General recommendations for planting flower seedlings. Flowering annuals: sowing and growing

There are a great variety of beautifully flowering annuals. They are grown in two ways - direct sowing in the ground or through seedlings. Choose which option you like best.

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On the picture:

A border of flowering zinnias can be created by direct sowing the seeds into the ground.

Sowing in open ground

Growing annuals in this way can be started both in autumn and spring.

Autumn sowing

Early flowering. Summer plants sown in the ground on the eve of winter bloom next year a week earlier than when grown as seedlings.

What annuals can be sown in the fall: alyssum, summer aster, cornflower, viscaria, Ajax delphinium, goldenflower, iberis, coreopsis, kochia, cosmos, poppies, gillyflower, calendula, tobacco, summer chrysanthemum, eschscholzia.

Soil preparation. The beds for sowing are prepared in September, then, with the onset of frost, seeds are sown in pre-made grooves. They are covered with a mixture of soil and sand or peat on top. It is important that the ridges are covered with snow in winter.

Weeding and thinning. The first thinning and weeding is carried out in the spring, after the appearance of one or two leaves. During subsequent thinning, the gaps necessary for their normal development are left between plants.

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On the picture:

Iberis grown from seeds by sowing in the ground in the fall.

Spring sowing

As soon as the weather permits. In spring, growing annuals by sowing in open ground begins in late April-early May.

Which annuals can be sown in spring: calendula, asters, nasturtium, eschscholzia, clarkia, cornflower, gypsophila, cosmos, lavatera, godetia, nigella, ornamental cereals and other types.

Soil preparation. A place for them is prepared in the fall or in April. Humus, compost and complex fertilizers are scattered over the surface of the site. mineral fertilizers(20-30 g/m2), carefully dig up the soil, choosing weeds. The surface is leveled with a rake and furrows are made.

Sowing and care. Sow thickly; in the phase of appearance of one or two true leaves, excess seedlings are removed or planted.

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On the picture:

Paniculata amaranth is not difficult to grow by direct sowing the seeds into the ground in early June, when the threat of frost has passed.

Annuals from seedlings

Seedlings of annuals allow you to achieve earlier flowering than spring sowing in open ground.

When to plant annuals for seedlings? Depends on the type of plant. To grow Shabot carnations, seeds for seedlings need to be sown in January. In February it’s the turn of salvia and lobelia. In March, most annuals are sown: aster, ageratum, gillyflower, lobularia, snapdragon, petunia, fragrant tobacco, etc. Marigolds, zinnia, sweet pea, nasturtium can be sown in April.

The soil. Annual seedlings need a loose and nutritious substrate, consisting of 3/4 turf soil and 1/4 humus with the addition of sand. For aster, ageratum, gillyflower, snapdragon, petunia, tobacco, a mixture of turf soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 3:1:1 is suitable, since they are susceptible to the “blackleg” disease.

Sowing and germination. Seeds (with the exception of large ones) are mixed with sand and scattered evenly over the surface; very small seeds are not covered with earth, but covered with glass or film. With the emergence of seedlings, the trays are placed in the brightest place. Most of seeds germinate at a temperature of 18-20°C.

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On the picture:

Marigolds and decorative sunflowers grown by seedlings bloom faster.

Picking and watering. When the first true leaf appears, the seedlings are planted into separate pots and cassettes. Seedlings of ageratum, aster, marigold, verbena, carnation, gillyflower, snapdragon, petunia, phlox, chrysanthemum, zinnia are watered rarely, preferably in the morning. Dahlia, sweet pea, lobelia, mirabella, nasturtium, sweet tobacco, and sage prefer moist soil.

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On the picture:

Cineraria marine seedlings grown in cassettes.

Planting seedlings in the ground

Annuals grown in cassettes and pots in open ground depend on whether they are heat-loving or cold-hardy.

Cold-hardy annuals. Sweet peas, Chabot cloves and gillyflower are planted in open ground before everyone else (at the beginning of May). These crops tolerate frosts down to -5 °C. They are planted at intervals of 20-25 cm in a row. The holes are shed generously and after planting they are sprinkled with dry soil. Seedlings of aster, gaillardia, coreopsis, lobelia, lobularia, nemesia, statice, and chrysanthemum are planted in mid-May.

Warm-loving annuals. Seedlings of ageratum, marigolds, aromatic tobacco, petunias, zinnias and salvias are planted in open ground when the danger of late frosts has passed. Two weeks before planting, the seedlings are hardened off - accustomed to open air. The distance between tobacco plants is 50-70 cm, for other crops - 20-30 cm.

​Similar articles​

​My question is that I, as a novice gardener, searching on many sites about sowing flowers with seeds in open ground before winter, find the same small list. But there are so many varieties!!! So I would like to know if anyone has this extended list? Share your experience of planting in the ground before winter. I really don’t want to set up a vegetable garden in my house! With respect to you! I'm looking forward to your answer!​

​(for example, too high temperature and humidity).​

What are “annual plants”, “conditionally annual”, “perennial as an annual”.

Secrets of proper cultivation of annual plants

​pinnate​

​Marigolds upright

Choosing a place to plant annuals

​When the first 2-4 leaves appear on the seedlings, it must be pruned. Be sure to harden off annual seedlings before transplanting them “outside.” Transplanting seedlings into open ground usually begins in early May (depending on the region of your residence, the timing may shift in one direction or another). At the beginning of May, plants that are at least relatively resistant to frost are usually planted - for example, sweet peas or lobelia.

