Photo Credit: ©Dolezal Publishing/Tim Butler

A healthy bed of annual flowers grown from seed will yield plants that reach the same point of development simultaneously, permitting you to time peak blooms for special occasions or events. Consult the seed package to determine the amount of time required for plants to mature and bear flowers from the time of planting from seed.

Starting annuals from seeds is often your best and, in some cases, your only option. Uncommon annuals can be difficult to find as started plants, and even if you’re in the market for the most popular annuals, you may be hard-pressed to find, say, two dozen pink ‘Peter Pan’ zinnias in flats. If you want to plant heirloom varieties, seeds likely will be your only choice. Where the growing season is short, starting seeds expands your plant palette to include warm-season annuals that wouldn’t have time to mature between the first and last frost if sown outdoors.

If you’re starting several plants of a given variety, an effective method is to start them in undivided flats, then transplant them to individual containers after they’ve sprouted. You’ll need waterproof trays in which to set your flats, and sterile potting soil mix – never use garden soil, which may harbor diseases. Be sure to read all of the instructions on the seed package before you begin. It will usually indicate whether your seeds need to be chilled or soaked before sowing, what temperature soil they need for germination, how long it will take for them to sprout and how they should be spaced for planting.

Never irrigate seed plantings with a stream of water – it’s easy to flood and loosen them from the soil; mist them instead. Perhaps most important, keep your plantings warm. All seeds need a minimum temperature in their soil for germination and healthy growth. You can keep your covered flats warm by putting them on top of the refrigerator or water heater, or buy a grow mat or heating cable from your local garden center. After the package-recommended germination period, start examining your seeds every day for signs of sprouting; most seeds emerge from the soil in 1-3 weeks. When first sprouts appear, uncover the flats immediately – allowing air to circulate – and give them a reliable source of light.

If you’ve never tried starting seeds indoors before, begin with just a few varieties. When you see them all grown up and on their own in the garden, you won’t be able to wait until next year to try some more. To start your first tray of indoor seed, just follow the simple steps shown at the end of this article.

Photo Credit: ©Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

Seeding directly into garden beds is the best method for plants that are easy to grow or difficult to transplant. Check soil temperatures if planting takes place early in the season to avoid damping off – a fungal disease that kills young sprouts by rotting their stems at the soil level.

Now, many annuals are so accommodating, that they’ll grow from seed sown directly into the garden. Direct sowing is the simplest method of starting annuals. It’s also the best – and least expensive – method to use if you want to fill large areas.

Some annuals are commonly started outside because they’re quick-growing and easy to propagate. Others are best started in the garden because they tend to fail when transplanted.

Though starting seeds in the garden isn’t a complicated process, it’s not foolproof either. Common problems include seeds planted too deeply or too shallowly, being flooded out by rain or overzealous watering, parched by the sun, elbowed out by weeds or felled by disease caused by too-cold soil or excess moisture. The good news is that you can do much to keep such problems at bay. When everything goes according to plan, you get a gorgeous garden with little effort and money.

Before you begin planting, make sure the soil in your garden is weed-free, free of rocks and clods and smoothly raked. Scattering (or broadcasting) seeds will give a more casual look, but sowing seeds in a pattern helps you distinguish them from weeds when they sprout. Cover sown seeds with a light layer of sifted compost or sand, which easily can be penetrated by delicate shoots. Gently press the seeds into the soil with the flat side of a board or hoe to ensure they have good contact with the soil.

Water newly planted seeds very gently with a watering can or a fine spray from the hose. As soon as your seedlings develop true leaves, allow them room to grow by thinning weak sprouts.