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Annuals
quickly provide more colour in the landscape for longer
periods of time than any other garden plants. They are versatile,
sturdy and inexpensive.
GROWTH RATE
True annuals sprout from seed, flower, set seed and die
within one season. Many flowers that are not hardy such
as begonias, impatiens and geraniums are also grown as annuals.
Biennials complete their life cycle in two growing seasons.
A practical definition of annuals could be plants that must
be replaced every year in the garden.
Annuals are commonly grouped as hardy,
half-hardy or tender. Hardy annuals — such as pansies
and ornamental kale — are grown for color in cool
and cold seasons. They are usually planted in the fall.
Most decline with the onset of summer heat.
Half-hardy annuals —such as
allysum and dianthus —can tolerate light frost and
are usually planted in early spring for spring and early
summer color. They usually decline in summer heat but may
bloom again in the fall.
Tender annuals — such as vinca,
zinnia and impatiens — cannot tolerate freezing temperatures.
They should be planted in the spring after all danger of
frost is past.
Serious
gardeners plant perennials not annuals, right? Well,
yes and no. They plant perennials for beauty that
returns from one year to the next, but they also indulge
in annuals to bring season-long colour to the garden.
Annuals
fill in bare spaces between newly planted perennials
and provide continuous colour to augment the shorter
bloom-times of most perennials. They supply flowers
and foliage for containers, temporary camouflage on
fences and arbors, and an unending supply of flowers
in cutting gardens.
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The
easiest annuals grow successfully from seeds you sow
directly in the garden. Some, like bachelor's buttons
and Shirley poppies, prefer the cool soil and temperatures
of early spring, but most germinate best when you
sow them in warm soil, after all danger of frost has
passed. Try the following five flowers easily grown
from seed sown in warm garden soil. |
Cosmos
(Cosmos bipinnatus, C. sulphureus)
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With
gracefully filigreed foliage and pert flowers, cosmos
belong in every garden. Plants grow from 12 inches
to 4 feet tall, depending on the cultivar, so you
can find a size suitable to a wide variety of uses
and spaces, including containers. Sow seeds in full
sun in rows in a cutting garden, in groups or scattered
among tall perennials in a border, or in empty spaces
in a container after you set in transplants of other
annuals. Stake tall cosmos in a cutting garden; in
a border, you can let them bend and drape gracefully
in the background. Fertilize once or twice during
the season if you cut flowers often for arrangements.
Cosmos is fairly drought-tolerant.
Uses and Combinations: In a cutting
garden, of course. Mix them with perennials or roses
for an old-fashioned cottage garden design. Taller
sorts belong at the back of the garden; shorter cosmos
make excellent edging plants. Cosmos combines well
in containers with lobelia, geraniums, poppies, Shasta
daisies, and blue salvia. |
French
Marigold
(Tagetes patula)
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Small-flowered
and shorter than the African or American marigolds
(T. erecta), French marigolds bear single or double
blooms in bright yellow, orange, red, and combinations.
Sow seeds thinly and when germinated, space seedlings
6 to 8 inches apart in any good garden soil in full
sun. Pinch the growing tips of young plants to encourage
bushy, compact growth. French marigolds bloom in 45
to 50 days from sowing; remove faded blooms to promote
the production of more flowers. Fertilize midway through
the season. Marigolds are fairly drought tolerant;
they need supplemental water only in severe dry spells.
Uses and Combinations: Edge beds
and borders; they combine particularly well with dwarf
daylilies, coreopsis, and yarrow. Plant along with
tomatoes in the vegetable garden to repel root nematodes.
Grow in containers and window boxes with salvias (red
or blue), vinca, and nasturtiums. |
Morning
Glory
(Ipomoea nil, I. purpurea [I. tricolor], I. alba)
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The
twining stems of morning glories cover an arbor or
fence with masses of heart-shaped leaves and beautiful
flowers, each of which lasts for one day. The range
of colors includes blue, such as classic 'Heavenly
Blue', red, pink, and lavender, often combined with
contrasting or deeper markings. For large, pure white,
fragrant blooms, try the morning glory's relative,
moonflower (I. alba), which begins to open at dusk.
