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Which flower seeds are best for spring gardening?
Flowers come to mind when spring rolls around. Home gardeners can’t wait to fill their green spaces with colorful blooms. Growing flowers from seeds is one of the most rewarding ways to cultivate a flower garden. Spring is the best time of year to get started.
Half the fun of gardening with seeds is choosing your favorite flowers to grow. Consider soil and weather conditions, regional gardening zones and care requirements to make your flower planting successful. Then, watch your tiny seeds blossom into healthy, lasting blooms that cheer up your outdoor living area throughout the growing season. If you’re unsure which are the best flowers to plant in spring, we provide a list of the ones most suited to the season.
Shop this article: Outsidepride Zinnia Elegans Flower Seed Mix, Sow Right Seeds Snapdragon Flower Seeds and Outsidepride Moonflower Plant Flower Seeds
Preparing seeds for spring flowers
It’s exciting to buy flower seeds and get them in the soil so growing can begin. But, there are several vital steps to take to grow strong plants that produce hardy flowers.
Plant hardiness zone
Where you live helps determine which flower seeds thrive in your region. The United States Department of Agriculture has a plant hardiness zone map. It helps gardeners understand which plants are best for each location.
The current map consists of 13 zones divided by 10-degree Fahrenheit temperature variations. The packaging of many flower seeds indicates which zones they grow best in. You can also research your favorite flowers to determine if they are suitable for your zone.
If you live in a zone where the weather stays cold long into the spring, get a jump-start on your flower garden by planting seeds indoors using pots and potting soil.
Soil
Flower seeds are more likely to sprout in soil that promotes germination. Soil that’s sandy, rocky or has poor drainage isn’t ideal for seeds. If seedlings do emerge, they may not grow to produce blooms without proper nutrients. Adding compost or prepackaged garden soil to your flower garden helps with drainage and puts nutrients back into the ground where seeds take root.
Sun
Before choosing flower seeds, think about where you want to plant them. While most flowers need several hours of sun to grow, not all need total exposure. Additionally, some flowers prefer shady areas. Check the seed descriptions for sun and shade requirements to be sure you buy seeds that work in your area.
Tools
Gardening tools that work the soil, put your seeds in the ground and keep plants looking their best make spring gardening a breeze. Here are some standard tools that come in handy.
- Gardening gloves to protect your hands.
- A spade for digging in the soil.
- A hand rake to remove debris.
- A seeder to place seeds at the proper depth.
- Small pruning shears to trim flowers as needed.
- A watering can to keep plants hydrated.
Annuals vs. perennials
Annuals require planting each year. Sometimes seeds from blooms fall to the ground and sprout the next growing season, but the plants themselves don’t return. Perennials get planted once and continue to grow on their own each year without needing replanting. Choosing between the two categories is a matter of preference and what works in your region.
Best flowers to plant in spring
Outsidepride Zinnia Elegans Flower Seed Mix
This seed mix allows you to grow colorful zinnias that add plenty of personality to your yard. The flowers bloom in shades of orange, pink, red, purple, pink, salmon and white and establish themselves quickly, blooming all summer long. If you’re a fan of wildlife, these zinnias can also attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.
Sow Right Seeds Snapdragon Flower Seeds
These seeds can add lovely semi-dwarf snapdragon flowers with large, ruffled blooms in shades of white, yellow, pink, purple and red to your garden. The flowers work well in neatly arranged beds or in a wildflower style that can bring bees and butterflies to your yard.
Outsidepride Moonflower Plant Flower Seeds
If you prefer simple white blooms for your garden, these moonflower seeds are the perfect planting option this spring. Grown on a climbing vine, these flowers open at dusk and bloom throughout the night, providing a strong fragrance in your yard. They’re easy-to-grow and can be planted in nearly any good garden soil.
Dirt Goddess Love in a Mist Flower Seeds
With their dramatic blue flowers and fern-like foliage, Love in a Mist flowers are a lovely addition to any garden. These seeds are fortified with beneficial bacteria to promote healthy growth without any pesticides, fungicides or herbicides.
An ornamental perennial, foxglove grows well in late spring and in various soil types, including stony gardens. These seeds help you grow white, cream, rose and lavender blooms that can reach up to 60 inches. Like other springtime flowers, they can also draw butterflies, honeybees, bumblebees and ladybugs to your yard.
Outsidepride Cosmos Flower Seed Mix
This flower seed mix can be a perfect way to start if you’re new to gardening. Cosmos seeds are one of the easiest types to grow, only requiring scattering on freshly turned soil. The flowers can reach heights of 36 to 60 inches and bloom in white, purple and pink shades.
Outsidepride Marigold Flower Seed Mix
This seed mix makes it easy to grow classic marigolds in your garden, raised bed or container. They bloom quickly, attract bees and butterflies to your yard and can even help other plants in your garden by serving as a natural pest deterrent. The seeds are also non-GMO and germinate easily when kept moist and in full sun.
AeroGarden Cascading Petunia Seed Pod Kit
This comprehensive kit comes with six pods containing petunia seeds and Miracle-Gro plant food. It’s an excellent choice for growing flowers indoors.
Tacklife 6-Piece Garden Tool Set
This garden tool set comes with the items you need to prepare soil and plant seeds. You get two trowels, a weeder, a soil scoop, a cultivator, pruning shears and a handy tote to keep them organized.
Earthcare Seeds Fragrant Sweet Peas Seeds
These sweet pea seeds are another excellent option for new gardeners. The flowers grow quickly and easily, requiring just a few weeks to sprout and climbing up to 6 feet when fully grown. The seeds germinate as Royal Family Sweet Peas, which have large blooms in blue, red, purple and pink shades.
Seeds2Go Orange California Poppy Seeds
California poppies like these orange beauties thrive in sunny conditions. Approximately 20,000 seeds come in a resealable bag to keep them fresh for repeat planting.
This mixture contains more than 30,000 wildflower seeds that sprout blooms that attract butterflies, birds and bees. It includes 23 varieties.
Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Garden Soil for Flowers
Using this soil formulated for flowers helps your flowers stay healthy and produce gorgeous blooms. It protects delicate flower roots by allowing the right amount of water to reach them.
Black Duck Brand Set of 50 Flower Seed Packets
This is great for planting a garden full of different flowers because this set includes 50 seed packets and at least 15 varieties. Packets are sealed to maintain freshness until you are ready to plant them.
Burpee Morning Glory Heavenly Blue
Plant morning glories in the spring, and you can greet them in the morning all summer long. These seeds grow to produce bright blue blooms, a favorite color of those who love this vining flower.
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