I love flowers. I often spend my summer mornings in the garden, cup of coffee in hand, admiring their beauty. I’m always excited about the new blooms that may have awakened overnight. It’s easy to grow annuals from seeds and if you want to create a flower oasis of your own, look no further than this article.
Whether you direct or winter sow, we will teach you which annuals are the easiest to start from seed so that you save money and enjoy their beauty without breaking the bank.
1. Zinnias
Our first easy to grow annuals are Zinnias.
They’re simply one of the easiest annual to grow from seeds and will reward you with beautiful summer blooms.
They come in many colors and varieties; we often pick several to plant around our garden beds and in containers.
They will attract many pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds.
Plant zinnias in an area with direct sunlight, which means they should receive 6-8 hours of sun each day. Zinnias can be directly sown once the danger of frost has passed.
If you are planting them in a garden bed, you will want them toward the back because they grow tall.
More recently, we have added zinnias to our winter sowing method. This gives us a little head start on germination as the jugs act as a mini-greenhouse.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10
2. Dwarf Dahlias
The second flower on our easy to grow annuals from-seed list is not technically an annual.
Dahlias fall in the perennial category, but in many areas, they are planted as annuals, as they do not overwinter well.
These beautiful blooms come in various colors, and we love planting them in our borders.
Because this seed variety stays close to the ground, we plant them in containers and toward the middle of our garden beds. They add a nice height variation to their taller, tuber dahlia sisters.
They can be directly sowed after the danger of frost has passed or started six weeks indoors before for earlier blooms. Our favorite method to start these seeds is by winter sowing them.
Dahlias require full sun and well-draining, moist soil.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10
3. Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the more underrated flowers. They come in shades of bright yellow to a deep orange.
Their ability to repel pests makes them a non-negotiable when planting tomatoes.
Marigolds grow low to the ground and will spread out nicely to fill in areas in your beds. They can be added to containers to make statement patio pieces.
We often place them near our outdoor seating areas to deter mosquitos.
Marigolds are an easy to grow annuals from seeds. They can be directly sown after the danger of frost has passed or started 6-8 weeks indoors before your last frost date.
USDA Hardiness Zones 2-11
4. Sunflowers
Our next easy-to-sow annual is the sunflower. These majestic flowers will stand tall and strong as the backdrop to any backyard garden.
The varieties are endless. From “Teddy Bear” to “Mammoth.” Whichever type you choose to plant, you will be rewarded with beautiful blooms throughout the summer months.
Our favorite part about growing sunflowers is the visiting birds. Gold finches, cardinals, blue jays, and house finches are common visitors.
Because sunflowers grow very tall, they may need to be staked, so keep that in mind when they grow. It’s better to be proactive than to have to fix a fallen-over sunflower after a heavy rain storm.
The sunflower is a fantastic beginner annual to sow, and it can be started directly after your latest frost date has passed.
I like to start them in old egg containers and then plant them once true leaves form.
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9
5. Violas
The following easy to grow from seed annual are violas.
Once planted, these plants will reseed each year and require some thinning to control their spread. Nevertheless, they are a beautiful addition to any garden space.
Not only do violas offer beautiful bursts of yellows, purples, and reds, they make a great addition to salads.
Planting violas in garden beds or containers is relatively simple. You will want to sprinkle the seeds after the last frost date in your area. Lightly cover or pat them down and water gently.
Seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. Seedlings should be thinned to 8 inches apart.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
6. Snapdragons
Snapdragons are one of the most memorable flowers from my childhood. I remember picking the flowers and pushing the sides together to open and close them.
Today, my children delight in the same activity.
Snapdragons are non-negotiable for our garden beds and are one of the first seeds we start.
Their colorful blooms attract pollinators such as bumblebees.
Plant snapdragon seeds as soon as danger as frost has passed. I personally like to start my seeds indoors six weeks before this date.
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11
7. Celosia (Cockscomb)
Celosia blooms consistently stop visitors to my garden in their tracks. The cockscomb variety gets its name because its flowers look like a rooster’s comb, and others think it looks like brain coral.
Celosia is easy to care for once established.
Germination, although easy, needs a bit of finesse. They can be sown directly into the soil, but we recommend starting these indoors six weeks before your last frost date.
Celosia does best in the garden bed, so we do not recommend them for container gardens, and they will need full sun and well-draining soil.
USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11
8. Calendula
The bright yellow and orange calendula flowers look stunning in beds and borders. They are an easy to grow annual to grow from seed and will often self-seed year after year.
Not only will calendula brighten up your beds, but the dried petals can also be used in tinctures to treat burns, bruises, and minor cuts.
Plant calendula seeds after the danger of frost have passed. They can be directly sown and prefer full sun to partial shade.
USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11
9. Petunias
The sweet scent of petunia mingling in the evening summer air is why we constantly add this flower to our containers and garden beds.
It comes in wide different varieties and colors. Our favorites are wave petunias which we like to plant in beds and containers.
Petunias are relatively easy to start from seed, but we advise starting them early indoors because they take some time to grow. We usually start our seeds in March to have seedlings to plant in May.
Petunias do best in full sun in well-draining soil.
USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11
10. Cosmos
Our final recommendation to sow this year for easy flower growth is cosmos. These beautiful flowers will attract pollinators such as honeybees and butterflies.
Once established in the garden, they will bloom all summer long. They grow relatively tall, so we plant them toward the back of our beds.
Cosmos are one of the easier plants to sow, and they can be started indoors in containers or directly sown in place.
Be sure to wait until after the danger of frost has passed. The United States of Agriculture is an excellent resource if you are unsure of your growing zone.
USDA Hardiness Zones 2-11
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Love Zinnias