For best and fastest germination, before sowing seeds
outdoors, soak them overnight in a damp paper towel;
then, if you want, knick the rounded end lightly with
a nail file or scissors. That is the only tricky part
to growing morning glories. Use a sturdy support for
the plants, which can become quite heavy as they quickly
climb skyward to a height of 10 or more feet. You
do not need to fertilize or provide extra water during
the season. Plants flower in full or part sun.
Uses and Combinations: Sow morning
glories and moonflowers on the same trellis or arbor
for morning to evening color. Camouflage an unattractive
cyclone or stockade fence: stems will climb naturally
up cyclone fencing; use twine or monofilament fishing
line on wooden fences. |
Sunflower
(Helianthus
annuus and hybrids)
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Sunflowers are great fun for kids to plant, and,
of course, the birds will love you for providing
them with one of their favorite foods. Flowers come
in a range of colours, from white and orange to
claret-red, bronze, and bicolours. The large seeds
are easy to handle; thin seedlings to stand 2 to
4 feet apart, depending on the cultivar. Tall sunflowers
grow 4 to 6 feet tall; dwarf sunflowers maintain
a more manageable height for smaller gardens of
2 to 3 feet. They love heat and tolerate drought.
Flower heads turn to follow the arc of the sun.
If you want to keep the seeds to feed birds in winter,
cover the seed heads with mesh as they ripen.
Uses and Combinations: Use at the
back of a border, group for a screen or plant as
a hedge, or as cut flowers. Dwarf varieties take
well to large containers, where they do best on
their own, although you can combine them with ornamental
grasses, such as pennisetum or blue oat grass, and
black-eyed Susans and marigolds.
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Zinnia
(Zinnia angustifolia, Z. elegans, and numerous
hybrids)
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Traditional
and old-fashioned, zinnias produce flowers nonstop
all season. Sow seeds in the border thinly because
germination rates are high and plants grow better
when not crowded. Fertilize at least once a month
and water frequently unless nature provides rain.
Avoid getting water on the foliage; that promotes
mildew, although many newer hybrids are mildew resistant.
Zinnias need a site in full sun, except in the hotter
regions of the south and southwest, where they appreciate
some midday and late afternoon shade. They are not
fussy about soil, as long as it drains well.
Uses and Combinations: Zinnias practically
define 'cut flowers' because the more you cut, the
more you get from July to frost. Stake tall zinnias
in a cutting garden. Use shorter zinnias to edge a
bed ('Profusion White', 'Cherry' and 'Orange' create
flower mounds around a garden) and in containers.
Combine plants with other annuals such as blue salvia,
bachelor's buttons, marigolds, and silver-leaved dusty
miller, as well as perennials from Shasta daisies
and helenium to Russian sage, black-eyed Susan, and
pennisetum. Z. angustifolia makes an excellent ground
cover. |
Frost-Tolerant
Annuals
Centaurea
Dianthus
Dracaena
Dusty Miller
Kale
Pansy
Petunia
Snapdragon
Viola |
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Frost-Sensitive
Annuals
Ageratum
Amaranthus
Begonia
Dahlia
Gazania
Geranium
Impatiens
Lantana
Lavatera
Marigold
Portulaca
Statice
Strawflower
Verbena
Zinnia |
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SEEDS
NEEDING LIGHT
(These
seeds need to be sown on the surface of the soil)
Annuals
Alyssum
Begonias
Celosia
Cosmos
Impatiens
Lobelia
Nicotiana
Petunias
Snapdragon
Verbena
Zinnia
SEEDS
NEEDING SCARIFICATION
(These seeds
have a tough seed coat. Large seeds can be nicked
with a file, small seeds can be lightly sanded between
two sheets of sandpaper)
Annuals
Castor
Bean
Morning Glory
Sweet Pea
SEEDS
REQUIRING BOTTOM HEAT
(Place seed flat
on top of fridge, or place on a heating pad)
Annuals Vegetables and Herbs
Petunia
Nicotiana
Castor Bean
Geranium
Gazania
Tomato
Cucumber
Eggplant
Peppers
Basil
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| BACHELOR'S
BUTTON, CORNFLOWER (Centaurea cyanus) Full
Sun Hardy Annual 10"-3' Deadhead; drought-tolerant;
does not transplant well, sow directly in ground.
