Welcome, Sign In 
Cart
Join Today
Sign-up For Garden
Center Emails Today!
Center Emails Today!
- Receive Helpful Tips
- Timely Articles
- How -To Videos
- Project Ideas & Inspiration
Save BIG!
Have you ever tried to start flowers from seed without success? Well, now you can redeem your
gardening reputation with these easy-to-grow flowers.
gardening reputation with these easy-to-grow flowers.
Marigold
Cosmos
Nasturtium
Known for being reliable bloomers, marigolds will provide you with vibrant color all summer long. Depending on which cultivars you plant, your flowers may grow rounded or tufted in various shades of white, yellow or orange. Marigolds can grow in almost any climate, but they favor fertile soil with full sun. And, since marigold seeds germinate quickly, they can be planted directly in your garden. Within a few weeks of planting, your bland backyard will be filled with flourishing flowers.
Whether they're grown as border plants or in a cutting garden, cosmos will liven up your
landscape with their bold blooms and pleasant aroma. Available in red, pink, orange and yellow varieties, these daisy-like flowers can grow in most environments, but they require a certain amount of sunlight. Since cosmos are heat-loving annuals, they need at least 6 hours of full sunlight to produce bright blooms. Cosmos seeds can be sown outdoors immediately after the last frost and, in 7 short weeks, they will become big, beautiful blossoms that delight butterflies, birds and bees alike.
landscape with their bold blooms and pleasant aroma. Available in red, pink, orange and yellow varieties, these daisy-like flowers can grow in most environments, but they require a certain amount of sunlight. Since cosmos are heat-loving annuals, they need at least 6 hours of full sunlight to produce bright blooms. Cosmos seeds can be sown outdoors immediately after the last frost and, in 7 short weeks, they will become big, beautiful blossoms that delight butterflies, birds and bees alike.
With their fragrant foliage and vivid coloration, nasturtiums are a great choice for containers or ground covers. These red-orange flowers will not only improve the look of your lawn, but they can also be used to flavor your food, though their flavor may vary depending on the plants' growing conditions. Add a peppery punch to summer salads and soups by dusting each dish with crushed nasturtium petals. Nasturtium grows well in any soil and doesn't need fertilizer. Plant in full sun to partial shade and you will see sprouts in 7-10 days of planting.
Morning Glory
Lupine
Calendula
Perfect for arbors and trellises, these quick-growing annuals will enhance your yard with their trumpet-shaped flowers, which bloom from dawn to midmorning every day. Morning glories are a favorite of many first-time gardeners because they can grow in any soil with any amount of water, from a little to a lot. Nonetheless, you can provide your morning glories a great start by soaking the seeds in warm water 24 hours prior to planting. By softening the seeds, you will be able to speed up their germination, enabling them to sprout in less than a week of planting!
Add color and character to your garden by planting lupines. These springtime favorites come in countless colors and produce pea-like blossoms on stiff flower spikes that can grow to be 4 feet tall. While lupines can tolerate most soil types, they prefer cool and moist sites that have access to full sun and light shade. Lupine seeds can be planted outside in the spring, but they will only sprout if the weather is cold enough. You can help your seeds germinate by leaving them in the fridge for 7 days. This cold pretreatment will protect them from the warmer weather by encouraging them to establish in the ground faster.
Considered to be both a flowering annual and an edible herb, calendulas are attractive additions to herb gardens, window boxes and spring flower beds. Similar to marigolds, these flowers produce several small petals in shades of yellow, orange, white and pink. Calendulas will produce bright blooms all season long, but only if they are initially sown in a sunny spot with well-drained, sandy soil. And, with some persistent watering and weeding, these flowers will bloom from May until the first fall frost.
Related Articles