​Despite the fact that everyone treats annuals differently, when spring comes, almost everyone plants them, and therefore they head to the stores for annual flower seeds, each time hoping that this year the plot will sparkle with bright colors.​

​Flowers planted before winter will have good growth, resistance to disease and weather conditions. Also, by sowing seeds before winter, you free up time in the spring. And that’s when he’s missing. I haven't seen your list, I'll give you mine. If you have other plants, please share with us. Annuals: marigolds; cornflower; mignonette; cosmos; nasturtium; amaranth; delphinium; matthiola. Poppy, summer adonis, sea alyssum, Chinese aster, Chinese carnation, godetia grandiflora. Iberis bitters and umbelliferae, calendula officinalis, clarkia marigold, lavatera three months. Lobularia marine, snapdragon, malcolmia maritima, matthiola bicornuum, fragrant mignonette, Drummond phlox, chrysanthemum.​

​Most often, hyacinths are affected by bacterial rot, due to which the bulbs eventually turn into mucus with unpleasant smell. Unfortunately, it is pointless to fight this problem. Therefore, they should simply be dug up and burned, and the hole where the plants were planted should be etched with bleach or a 5% formaldehyde solution.​

​By the way, landscape design on a slope with hyacinths it will look very interesting, especially if you combine flowers with other plants and decorative elements.​

Preparing the soil for annuals

Growing annual seedlings

Planting annuals directly in the ground

How to plant annuals - methods

​Annual plants with fast life cycle planted directly in open ground. The same applies to those plants that either do not tolerate transplantation well or do not tolerate it at all.​

​Many people succeed in this, many spend the whole summer caring for them and curse themselves for getting involved, and the gardener’s experience here is far from main indicator success - after all, a big role is also played by the weather conditions that have developed during the season and, of course, the quality of the seeds, which, unfortunately in Russia, frankly speaking, is unimportant, since honesty and decency are not held in high esteem by many seed producers.​

Biennials: daisy; forget-me-not; Turkish cloves; Viola.​

​Unfortunately, it will be possible to plant hyacinths in this place only after a few years.​

It is important to prepare the soil for hyacinths in advance, and it is advisable to begin work several months before planting.

