Gather a few seed packets of these summer-blooming flowers and get started this weekend.
Gather a few seed packets of thesesummer-blooming flowersand get started this weekend.
The seeds germinate in about 10 days, with some varieties blooming as early as 10 weeks after planting.
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
The stalks may require staking as they grow tall and top-heavy.
Cut sunflowers for seasonal arrangements or let the flower heads dry and collect the seeds.
Zinnias come in a profusion of colors and sizes and will also attract butterflies and birds to your garden.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
Plant the seeds in moist garden soil after all danger of frost has passed.
Pinching and deadheading will encourage more blooms.
The seedlings appear in one to two weeks, followed by flowers in 70-80 days.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
Older varieties self-seed with abandon, saving you the trouble of planting more seeds next year.
Sow them in well-drained soil, where they will sprout quickly in warm weather.
The vivid, ruffled flowers should appear in about eight weeks.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
These tough, drought-tolerant plants will bloom all summer until the first frost.
Pinch off spent blooms to encourage more flowering.
Nasturtiums
Get moving on this classic flowerthey prefer cooler temperatures and will wither in peak summer heat.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Plant easy-to-grow nasturtiums in hanging baskets orflower boxesin sandy, well-drained soil.
Coax the seeds into sprouting faster by soaking them in water overnight before planting.
They will germinate in a week and bloom 8-12 weeks later.
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Snip the flowers and use them as a peppery garnish on salads.
Cosmos
Colorful cosmostake 8-14 weeks to develop from seed to flower, attracting both birds and butterflies.
Press or rake the seeds in well-drained, weed-free soil and water lightly until established.
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Then let the rain do all the work, sit back, and enjoy the show.
Some find morning glory a nuisance, as it reseeds easily and the seeds are toxic.
This nostalgic flower shouldn’t be planted around grazing animals or curious pets.
Credit: Alison Miksch
Blanket Flower
This native plant thrives in the heat and salt air of coastal areas.
Give low-maintenance blanket flowers good drainage, and that’s about all you’ll have to do.
Gaillardia takes about three months to bloom after sowing seeds.
Credit: Ralph Lee Anderson
Once established, blanket flower needs little intervention or care.
Be very generous in the amount of seeds you sow for more likelihood of success.
In 12 weeks, you’ll be admiring globe amaranth blooms in your garden.
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