Easy Flowers from seed

[Scarlet]

I'm trying to grow a few more this year ( I will get 20 )
Have you got any favourites that are easy to grow from seed? I'm looking for something else to grow. I have some space in my prop I don't really want something that takes ages to germinate or needs molly coddling.

Photos are welcome!

[mcdood]

Have you tried some hardy annuals as opposed to the HHA. No prop no molly coddling no nowt. Just wait for it to warm up a bit and chuck some seeds at your soil

[nickdub]

A lot of the cheapo shops have cardboard boxes of mixed annual seeds say for butterflies or whatever for under £2 at the moment - that's what I'd go for (being mean).

[Scarlet]

I'm all for some hardy annuals - but which ones have you tried that are worth growing?
I've got cornflowers, ammi,scabious and Clary on the go.

Nick, I've a garden that is full of ground elder - throw and grow doesn't work that well for me. I have to start things in modules so that they get a head start before being engulfed by the ground elder. I have to dig out as much as I can before planting in my seedlings.....also I love rows of modules

[mcdood]

There were a few in the seed swap, I think I'll try NGs white peony poppy this year. I also like the look of Salvia Blue Monday that someone else put in
Now that I've looked at it most of what I grow is HHA.
I have recently grown Cerinthe and various calendula, sunflower, chysanth in a cut bed if you like that sort of thing.

[nickdub]

I'm all for some hardy annuals - but which ones have you tried that are worth growing?
I've got cornflowers, ammi,scabious and Clary on the go.

Nick, I've a garden that is full of ground elder - throw and grow doesn't work that well for me. I have to start things in modules so that they get a head start before being engulfed by the ground elder. I have to dig out as much as I can before planting in my seedlings.....also I love rows of modules

I'm in a similar state as far as throw and grow is concerned. When I did buy a box as described a few years ago, I filled all the spare modules I had with MPC - watered it - scattered the seed on the top - covered them in polythene until germination started - and planted out the modules in the normal way when the seedlings were about 6" high :-)

[toomanytommytoes]

Agastache is pretty easy to germinate, grows quickly and flowers well in the first year.

[Guest]

I am on a calendula fix this year. I have had art shades on the go for years and a patch of snow princess in the veg patch that has been going a few years. I don't recall thinking much of touch of buff, but this year I have coffee cream, greenheart, pink surprise, shertbet fizz and porcupine to try. If you haven't tried it yet don't forget your mallope that is nice and easy to grow and a nice bulk flower in the garden. Annual phlox is easy as well with some really pretty varieties such as creme brulee and cherry caramel although they are a touch too short for my liking/cut flowers. I think I love some of the variety names as much as the flowers.

[Babru]

I grew verbena rigida 'Intensity' last year, they were a beautiful blue, and flowered till the frosts. I've started mine off already, as I plan to have some in every pot I grow. I was looking for something that would go well with every one of the dahlias I'm growing and they fit the bill, both in colour and shape.

I stuck one pot in the greenhouse and the verbena is still alive, as they are half hardy perennials.

[Scarlet]

I may go back to the garden centre and treat myself I rarely buy seeds these days but the weather being so carp I've done little gardening! So sow seeds it is!

[mothhawk]

Cosmos gives a big return for a little effort. They are HHA so you do have to start the seeds under cover, but they germinate well, transplant well and flower until the first frosts. They grow tall but they are feathery leaved so don't dominate, and make great cut flowers too. I grow Purity (white) and Gazebo red (deep pink).

[bramble]

This year I am growing cosmos as well. There is a nice one called Millenium.i have sown the seeds already and they have germinated.
Zinnia is another one, I grew it last year, Whirlygig and Lilliput.
Also growing Nigella , Persian Jewel assorted.
Cornflowers, Polka Dot.
Tobacco plant, Sensation.
Other bits and pieces.
Giving up my potato space this year to grow flowers for a change.

[Babru]

Cosmos gives a big return for a little effort. They are HHA so you do have to start the seeds under cover, but they germinate well, transplant well and flower until the first frosts. They grow tall but they are feathery leaved so don't dominate, and make great cut flowers too. I grow Purity (white) and Gazebo red (deep pink).

I tried Dwarf Sensation last year as they are only 2 feet tall and I wanted them for a large planter. I found them to be just as good as the taller varieties.

There are some stunning cosmos varieties around.

[Scarlet]

I do grow cosmos and zinnia but I always start a bit later. I'll stick some in now.

I rummaged through the seed parcels and sown - Verbena ( muckdiver?) Libery Crimson Snap dragons from WPG - these are F1s so I'm looking forward to seeing what these look like. Also astrantia and Didiscus (WPG) something beginning with L ( it's easy but I can't remember! will update)
Blue Monday is already sown Mcdood. It's really not a fancy flower but the leaves are stunning and I used it lots indoors as a filler flower. They just kept going until the last frosts. Will be on my forever list as it's so easy.
Red boy and black ball cornflowers are in.
Also black scabious.
Poppy's I'll do later - not touched any borders yet and now they are too waterlogged for anything much.

[Scarlet]

Larkspur - the one beginning with L!
Tithonia from NG - maybe last year?
Tobacco plant - From Workslave.

My aide memoire