​VII-X​

Planting dates and flowering times of annual flowers - table

​15​	​IV​	​IV​	​Planting of annual seeds in open ground begins at the end of April, but if the annual plant is poorly frost-resistant (for example, bean liana or nasturtium), then wait until the first weeks of May, and sometimes even the middle of May.​	​So the situation is when in the picture there is a plant with flowers the size of a good apple, in practice it throws out flowers that are hardly more matchbox quite often, and the reason for this is the notorious Photoshop and the opinion - if only they bought it. The seed producer simply enlarges the picture of the flower, and at the same time embellishes it, and we, having not received the result for which we bought the seeds, then curse ourselves and give anti-advertising of the variety and type of plant to our neighbors in our summer cottage.​	​Perennials: bellflower; primrose; carnation; aster; lumbago; aquilegia. Lavender, aconite, alpine arabis, buzulnik, gaillardia, heuchera, gypsophila, delphinium, dicentra. Lupine, oriental poppy, small petals, spurge, poppy, rudbeckia.​
​Seeds of cold-resistant annual and biennial plants can be sown immediately in open ground - first on a seedling bed, and then, when the seedlings grow up, transplant them to permanent place.​
To do this, choose a place where humus, sand, peat, 50 grams of superphosphate and potassium sulfate, 10 grams of magnesium are added. If the soil on your site is sandy, the amount of magnesium fertilizers needs to be increased by 1.5-2 times. Many, by the way, are concerned about the question of whether it is possible to plant hyacinths in the spring, since traditionally they are planted in open ground in the fall, so that they begin to grow in March-April.​	​sun, partial shade	​sun​
​25​	​There are actually only two ways - either in a bunch or in a row.​	​Therefore, purchasing seeds only from reliable manufacturing companies is a matter of paramount importance.​	​Look through flower shop catalogs.​	This is how they are mainly grown blooming in spring biennials: daisies, lacfiol, forget-me-nots, etc.​	​However, if you plant plant bulbs in transparent containers for the winter, you can carry out the work in the spring, as long as severe frosts have passed.​
​Sweet pea​	​Marigolds (calendula)​	​sun​	​sun​
With the first method, plant annuals in groups located at the same distance. ​The whole difference is in the cycle of life. Relatively speaking, annuals, living up to their name, sprout and grow after planting, and during the growing season they bloom, after which they form seeds.​	You can sow them, but how can you find them among the weeds in the spring? Maybe sow in containers and leave the containers outside until spring?​	​You can also grow cold-resistant annuals, although most often the seedlings of these flowers are grown under glass and planted in open ground in April - May.​	To prevent rain from washing away the prepared soil, the soil must be covered before planting using leaves or thin plywood sheets. At the same time
​Gypsophila​	​Lobelia​	​sun​	​sun, partial shade	​For the second time (in a row), sow the seeds, pressing them into prepared, loose soil or into holes made with a flat cutter. It is best to sow annuals such as nasturtium, shower peas, and decorative beans nearby.	​As for conditionally annual flowers and plants or perennials grown as annuals, the condition for dividing them into these two groups is the climate of Russia - in the places of their original growth, in their homeland, these plants are perennials, but in our conditions they will simply freeze in winter and will have to replant again, although they fulfill their main role, to delight us with beautiful flowers.​
​This year I want to try planting flower seeds before winter for the first time. To do this, I dug three five-liter plastic buckets into the ground in the flower beds. The buckets have already prepared soil for planting seeds. For now I covered the buckets with cellophane film. When it’s really cold, I’ll sow the seeds, sprinkle the top with pre-prepared soil (now stored in the house so it doesn’t freeze), then cover it with snow. I use buckets because my area is very small. Perhaps in the spring I will remove them from the ground, move them to another place, and sow something else in this place. I want to ask you: is it possible to do as I plan? And also, if you know, tell me, is it possible to sow Cortaderia before winter? Thank you.​	Some cold-resistant annuals do not like transplanting; it is better to sow the seeds of such plants immediately in open ground. If their seedlings were grown under glass, then they need to be planted one at a time into separate pots or tray cells and, after growing, carefully planted in a permanent place in the garden.	Flower bulbs should be healthy and of medium size - this will make the flowers more resilient and susceptible to bad weather conditions.
​20​	Zinnia graceful	Marigold thin-leaved	​Note:​	The main problem when growing annuals on a plot, cottage or in a flower garden, depending on the purpose of cultivation, is their annual planting or, more correctly, replanting if you like the plant. In this case, there are only two ways - buying and sowing seeds of annual crops or buying and planting flowering or non-flowering seedlings.​	​It's no secret that hyacinth is the type of flower that blooms among the first, filling the space around with bright color and a rather fragrant aroma. Their color range is quite diverse. The plant is considered universal, adapting well to open ground. Planting hyacinth flowers in the ground and caring for them, we will consider the basic rules for planting in this article.​
​Seeds of cold-resistant biennials are sown in the ground in late spring - early summer. Cold-hardy annuals are usually sown in the spring, when the soil is dry enough to make a bed and warm enough for the seeds to germinate quickly.​	​. Plant bulbs are planted to a depth of about 15 cm; if hyacinths are planted in a row in the spring, there should be a distance of 20 cm between them. Bulbs smaller than 5 cm in diameter are planted denser.
​20-40​
​1S-25​	​Seeds of annuals that you constantly grow are best prepared and collected on warm sunny days, when they are completely dry. Annual seeds must be stored in a cool, dry place for 2 to 4 years.​	​In addition to this, it is also necessary to prepare a place for planting and growing them.​	The place for them should have good lighting and protection from strong gusts of wind. Some gardeners advise planting them near trees. But if there is enough sun there, then the powerful roots will absorb more water and useful elements from the ground, thus causing damage to the flowers.​	​The seeds of some cold-resistant annuals (larkspur, cornflower, calendula, iberis and cachima) can be sown in the fall. When sown in open ground in autumn, these plants bloom earlier than when sown in spring.​	​We fill each hole river sand layer about 3 cm, after which we lay the bulbs and sprinkle with soil. Sand in this case will act as protection against waterlogging and infections. In the event that hyacinths are planted in the spring in large quantities then the best thing to do is raised beds, because then caring for the plant will become much more convenient and faster. If a cold snap is planned, be sure to cover the plants with sawdust or peat.​
​VII IX​
It is always better to test your own seeds (as well as purchased ones) for germination. To do this, take 15-30 seeds, place them in a flat dish, cover and place in a warm place. Depending on the number of sprouts, the percentage of germination is calculated; a percentage of 60 can be considered an acceptable germination figure.	​Yes general condition proper cultivation annuals is the fact that they do not tolerate any soaking of the soil in the area that you have allocated for them, or the lack of garden drainage in this place, as well as shade in this place.​	​Therefore, the area should be unshaded and level. It would be great if it had a slight slope so that water would not stagnate. If groundwater passes half a meter from ground level, then drainage must be installed.	​Use a pitchfork to dig up a plot of land that is well heated by the sun and away from trees. Add peat (but not fertilizer), level and press it down, and lightly loosen the soil surface with a rake. If possible, arrange the beds in a new location every year. Areas that were previously planted with vegetable crops are ideal for growing flower seedlings.​	​Feeding is as important a procedure as planting hyacinths in the spring, because plant bulbs require a lot nutrients for normal development. First of all, these are mineral fertilizers, which are applied as soon as the snow melts. The best and most effective include potassium chloride and ammonium nitrate.​	​sun​
​sun​					​What do F1 and F2 mean on seed packages​
​The soil fertility in this area is also important condition, therefore, applying complex fertilizers will significantly simplify your task of decorating your dacha or plot annual flowers. True, there are plants that are less demanding on soil fertility - such an example would be garden cornflowers, which grow equally well on humus-rich soil or on extremely clayey soil.​	The soil composition must allow water to pass through well, be fertilized, and contain a high percentage of humus. If the area is clayey, you can add sand and peat. Hyacinth does not respond well to soil acidity.	The grooves should be located at a distance of 15-30 cm from each other. Their depth should be sufficient so that the seeds can be covered with a layer of soil twice the diameter of the seed. Never water the garden bed immediately after sowing - dry soil should be watered before you sow the seeds into it.​	After the buds appear, a second feeding is carried out using mineral nutrients. The third time only potassium chloride is added. At the same time, each time you add nutrients, you must loosen the soil, this way you will give the flower’s bark system the air it needs. Important Tips care:​	​Ipomoea, field mixture​	Garden nasturtium
​sun​	​sun​			​These seeds cannot be further propagated at home. The whole point is that they do not produce seeds, or they produce seeds that do not convey the qualities and properties of the parent. My repeated attempts to prepare and grow banal tomatoes from F1 varieties have never led to success - the most I managed to achieve was very average yields, which, of course, cannot be compared with the parent varieties either in weight or taste.​	​Annuals have played and continue to play one of the leading roles in garden design.​
The place for future planting should be prepared in August, a couple of months before planting. This is so that soil sediment does not cause the root system of the flower bulb to break off. It is necessary to dig up the soil about forty centimeters, adding humus or manure (up to 15 kg per 1 square meter), peat and mineral-containing fertilizer compounds.	​Seeds need to be sown sparingly. Do not pour the seeds directly from the bag. Place some of the seeds in your palm and release them in a thin stream between the large and index fingers. Try to leave a gap of 0.5 cm between the seeds. After sowing, carefully fill the furrow with soil and press it down reverse side a rake or by hand.​	It is important to loosen the soil with a rake and remove the first weeds that appear, which can destroy the hyacinths;			​Godetia​
​Annual plants and flowers sown directly into the ground​
​sun​	​sun​	​Plant name​	​Given their diversity, one can make up millions of the most diverse garden compositions. Annuals can compensate for the emptiness of some places on the site; with their help, you can also decorate the trunk circles of fruit trees, or simply plant them directly in the lawn.​	​It is necessary to plant in September. The bulbs will take root and have time to prepare for winter. Early boarding can cause the growth of a plant that will definitely die in winter.​	​Do not water; in dry weather, cover the garden bed with newspaper. The seeds of some plants need to be protected from birds. To do this, stretch a wire over the bed or place brushwood on it.​
Water the flowers abundantly, to a depth of 20 cm, but not too often;				​Cornflower	​Ghazania​
​Chinese aster​	​height​	So for the front garden, gypsophila, the cornflowers mentioned above, or cosmos are suitable. To decorate the fence in the same front garden, you can take sweet peas or a bean vine.​	The area for feeding the bulb is 15 x 20 cm, planting depth is 15 cm. This is for large bulbs. Medium and smaller ones can be planted a little more often and not so deep. If the soil is dry when planting, it is recommended to slightly moisten it.​	​When the seedlings have their first true leaves, the crops need to be thinned out. Leave one plant for every 5 cm in the rows. Ten days later, thin out the crops again, leaving 10 cm between seedlings of small plants, and 45 cm between seedlings of large ones.​	​When diseased plants appear, they need to be removed and burned; otherwise, diseases and pests can spread to other plants.​