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| BLACK-EYED
SUSAN VINE (Thunbergia Alata) Full to Part
Sun Garden Annual; perennial above 45° Twining climber
to 8' Prefers fertile, moist soil. |
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| BLANKET
FLOWER (Gaillardia pulchella) Full Sun Tender
Annual 14"-36" Looks best in mass plantings
or wildflower meadows; prefers sandy soil; drought &
heat tolerant; deadhead. |
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| COCKSCOMB
(Celosia cristata) Full Sun Half-hardy Annual 6"-30"
Prefers moist, fertile soil; excellent dried flower.
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| COSMOS
Full Sun Half-hardy Annual 1'-5' Deadhead; prefers moderately
fertile to poor soil; rich soil will encourage lush
foliage at expense of flowers; heat & drought tolerant.
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| FAIRY
FAN FLOWER (Scaevola aemula) Full Sun to Part
Shade Garden Annual; perennial above 41° 6"
Prefers moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained
soil. |
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| FLOSS
FLOWER (Ageratum) Full Sun to Part Sun Annual
6"-18" Deadhead for more blooms; heat &
drought tolerant. |
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| GAZANIA
(Gazania ringens) Full Sun Annual; Perennial
in Zones 9-10 8"-12" Blooms close at night;
thrives in hot, dry conditions; requires little maintenance.
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GERANIUM
(Pelargonium spp.) Full Sun Tender Annual; perennial
above 36°. 10"-18" Deadhead; keep over
winter as houseplant. |
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| HELIOTROPE
Full Sun Tender Annual 8"-18" Fragrant; prefers
rich soil, requires little care. |
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| ICE
PLANT, LIVINGSTONE DAISY (Dorotheanthus) Full
Sun Annual 4"-6" Deadhead; prefers poor, sandy
soil. |
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IMPATIENS Part Sun to Shade Tender Annual 8"-20"
Prefers evenly moist soil. |
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| LANTANA
Full to Part Sun Annual; Perennial above 50° 18"-3'
Long blooming season; drought tolerant. |
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| MALLOW
'PINK QUEEN' (Malope trifida 'Pink Queen')
Full to Part Sun Annual 3' Flowers best where summers
are cool, but tolerates heat & dry soil. |
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| MARIGOLD
(Tagetes spp.) Full Sun Half-hardy annual 8"-36"
Deadhead; tolerates heat & drought. |
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MEXICAN HEATHER (Cuphea Allyson) Full to Part
Sun Annual; Perennial Zones 10-11 18"-24"
Blooms best in full sun; heat tolerant; good container
plant. |
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| MORNING
GLORY (Ipomoea spp.) Full Sun Annual; Perennial
in Zone 10 Vine up to 20' Prefers full sun and average,
well-drained soil. |
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| NIEREMBERGIA
(Nierembergia hippomanica) Full to Part Sun Tender Annual
6"-12" Prefers sheltered location with/full
or partial sun & moist, well-drained soil. |
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| OSTEOPERMUM
Full Sun Annual; Perennial in Zones 10-11 4"-24"
Deadhead daisy-like flowers; prefers moderately fertile,
well-drained soil. |
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| PETUNIA
Full Sun Tender Annual 12"-15" Deadhead; prefers
rich, sandy soil |
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PERIWINKLE, VINCA (Catharanthus roseus) Full
to Part Sun Tender Annual 4"-15" Drought tolerant;
prefers well-drained, sandy soil. |
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| PHLOX
(Phlox drummondii) Full Sun Hardy Annual 6"-18"
Deadhead; thrives in rich, well-drained soil; give extra
water in dry periods. |
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| PORTULACA
(Portulaca grandiflora) Full Sun Hardy Annual 6"
Succulent, ideal for rock gardens & desert like
patches; prefers sandy, hot, dry locations in full sun.
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| SALVIA
Full Sun to Part Sun Annual 10'-30" Prefers rich
soil in full sun; drought tolerant, but fares better
with/regular watering during prolonged dry periods.
