Easy annuals from seed...

I'm planting two huge planter boxes at work this year, and I want them to be very eye-catching. Due to limited budgets I'm starting everything from seed and needed some suggestions for some easy sun-loving annuals. I've a;ready started mg's, sweet peas, larkspur, nicotiana, cobacea, green zinnias, sunflowers, and a few others. I would love to hear your ideas for a few more unusual things, maybe on the taller and bushier side.
Thanks,
Becky

easy easy are dahlias from seed. 18-24" and they sprout in a couple of days. Amaranthus, same thing, but they get much taller, look through Thompson Morgan website for varieties, but order from Pinecone.

Hi Becky,sounds like you're on the right track already' Also I like allysum,can't get enough of it and another fav is nasturtiums,love to munch them(the nasturtiums,not the allysum,lol) while playing in the garden,lol'

Some more easy ones - calendula, marigolds, lavatera, batchelor buttons, Chinese forget-me-nots, balsam, african daisies, 4 o'clocks, candytuft, cosmos, scabiosa, and nigella.

Thanks everyone!!!
I started some nasturtiums, bat. buttons, balsam, cosmos,
4 o'clocks, scabiosa, and nigella. I hope they do good, how tall does the nigella get?? I've never seen it in person. Do you think the balsam will do okay in full sun??? It's related to impatiens isn't it???
Thanks again,
Becky

Nigella gets 15 inches tall or so. It has pretty foliage and the seed pods are kinda neat too. The balsam will be fine in sun but it does like moisture. If it's hot and dry they wilt.

BJT72: How about some nemesia. If you plant int around the edges, and it will drape rather nicely. The colors are spectacular, and the seeds are easy to collect. If you are going to grow nasturtiums, try the Alaskas..the foliage is marbled and quite eyecatching even before the blooms come on.

Bacopa (see http://www.dahlias.co.uk/Myseason/Mygarden/Images/June/Bacopa.gif for Bacopa snowflake) is another pretty plant for trailing around the bottom of the pot. Your choices sound great - can't wait for you to post pictures when they're at their glory!

Moss Roses are also very easy and add color

Well the planter boxes are both 12ftsq with a few shrubs and are painted white, here's what I've got started: cobacea, purple basil, nigella, balsam, cleome, poppies nicotiana, 4o'clocks, scabiosa, bat. buttons, cosmos-"psyche", "candy cane" and "envy" zinnias, sunflowers, salvia, sweet peas, nasturiums,texas blue bonnet, larkspur, mixed mg's and the new blue and white striped one. I think I might have too many plants for the space, but I'm sure you've all had the same problem at some point!!! :) --I do every year!!!! There's always room for one more!!! Btw, I work at a flower shop and I hope these plants will give the effect I want, I was trying to go for the Monet's Garden look, but a little brighter to get peoples attention, as the shop is located at one of the busiest inter-sections in Toledo. Thank you everyone for all the great ideas, if you think of anything else that you think would be just perfect please let me know!!
Thanks again,
Becky

try one of the ornamental peppers poinsettia or or pretty purple pepper

I Love MExican Sunflowers(Tithonia)(Bright Orange). Maybe one in each box. They attract finchs and lots of buttlerflies.They are almost as tall as sunflowers and are easy to grow from seed. Lou

Becky,

I found some really cool wave petunia's on Pinetree Garden's site --> http://www.superseeds.com/annualsn-r.htm
They just arrived today & I've planted them already as they need good lead time before the frost date arrives. Badseed told me about these & I am so excited to try them this year. My own, old fashioned purple petunias that weren't cascading were beautiful in my planter last year. Good luck!

I forgot to add that CoCo had some great combinations for me, too. Here's a link to a thread I started. Scroll down to see her AWESOME ideas! http://davesgarden.com/showthread/211307.html


This message was edited Saturday, Mar 23rd 7:31 PM