Annual flowers - photo

vsaduidoma.com

Planting hyacinths in spring - rules for planting in open ground!

Preparing the site and soil for planting

​Sowing dates​

​For borders (both creating flowers and flowers and “planting” ready-made ones, for example these ones made of wood), it is customary to use marigolds and lobelia. The good thing about nasturtium is that it can be used to surround even ordinary vegetable beds in any garden (customary among the Germans).​

Planting hyacinths in spring - planting rules

​If there are a lot of bulbs, they can be planted in rows, making the height of the bed about twenty centimeters to keep the bulbs from melt water. In spring, the earth will warm up and hyacinths will begin to grow.​ Biennial seedlings are dug up in the fall and transplanted to a permanent place.​Improper care can lead to negative consequences. So, for example, the lack sunlight and excessive watering leads to yellowing of the leaves and their elongation. If water gets on the buds, they may simply not open. ​

Feeding and other care for hyacinths

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• ​III-IV​
• ​III-IV​

How to protect hyacinths from harmful factors?

​Distance between plants​ ​The main thing that you need to take into account is this measure - try to make sure that the area blooms evenly all year - some have faded, others have begun to bloom.​​Not everything is simple here, because the flower needs close care. The soil around it should be free of weeds and constantly loosened. Watering must be done in such a way as to wet the soil fifteen centimeters deep. Seedlings of annuals sown in spring are transplanted to a permanent place in May, when the soil warms up.There may also be problems with the lack of buds. This can be caused by several reasons:​​sun, partial shade

​sun​

At the beginning of May, annuals such as Shabot carnation, sweet peas, leftover, and cineraria are planted - these crops can tolerate light frosts (down to -4°C) without shelter. After a week, you can plant ageratum and snapdragon.
arctotis, aster, verbena, gaillardia, gatsania, Chinese carnation, helipterum, helichrysum, dorotheanthus, decorative cabbage, cleome, cochia, craspedia, lavatera, lobularia, lobelia, molucella, penstemon, perilla, petunia, purslane, rudbeckia, salvia, sweet tobacco, Drummond phlox. Prepare the area for seedlings in advance, at least a few days before planting them, so that the soil settles a little.
It is better to plant seedlings on cloudy days or in the evening, after thoroughly watering the boxes or pots with plants. Using a garden shovel, or if the soil is loose, then directly with your hands, you need to make a hole, place the roots in it (if the seedlings were grown in peat pots, then right with them), sprinkle the soil and press it well around the plant. The distance between plants depends on the crop and type of planting. Low borders - lobelia, alyssum, Drummond phlox, purslane; as well as dense carpet plantings of everflowering begonia, cineraria, santolina and other species - planted densely, at a distance of 10-15 cm. Most plants with bushes average size, are placed every 20-25 cm, and large-sized crops - perilla, castor oil, fragrant tobacco, statice, kochia and some others - after 30-50 cm. Planting is considered correct when the plant is not removed from the soil if it is slightly pulled.
When planting, it is advisable to deepen many crops by 1-2 cm. Overgrown seedlings of marigolds, ageratum, amaranth, and zinnia can be buried to a greater depth, up to 5 cm, but cloves and plants that form a basal rosette of leaves such as statice and fragrant tobacco cannot be buried. and the like.
If the soil is dry, the seedlings need to be watered when planting or pour water directly into the hole before lowering the plant roots into it, or plant all the seedlings first and then water from above - whichever is more convenient. In the first method, dry soil is sprinkled on top. Then no additional powdering or mulching is required, but planting in this case is much slower and an assistant is desirable for watering. The second method is much easier and faster, but after watering the soil must be mulched with peat or humus. This will not only protect it from drying out and allow it to remain loose for quite a long time, but can also save the plants from frost. And such plantings look much more attractive.
It is especially important when there is a threat of a return of cold weather to mulch ageratum, perilla, petunia, nasturtium, snapdragon, lobularia, lobelia, salvia, since even when the upper part of their shoots freezes, the buds in the lower part, sprinkled with peat, remain alive. After some time, new shoots grow from them. True, such plants will bloom a little later, but the bushes will be more branched and stronger. If the weather is dry and hot after planting the seedlings, then the plants need to be watered periodically, and if possible, shaded with lutrasil for the first days for better survival. Shelter is also useful in case of a sudden cold snap, since plants taken from a greenhouse or room are less resistant to adverse weather conditions than those that have already taken root and have gone through a period of adaptation.

