This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Autumn Sown Hardy Annuals
Amy Lathwell
Posts: 102
in Plants
Hello
I'm a complete beginner at this gardening lark! We have only just moved into our first house to have a garden as previously lived in flats.
I'd like to sow some hardy annuals specifically to bloom in June for my friends wedding and need all the help I can get!
I do not have a greenhouse but could get one of those small pvc covered ones.
Any advice welcome in terms of easy to grow flowers and what to do...i.e can i just sow the seeds into the ground and leave them? Do I need to protect them from frost? Which flowers do best in tubs and which do best in the gound?
I have a lot to learn! 
0
Posts
Hi Amy,
If they are hardy annuals you can just sow them into the ground, following the instructions on the packet around September time.
I sowed these last autumn and they were flowering in June although that might be because the winter was mild. Think they are Candytuft.
I lost track of your wedding thread but I was going to suggest alliums as well. From bulbs planted last autumn I had Mont Blanc, Mount Everest, Neopolitan and Globemaster flowering in June.
Hi Amy. Welcome to gardening! I have sown some hardy annuals in pots and intend to keep them in my small PVC covered greenhouse over the winter to plant out in spring. I think they'll get off to a better start and will flower sooner. They might do okay sown directly in the ground now but we don't know what the winter will be like. I haven't had much success from direct sowing them, but my garden is very shady. Maybe sow half direct, and grow some under cover for insurance? Check that they are hardy annuals. If the packet promises they will flower in June I would definitely keep some under cover because that really depends on spring being nice and warm . Sweet peas might be nice for your friend's wedding - lots of lovely varieties to choose from and if you sow those now and keep them under cover they will definitely get off to an earlier start next year and should be flowering in time for the wedding...assuming we have a warm spring. Best sown in long-ish pots. Toilet roll tubes are ideal as you can plant them direct in the soil, pot and all. Or make paper pots. Sweet peas don't like root disturbance and their roots will find their way through damp card or paper once you plant them out in spring. You can also buy plastic "root-trainer" pots quite cheaply. June can be a bit tricky for flowers - lots of spring flowers will have gone over by then. Whatever hardy annuals you choose, sow far more than you think you will need - especially if you sow outdoors. You can always thin out excess seedlings, but germination can be tricky and you will inevitably lose some to pests/ bad weather/ no apparent reason as they grow. If I get half of the plants I sow to become happy, healthy plants I am really pleased! Alliums is a good idea and now is a good time to get the bulbs. Those can go in the ground now and will pop up next spring. Wilkos is a good place for cheap gardening stuff. If you are looking for Alliums, worth having a look online for bargains. Good luck!
I've just received my copy of Garden News through the post (Sept 6 issue) and it has a feature on sowing hardy annuals that might be helpful.
Hi both - thank you so much! I love Alliums so will go and get some bulbs. Those candytufts look nice too Victoria.
I think I may need to invest in a little pvc greenhouse like yours GinglyGangly!
go for it. I've always got stuff in mine (and on every sunny windowsill!)
Thanks hollie hock
It was more luck than judgement I'm afraid especially as I didn't thin them out. They were all over by July.