Seeds Direct Sowing - what's best ?

The son in law and his girlfriend are moving into a new house next week . They would like the garden to put on a bit of a display . I will be donating as many plants as I can , but what are the best flower seeds to direct sow . By best I mean reliable seeds which will put on a long lasting show I very rarely direct sow , as I am never to sure what is happening !

TIA

 

Cosmos are good do'ers,Nigella and calendula also

 

Californian poppy did well for me too last year, flowers are sturdier than they look.

 

Nasturtiums - just stick them in and away they go!

 

Limnanthes douglassi - poached egg flower, the insects love them, and Phacelia.
Years ago I sowed Godetia, they were good.

 

Iberis (Candytuft) do really well for me.

 

In addition to the Eschscholzia and Nigella I would add Cerinthe,

 

Getting a nice little list together. I'll summarise it in a couple of days when all the posts are in . Thanks all so far !

 

I've been direct sowing some Virginia stock, nasturtiums and convolvulus major recently.
In the past I have had great success (in a stand-back-scatter-fingers-crossed approach) with cosmos (May sowing), love in a mist, cornflowers and oriental poppies.

PS and sunflowers (and a couple of seed packets of "wild flower mix" )

 

Thanks all for your valuable input I have compiled the above posts into the GC definitive list of direct sowing seeds ! I don't know at least a third off these so I will learn quite a bit. I'll peruse this list over the next week and then pay Premier Seeds a visit ! She will be made up with half a dozen seed packets from this list for their new house.

Calendula

Californian poppy

Cerinthe

Convolvulus major

Cosmos

Godetia

Iberis (Candytuft)

Limnanthes douglassi

Love in a mist

Nasturtiums

Oriental poppies.

Phacelia

Sunflowers

Virginia stock

Wild flower mix

These are all perennials or biennials : Thanks Longk

Digitalis purpurea -sow where you want them to flower.

The next three are ideal for sowing and growing in seed beds if you have the space;
Alliums
Fritillary
Lily

 

Californian poppy
=
Eschscholzia


Love in a mist
=
Nigella

Hope that helps a little

 

Thanks for the update Sian
Ahem , Sian has spotted my two deliberate mistakes off doubling up plant names with common names
Eschscholzia ! Who the heck can pronounce that , sounds like a skin complaint Now Californian Poppy sounds a lot more dreamy .......

 

I'll add a few more now that you've done that

These are all perennials or biennials;

Digitalis purpurea -sow where you want them to flower.

The next three are ideal for sowing and growing in seed beds if you have the space;
Alliums
Fritillary
Lily

 

Cheers FC but at the moment I am submerged in seeds and seedlings
And thanks Longk for the perennial direct sow list . Double thanks that I actually know them and can pronounce them