Flowers are a real decoration of the yard, which is why flower beds of various colors and shapes can be seen on almost any summer cottage. Growing these crops is no more difficult, and sometimes even easier, than cultivating fruit-bearing plants. But flowers provide an opportunity to get aesthetic pleasure from being in a summer cottage. How to grow them, what are the secrets of rich, lush flower beds? When to plant flowers and seedlings and how to make them grow strong and healthy?

Before you go to the store for seeds to start growing flower seedlings (after all, you really want to see beautiful flower beds), it is necessary to familiarize yourself with those varieties and species that require seedling cultivation. Indeed, in fact, many of the flower plants have time to grow and bloom during the summer simply from seeds sown in the ground.

So, both perennials and annual plants with a long growing season. They can also be planted as seedlings if the owner of a household plot dreams of blooming garden already at the beginning or middle of summer. In general, you can grow absolutely any flowers using seedlings if you want your dacha to look like a flower bed throughout the entire gardening season.

But there are plants that are sown to produce seedlings more often than other crops; in particular these are:

• lobelia;
• gerbera;
• ageratum;
• nasturtium;
• marigold;
• phlox;
• begonia;
• zinnia;
• Snapdragon.

There are also other species and varieties that need to be grown in seedlings. In any case, for this you will need seeds, which can be collected with your own hands at the end of the last season or purchased at gardening stores. And here, too, you should not lose your vigilance: cunning sellers may try to slip you, as an inexperienced summer resident, low-quality material that may not grow at all. To prevent this from happening, carefully examine the seed packages and carefully read the expiration dates.

Snapdragon - seeds

On a note! It is best to buy flower seeds as fresh as possible - this way there is a greater chance that they will have good germination. Unfortunately, over time they lose this quality. Ideally, the seed sales period ends no later than the end of the current year or the next.

It is also advisable to make a choice in favor of those seed producers that you know at least something about. It is undesirable to purchase seedling material that is packaged in strange and damaged bags, even if they are offered at a deep discount.

It is also important to evaluate the growing conditions that the flowers you choose need. Familiarize yourself with these conditions and choose the crops that you can provide required quantity sun, shade, moisture, and also make them exactly the flowerbed in which they will be comfortable.

On a note! Lobelias and impatiens take root well in shaded areas. And nasturtiums, marigolds, and phlox are not afraid of short-term drought. A long-blooming flower is petunia, which can delight you every day and for a long time, and therefore is considered the queen of country flower beds.

General sowing rules

Any plant has its own requirements for growing conditions, but there are some general rules, which combine procedures for sowing seeds of any color. Majority experienced gardeners, of course, are familiar with these nuances, but a beginner will be interested to learn about them.

First, you should take care of the equipment that may be needed for a successful procedure. These are all kinds of containers for sowing seeds and planting seedlings. In order not to spend extra money, which, as we know, does not happen, you can take care of the containers in advance and have time to collect a lot of jars of food and drinks. These containers may well make good containers for flowers.

To water the soil with sown seeds, it is better to purchase a spray bottle - it will not wash out the soil or disturb the flower seeds, which are usually very small. Grown seedlings can also be watered with a watering can with a thin spout.

Watering can for flowers “Pumpkin”, 1 l

On a note! Before you sow your seeds, make sure you have labels with the names of the varieties you will be growing.

Preparing seeds, containers and soil for sowing

Before you start sowing seeds, you need to tidy up the container for the soil, the soil itself and prepare the seeds themselves. To begin with, all selected ones need to be holed, that is, drainage system– pierce several holes at the bottom of the containers through which excess moisture will flow out. If you are too lazy to do this, then you can buy ready-made pots for seedlings, which are sold in stores great amount. Then all jars and boxes should be thoroughly washed with soap and water, and then with soda solution.

On a note! It would be good if a layer of expanded clay was placed at the bottom of each jar or box as a drainage material.

Soil for seedlings must undergo a disinfection procedure. It can be steamed, calcined or spilled with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. After this, it is important to dry the soil well.

Flower seeds should be prepared for planting - disinfected. They are soaked for 12 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will protect the seed from various diseases. You can also carry out a stratification procedure - it will help speed up the process of the appearance of the first shoots. To do this, the seeds are soaked for 12 hours in clean water, and then the container with them should be put in the refrigerator for the same time. After this they are returned to warm room, and then back into the refrigerator. The procedure is carried out until the seeds begin to germinate.

On a note! This procedure will improve the plants' resistance to low air temperatures.

Because different types flowers may have different periods of growing season and the beginning of flowering, then it follows different time. You can find out when to sow seeds using the instructions, which are printed on each package of seedling material. But the table below will help you roughly navigate the timing.

Table. Time to plant flowers for seedlings.