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STRAWFLOWER
(Bracteantha or Helichrysum bracteatum) Full
Sun Tender Annual 14"-36" Prefers well-drained,
sandy soil; tolerates hot, dry conditions. |
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| SWEET
ALYSSUM (Lobularia maritima) Full to Part Sun
Hardy Annual 3"-6" Self-sows; shear plants
back for fresh blooms if flowering slows in heat of
summer. |
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VERBENA
Full Sun Half-Hardy Annual 6"-4' Prefers rich,
sandy soil; do not over water; deadhead. |
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WAX BEGONIA (Begonia semperflorens-cultorum)
Full Sun to Shade Tender Annual 6"-12" Performs
well in sun or shade; tolerates variety of soil conditions,
but prefers rich, well-drained soil. |
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| ZINNIA
Full Sun Tender Annual 6"-36" Deadhead; tolerates
wide variety of soil conditions. |
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For
Hanging Baskets
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- BACOPA
- BEGONIA
- CALIBRACHOA
- COLEUS
- FUCHSIA
- GERANIUM,
IVY
- IMPATIENS
- SCAEVOLA
- SUPERTUNIAS
- VERBENA
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Selection
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Introduce
your self to the new varieties of annuals each
spring. Look for shade tolerant annuals for shady
locations and sun loving annuals for hot, sunny
locations. De decide where you require color in
your yard for the months of May to September.
. For the best success choose vigorously growing
plants that are dark green, short in height, and
just about to bloom. |
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Preparation
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Prepare
flower beds by spading the soil deeply. Break
the soil into small clods. Loosen heavy clay-loam
soils by adding peat moss, sand, and/or well-rotted
compost. Do not work your flower beds when the
soil is wet. Add all purpose fertilizer to the
flower bed and turn the soil over again. Now rake
the soil smooth and it is ready for planting. |
Pre-Planting
Care
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Store
bedding-out plants that can not be planted the
same day they are purchased in a shady location.
Water the packs or flats well to prevent wilting. |
Transplanting
Bedding Plants
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The
best time to plant annuals is on evenings or cloudy
days when it is cooler outside. If planting on
warm, sunny days make sure that annuals are watered
immediately. Apply Kick Start which supplies nutrients
as well as a rooting hormone to stimulate rooting.
Individually packaged annuals are easy to remove
from their packs for planting. If plants are not
individually planted, gently separate one plant
from another, keeping as much of the root ball
together as possible. In either case plant the
root ball just below the soil line. If annuals
are planted in peat pots plant the peat pot below
the soil line to prevent the pot and the root
system from drying out due to air exposure. Be
sure to leave adequate room for annuals to develop. |
Watering
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Water
freshly planted annual bedding-out plants thoroughly
to give them a good start. Thereafter water when
the soil surface dries out. It is best to water
early in the day and to keep plant foliage as
dry as possible by watering at ground level. Water
droplets that remain on the foliage overnight
encourage plant diseases to develop. Do not rely
on rain to water your annuals sufficiently. It
is important to observe the condition of your
annuals often to ensure continued growth and satisfaction. |
| Post-Planting
Care |
In
order to induce continual vigorous growth, blooming,
and bushiness; pinch out the terminal growth buds
on tall lanky annuals. Fertilize your annuals
every three to four weeks with an all purpose,
water soluble fertilizer such as Schultz (20-30-20).
Encourage repeat blooming by removing dead flowers
(dead heading). |
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A
Few Tips
* Cover seeds
with enough soil to protect them from wind and
wildlife: 1/4 to 1/2 inch, or 2 to 3 times their
thickness.
* Water the seedbed
to keep it evenly moist until the seeds germinate.
* Thin seedlings
to the correct mature plant spacing (seed packets
provide this information) when they grow 1 to
2 inches tall. Gently pull them up and transplant
the thinned seedlings to other parts of the
garden, or snip the stems off at the soil surface.
* Mulch plants
(when they are tall enough so you won't bury
them!) to prevent weeds and to conserve soil
moisture. Spread mulch 2 to 3 inches deep.
* Pinch off the
growing tips of some annuals, such as basil,
marigolds, and strawflowers, to promote bushy,
compact growth.
* Water plants
near the soil surface not from overhead, whenever
possible.
* Check container
plants often in hot, dry weather, when you may
need to water once or twice a day.
* Fertilize most
annuals at least once during the growing season;
midway through gives them the boost they need
to perform beautifully until frost.
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