants, and keep an eye on them to make sure they are getting enough water. These plants are still pretty tender, so protect them from frost even more than you might protect your more established plants.

Starting annual flowers from seed can be a lot of fun. You learn more about the plants and somehow care more about them when you have seen them through their entire life cycle. Its a wonderful thing to do with your kids to teach them about life, conservation, how things grow and more. Don't be afraid to start your annual flowers from seed!

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