Month	What we do
	This month we sow the seeds of those flowers that take the longest to germinate and grow the slowest. For example, tuberous begonia blooms only six months after sowing, Shabot carnation produces its first flowers no earlier than 5-6 months. Also in January, those plants are sown whose seeds are subject to stratification without fail - these are clematis, aquilegia, gentians, princelings, irises, prolomnik, jeffersonia, perennial violet, lumbago, lavender, and most bulbous flowers. By the way, if begonia is sown in December or January, its tubers will be better formed and stored than those grown later, in March. Slow-germinating seeds with thick skins are also sown in January. This month you can plant sage and salvia, perennial daisy and other species.
	Throughout February, flower seeds are sown, which germinate and grow for a long time. You can also plant those recommended for starting cultivation in January. They also sow fuchsia, pelargonium, balsam, and plants for loggias and baskets. February is the time to plant petunia, lobelia, salvia, lavender, heliotrope. Pay attention to the light requirements of seedlings - some of these crops require long daylight hours, which means that additional lighting will have to be arranged.
	March flowers are verbena, echinacea, cleome, lobularia, iberis, bells, annual phlox, gillyflower, and iberisolia brachycoma. You can still have time to sow plants that are usually planted in February. At the beginning of the month, pelargoniums and coleus are sown, and at the end - penstemona, annual aster, ageratum, alyssum, helichrysum. Also, do not forget about marigolds and snapdragons - unpretentious, but beautiful flowers. And they bloom until the coldest weather.
	In April it is already too late to start sowing all of the above flowers, but you can plant delphiniums, dahlias, scabiosa, helipterum, calendula, aquilegia, and amaranth. Sometimes you can still have time to plant March flowers - marigolds, ageratum, and annual aster.

It often comes to the aid of gardeners when determining when to sow seeds. It indicates favorable days for carrying out certain gardening work in accordance with lunar cycles. As you know, the Moon has a significant influence on all living organisms living on earth, including plants. For example, it is recommended to plant all bulbous plants during the waxing moon, but seed plants are planted during the full moon. However, if you plant the seeds on another day, no big disaster will happen. Perhaps the germination rate of the sprouts will be slightly lower, or maybe you won’t even notice that the seedlings feel a little worse. So special attention You don’t have to pay attention to the lunar calendar.

Planting seeds

Now let's take a look at the step-by-step instructions for sowing flower seeds. There is nothing complicated here.

Step 1. Let's start with primrose seeds as one of the most commonly grown flower plant. We fill the containers prepared for seedlings with drainage material and treated soil, and lightly tamp them. After this, moisten it a little with a spray bottle.

Step 2. Open the bag of seeds and carefully take them on your finger (be careful - they are very small) and carefully, as if salting food, sprinkle them on the soil.

Step 3. We once again moisten the soil together with the seeds a little with water from a spray bottle.

Step 4. Cover the container with a lid or polyethylene. Don’t forget to write the name of the variety or type of flower on the container. Place the container in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf for stratification for 3 weeks.

The container is closed with a lid

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What flowers are sown for seedlings

First, you need to understand for yourself which flowers can be propagated by seedlings. These include both annual and biennial plants, and perennials. Of the annual flowers, those most often sown for seedlings are those that have a long growing season, or if you want the flowers to bloom earlier. In principle, you can grow seedlings of any flowers, except those that do not tolerate transplantation well. Most often, seeds of the following flowers are sown for seedlings: Chabot carnation, lobelia, petunia, cineraria, snapdragon, sweet pea, zinnia, marigold, nasturtium, cosmos, calendula, mignonette, geranium, gerbera, gaillardia, viola, pansies, primrose, balsam, begonia, verbena, ageratum, aster, clarkia, phlox, gillyflower, salvia, godetia, lupine, lavatera and many others.

When to plant flower seedlings

Sowing flower seeds for seedlings in January

Before all other flowers, we sow Shabot carnation seedlings, which bloom 5-6 months after sowing, and tuberous begonia, which takes 5.5-6.5 months to bloom. Begonia sown in December-January has tubers that form better and last longer than those sown in March. The bag of seeds usually indicates how much time should pass from sowing the seeds to the start of flowering, and the longer the time period, the earlier the seeds need to be sown. During this period, flower seedlings are sown, the seeds of which must undergo mandatory stratification - stimulation with low temperature. These include aquilegia, spring and stemless gentians, arisema, clematis, princelings, bathhouse, mulberry, jeffersonia, perennial violet, breaker, alpine bell, irises, many bulbous, lumbago, lavender, primrose. In January, you need to sow slow-germinating seeds of perennials with a thick or dense shell, if for some reason you do not want to scarify them - mechanically damage or remove the seed shell.

Sowing flower seeds for seedlings in February

In the second month of winter, we continue to sow flowers with a long germination period. It is not too late to sow the seeds of Shabot carnation and flowering begonia. In addition, the time has come to plant those plants that feel good both in the garden and at home - fuchsias, balsams, pelargoniums, as well as annuals early date flowering for hanging baskets, decorating loggias, balconies and glazed terraces - petunia and lobelia, for example. In February, seeds of angustifolia lavender, sparkling salvia, Wittrock's viola and heliotrope are sown. However, it should be borne in mind that seedlings of some flowers will need long daylight hours, and you will have to provide additional lighting for them.

Sowing flower seeds for seedlings in March

In March, you can plan to grow seedlings of echinacea, fragrant tobacco, verbena, iberis, lobularia, climbing kobe, cleome, bells, herbal carnation, annual phlox, snapdragon, matthiola (levkoya), brachycoma iberisolia and climbing azarina, as well as those flowers which you for some reason did not sow in February. In the first half of March, you can sow seeds of flowers that grow well both in the garden and at home - pelargonium, coleus, kufei. In the second half of March, we sow seeds of seedlings of the following annuals: Drummond phlox, celosia, helichrysum, alissum, venidium, ageratum, arctotis, annual aster, penstemona, castor bean.

Sowing flower seeds for seedlings in April

In April, seedlings are sown with zinnia gracilis, tritoma berry (or kniphofia), scabiosa, daisy, perennial delphinium, annual dahlia, cornflower, cottonweed, gatsania, helipterum, godetia, morning glory, calendula, xerantenum, fragrant mignonette, scabiosa, Suvorov limonium, amaranth , aquilegia, kochia (summer cypress), marigolds, as well as those flowers that you did not have time to sow in March - annual aster, Venidium, ageratum, lobularia.

