What easy to grow flower seeds can be planted now (indoors?)

As I'm new to growing plants from seed my only successes so far are Sweet Peas (very easy, quick to germinate). So far no luck with Petunias or Polyanthus (I know they can take a few weeks to germinate and can be a pain, plus I only planted them about 10 days ago) and my Nasturtiums were only planted 4 days ago so, understandably, no germination as of yet.

What flower seeds are easy to grow and can be planted now (indoors for later transplanting outdoors?), germinate relatively fast and produce nice blooms through at least the summer?

Thanks

 

Hi @TheMadHedger cant beat all varieties of Cosmos I love them
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=c...X&ved=0ahUKEwjRncSDsJbMAhXG7D4KHV-2Dl4QsAQIGw easy to obtain from Wilkos, Morrisons etc also packed with nectar SO VERY buzzy and flutterby friendy ,cheap cheery and flower right up till first frosts .... only problem i have is deciding which varieties to grow so usually end up with ALL of them

 

Many thanks for the great suggestions, looks like I have a lovely selection to choose from.

BTW, how good are Cosmos at dealing with wind? I ask as I see that they grow pretty tall. I live in a fairly exposed and windy location and they will be planted in an exposed west facing bed and also one bed that is south facing. Because of this I'm only concentrating on those which grow up to three feet tall (at the maximum) and also looking at some of the shorter ones.

Having said that, my Anemones (in the west facing bed) grow very tall (at least three feet) and they survive some very strong winds, so are Cosmos as strong as Anemones?

 

As an addendum to this thread (and in addition to my Cosmos queries above regarding wind tolerance) what seeds for ground cover plants can be planted now (indoors) which also germinate very quickly and easily? Alternatively anything that grows no higher than maybe 8 inches.

And one addendum to my queries in general, I have dogs so any plants must not be toxic (Cosmos are fine for example).

Thanks

 

I think I will take the advice here for myself as well . Are Impatiens easy to grow from seed?

 

Hey @TheMadHedger was my first year growing from seed last year (tried all sorts), petunia done nothing for me and from other peoples experience are not worth the bother/soil.. I have found out lobelia are not worth my time either (this year) so will buy when they're in the shops.

However last year I found livingstone daisy (started indoors), candy tuft, nigella and alyssum are good ground cover and the latter 3 was direct sown outdoors (depending on wind for you, I'm sure) and grew brilliantly, some even self seeded into the patio cracks!

The others @JWK mentioned (esp zinnia and cornflower, piece of p*ss) and definitely @BeeHappy 's suggestion of cosmos (mine seemed fine with wind..they did bend towards the end of summer though.) Not sure if its too late now (someone please correct me) but hollyhocks, lupin, dahlia, marigolds and delphiniums are easy to start from seed too.

If you find you haven't got the patience to wait for them to germinate, get a bag of begonia corms and start them off inside instead, a tleast you know you wont be disappointed and will def have flowers. 50p has run out..

@Sandra-Tingle you posted as I was typing, impatiens are fiddly I found and again not worth bother but have a go don't want to put you off, it might just be my brown fingers!

 

@TheMadHedger .

• Nasturtiums should germinate
• Zinnia very quick germination less than a week
• Phlox is quick
• Marigolds are reliable

It may seem obvious , but follow the instructions on the packet . Especially the temperature . You will not achieve 18-20°c outside . Its still windowsill time

PS : Thunbergia , Black Eyed Susans . Germinate and grow quickly - lovely small climber .

 

Thanks again for the helpful replies.

 

+ Sweet William, I save seeds from mine so they work out really cheap.

 

Californian poppies are as easy to grow as well as a great display...I am just unsure whether they want planting now

 

Are you looking for annuals or perennials?

Both have a short period of viability (shelf life). As far as Polyanthus goes it really should be sown in situ as they need a period of winter cold and wet to trigger germination.

Impatiens are easy. I use the paper towel method.

If the seed is still viable Lobelia (annual or perennial) are easy. Another one with a limited shelf life.

Best sown in situ they can be started just about any time of the year.

 

@longk - Annuals or Perennials, I'm not worried.

Ta for the tip regarding Polyanthus. Perhaps I should sow some directly into the ground late Autumn?

 

Ok. So annual wise now is a good time for Nicotiania sylvestris...............




Perennials;
Salvia dolichantha..............




Many other Salvia species as well.

Sow any time but they won't really start germinating until next spring.

 

Every yr ive grown them they have stood up to the winds and my gardens a wind tunnel,im doing dwarf ones this yr for a change but thats only because im trying other annuals too,also helichrysum paper flower stands well in the wind