Most gardeners do not worry about flower garden seeds until the late winter or early spring. In fact there are quite a few types of flower seeds that can be started in the fall when you may not have any gardening to do. Spring annuals, cool loving annuals, some perennials and biennials can all be started in the fall. These plants are a great way to fill out your garden when it starts to go to sleep in the fall. Sweet pea, sweet alyssum, candytuft and calendula are all cool loving annuals that can fill in holes in your garden as they grow quickly.
Garden flower seeds that are sown in the fall also tend to have a higher rate of germination then those sown in the late winter or spring. Some popular plants that can be started in the fall are the California poppy, California bluebell, blue woodruff, Mexican tulip poppy, calkia, snapdragon, bells of Ireland, scarlet sage, and love in the mist and more. Self-sowing annuals are very hardy plants and tend to be good plants to start in the fall as they can handle frosts.
Biennials, which are plants that have a life cycle of two years, in which the first year the leaves grow and then the second year the flowers bloom are perfect for early sowing in the fall or late summer. Biennials that can be started in the fall include the evening primrose, Sweet William, hollyhock, Canterbury bells, foxglove, and black-eyed susan. There are a few perennials that can also be started early such as some sunflowers, salvia species, columbine, and the purple coneflower.
When you are starting flower garden seeds then you may have to treat those seeds in order for them to germinate. However certain seeds will have specific procedures that may be different from other seeds. Most perennial flowers seeds need a cold season also called cold stratification, which mimics winter. You can leave your seeds outside in the autumn or use a cold frame. Many times seeds are also treated with scarification, which roughens the seed coat so the seed can absorb more water.
Flower garden seeds can be soaked in warm water until they begin to burst, but they should be planted very soon. The timing for this can be quite difficult if it is your first time. Some seeds, mainly for shrubs and woody trees, need an acid treatment to germinate. You don't need anything fancy, vinegar will work. Fire treatment has also been used but this is generally for forests and not flower gardens. With the proper pre-treatment you will not have a problem with any of your seeds.
Learn how to have a lush beautiful garden this year even if you've never planted flowers before! Visit http://www.backyard-garden-and-patio.com for more on gardening, growing flowers and flower garden seeds.
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