How to grow flower seedlings

Pots for flower seedlings

Readers often ask: What is better to grow seedlings in - in boxes or in pots? Of course, it’s better in pots - you sow in a separate container, and then you don’t have to deal with picking the seedlings. The seedling is not injured, the risk of infection with rot is minimized. However, seedlings at home are usually kept in loggias and on window sills, and there is not much space there. If you're not a fan seedling method, and you only need three or four containers for seedlings, then, of course, it is better to use pots for seedlings. But if you have big plans, then it is better to use plastic seedling cassettes with trays, cups or boxes. Don’t get carried away with cardboard containers, especially those for dairy products - now they are treated with some substances that, as they evaporate, inhibit the barely hatched seedlings, causing them to freeze and not develop. The container must be environmentally friendly so that the flower seedlings do not experience discomfort. The best container for seedlings - peat pots. Their porous walls ensure moisture and air exchange of the root-inhabited soil layer; grown seedlings can be planted in open ground directly in them, without damaging the roots of young plants by removing them from the container. These pots contain no toxic substances or pathogens, and are durable enough in both dry and wet conditions. Good containers for growing small plants are peat tablets for seedlings, which swell when soaked and form a kind of cup filled with peat substrate. This is an ideal dish for seedlings, but small plastic ones are also suitable as sowing dishes. disposable cups for food liquid, and large boxes for seedlings. The main thing is that there are drainage holes, and under the bottom there was a tray for excess water.

Soil for flower seedlings

Land for seedlings should have the following qualities: looseness, lightness and porosity of consistency, it should have good air permeability and retain moisture, and also meet the requirements of the crop that you intend to grow in it. The following components are unsuitable for soil composition: composts of any kind, leaf soil(rotted leaves), rotted manure, wood shavings, lowland unprocessed peat, untreated turf land, chopped straw, hay dust, sawdust from wood impregnated with creazote or treated with varnish, unwashed sea sand, quarry sand, unwashed from clay. Used to compose the soil: high-moor peat, frozen or weathered lowland peat, meadow sand or sandy loam, but not garden soil, turf soil after heat treatment, sphagnum moss, crushed coniferous bark, dry pine needles, grain husks, crushed peanut shells, river and quartz sand, perlite, vermiculite, agroperlite, granulated foam, crushed pumice and expanded clay. Classic example substrate for seedlings: 65-70% sawdust, 25-40% sand.

You can buy soil mixture for seedlings in the store - now there is a huge selection of soils for seedlings. For example, Flower soil from the series Living Earth, soils Flora, Garden Earth, Violet, Universal and so on. In order to choose the soil you need, you need to know exactly in which substrate your seedlings will grow best, and also study the composition of the soils offered in the store. Pay attention to the composition of fertilizers in ready-made soil mixtures - their excess may prevent you from seeing your plants bloom. If the amount of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen in the soil is within 300-400 mg/l, it can only be used as a component for seedling mixture or for planting adult seedlings in it, but it is undesirable to sow seeds in such soil, since the seedlings will turn lushly green, but buds will not form. Do not use garden soil as a substrate for seedlings, as it is unbalanced mineral composition and it contains pathogenic microflora and pest larvae. But the soil for cacti is suitable for growing seedlings, but before sowing, its acidity should be adjusted by adding dolomite flour, if necessary. It is advisable to sterilize soil for seedlings, whether purchased or prepared by yourself, in an oven or microwave before sowing.

Well, remember about peat tablets - in many cases this is really the best solution.

Lamps for flower seedlings

At the end of winter or beginning of spring, the days are still short, and growing seedlings do not have enough daylight hours to develop, so sometimes it is necessary to create artificial lighting for them. What lamps are best to use for this, and how to properly organize the lighting? Immediately exclude incandescent lamps from the list, since they produce an excessive amount of heat, but do not emit needed by plants rays. The choice must be made between energy-saving lamps and phytolamps. Among the energy-saving lamps for germinating seeds, you should choose induction lamps. Lamps with a warm spectrum will be needed to illuminate seedlings that have entered the flowering phase, and energy-saving daylight lamps are suitable for illuminating seedlings throughout the entire growing cycle. Install these lamps perpendicular to the boxes with seedlings.

Among the colossal number of phytolamps, LED, halogen, sodium and fluorescent lamps are most often used to illuminate seedlings. Usually the choice of gardeners falls on fluorescent lamps, since they produce almost no heat, consume little electricity and have a full spectrum of colors. Dignity LED lamps– their durability and low power consumption, in addition, they can emit red and blue colors, which stimulates the rapid growth of seedlings. Halogen lamps lose heat over time, so they are used much less frequently. Sodium lamps are installed to illuminate small seedlings. For example, one 100 W lamp is enough to illuminate seedlings located on a one and a half meter windowsill. When choosing a phytolamp, consider which lamps will suit you best - wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted or compact ones that give a directed beam.

Caring for flower seedlings

Watering flower seedlings

The first watering of the soil is carried out even before sowing, since the seeds are sown in moist soil, but then, until the emergence of seedlings, the soil is not watered - as a rule, under glass or under a film the soil remains moist for a long time. After removing the film, the hatched seedlings are watered regularly so that the soil is always moist, but not wet. With prolonged waterlogging of the soil, there is a risk of root rotting. It is advisable to moisten the soil with seedlings in the first half of the day, since evening watering causes the plants to stretch out and grow sickly and weak. Water for watering seedlings must be left for 2-3 days. Watering seedlings with melt water gives good results, especially before planting in open ground. Frequent watering require dahlias, sweet tobacco and nasturtium. And petunia, phlox, purslane, asters, snapdragons, marigolds and zinnia need to be watered only when dry upper layer soil. The water temperature for irrigation should be at least 21 ºC. Watering is carried out different ways: at the root, by spraying from a sprayer, they also use the method of bottom watering - it all depends on what kind of seedlings you are growing.

Temperature for flower seedlings

After you have bought and sterilized the seedling substrate, put it in a container, soaked the seeds in Zircon or Epin (this does not apply to purchased seeds that are already prepared for sowing), spread the seeds on the surface, lightly pressed them into the substrate, sprinkle them with a layer of soil , the thickness of which depends on the size of the seed - the planting depth should be three times. In some cases, the seeds are not buried at all, but are only pressed to the surface of the soil. If you sowed in dry soil, moisten the crop, but only with a spray bottle. Now it's time to build a greenhouse for seedlings. Usually, it is enough to cover the container with film or glass. Sometimes, to speed up the germination of slow-germinating seeds, it is necessary to arrange the bottom heating of the container with sowing to a temperature 2-3 ºC higher than in the room. In any case, you should not keep the container on a cold windowsill, because apart from good lighting seeds need warmth to grow. Therefore, place the seeds on a piece of foam or other support so that there is a gap between the window sill and the seed box. The ideal temperature for germination of seeds of heat-loving crops can be considered 25-30 ºC, and for cold-resistant crops 18-15 ºC. When the seedlings appear and the greenhouse for seedlings is no longer needed, the glass or film is removed, and further development of the seedlings occurs at a temperature of 20 ºC. Of course this general recommendations– Each plant has its own requirements for both lighting and temperature. If you purchased seeds in a store, the factory packaging should contain instructions or recommendations on how to sow the seeds of this particular plant. But if there are no instructions or recommendations on the package of seeds, our website will always be happy to provide you with the information you need, remember this.

Transplanting flower seedlings

Picking seedlings should be done on time, when the seedlings develop the first two true (not cotyledon) leaves. If you delay replanting, the seedlings will take root much worse. Why do seedlings dive? In order to increase the area of ​​their feeding, because the growing roots of seedlings take up more and more space. In addition, the seedlings become cramped above the ground surface. It is best to plant seedlings in peat pots, because when the time comes to plant the plants in open ground, they can be planted in the holes without removing them from the pots, which subsequently do not interfere with the growth and development of the roots. Some flowers do not need picking at all, and plants with long tap roots, so as not to injure them during picking and replanting, should be immediately sown in peat pots one at a time. If you plant seedlings in a common box, then plant seedlings of large plants up to the very cotyledons at a distance of 5-6 cm from each other, and small ones at intervals of 2.5-3 cm. When transplanting, take the seedling not by the stem, but by the cotyledon leaves, and at the end of the procedure, move the box with seedlings to a dark place for a couple of days.

Feeding flower seedlings

Two weeks after picking, you need to apply the first fertilizing, which is a solution of mullein 1:10 at the rate of one glass of fertilizer per 8-10 seedlings. After half a month, the seedlings are fertilized with the same composition, but one and a half grams of ammonium nitrate and three grams of superphosphate per liter are added to it at the rate of one glass per 4-5 seedlings. Instead of mullein, you can use bird droppings, and make a second feeding with an ash solution or Agricola for flowers. Applying fertilizer to the soil is preceded by watering the plants so that the fertilizer does not burn the tender roots of the seedlings. And watch the concentration of the solutions that you prepare for adding to the soil with seedlings: the instructions for preparing solutions indicated on the fertilizer package are designed for feeding adult plants, and you will have to make the solutions twice as weak.

Two weeks before planting seedlings in open ground or moving them to a cold greenhouse, you need to gradually accustom the seedlings to the temperature in which they will find themselves. To do this, seedlings are taken out daily into the yard or to open balcony. Cold-resistant plants such as cineraria and antirrhinum begin to be taken out into the fresh air in the shade at an air temperature of 8-10 ºC; for other plants this is too cold, you need to wait until the temperature outside is 10-12 ºC, and only then begin hardening . First time staying at fresh air should last no more than 2 hours, in addition, the plants must be protected from drafts and direct sunlight. Then the plants begin to briefly open to the sun, daily increasing the duration of the seedlings' stay in the fresh air and under the sun's rays. How long your seedlings can tolerate direct rays depends on the characteristics of the crop you are growing. Hardening is a very important procedure; it determines how successful the transplantation of seedlings into open ground will be, and what their further development will be.

When to plant flower seedlings in open ground

Seedlings of many flowers are planted in the ground when the threat of spring return frosts has passed - in May or early June. This applies primarily to heat-loving perennials. Planting of seedlings is carried out on a cloudy day or in the evening, when the sun's rays cannot damage seedlings weakened by transplantation to a new place. If we are talking about cold-resistant plants that are not afraid of spring cold snaps, then you can plant them as soon as the earth warms up: tightly squeeze a handful of dry earth in your hand, and then sharply unclench your hand. If the soil falls into pieces, it is ready for the growing season. Before planting seedlings, tidy up the area: dig up the soil, add fertilizer to it, loosen and level the surface. Manure and compost are added to the soil in the fall, and humus and mineral fertilizers can be applied in the spring. The timing of sowing and planting rates are individual for each plant, but the area where the plants feed should allow them to develop well, that is, they should not grow in crowded conditions. The distance between seedlings when planting is determined by the size, diameter and branching of adult plants. To plant seedlings, depending on what crop you are planting, grooves or holes are made in the surface of the soil, which must be well watered before planting. Each plant should have at least one liter of water. The seedlings are placed in the slurry formed after abundant watering. If the roots are exposed, they should be spread out well. Then the holes are sprinkled with earth, which is pressed tightly so that all the air escapes. If you did everything correctly, then very soon new leaves will appear on the seedlings, which means that you have completed the task.