Planting Seeds in the Fall (Zone 7)

This is my first time posting a message on the forum, and I am a beginner gardener, but I just love it!!

I am trying to see what seeds, both annual and perennial that can be planted in the fall versus the spring. I am in zone 7, and I have a more cottage looking garden (see photo attached).

Can anyone reccomend seeds that might fare the winter in my zone.

I have had success with shasta daisy, hollyhock, zinnia, forget-me-not, globe amaranth, but all were spring planting.

Thanks so much

Garden Tress, Pansies are best started now and several others. You can rough up the ground and scatter poppy seeds, columbine, hollyhock, and seeds from any "self sower." Sometimes, I just sprinkle extra seeds in a pot and they do come up.

However, you should go to The Winter Sowing forum because that will fit your needs perfectly! It's almost like magic. Try it with some of your seeds.

Gloria

I'm in zone 7 also. Pansies will grow and bloom all winter in zone 7. They are not even bothered by a heavy frost. Everyone plants them here as winter flowers as they don't mind the cold, but won't take heat.

I've not tried these, but I've read they will grow and bloom in winter in zone 7: bachelor's buttons, calendula, daphne, iceland poppy, larkspur, lobelia, nasturtium (direct sow only), petunias, primrose, snapdragons, sweet peas, violas.

Maybe someone who has tried these as winter flowers can let us know how it came out.

Karen

Oh thank you Gloriag & Karen,
I have petunia, snapdragon, hollyhock, columbine, sweet pea and viola seeds. I had no idea what to do with them. This helps so much. Are all these direct sow or do I need to start some inside?

Thanks,
Traci

Traci,
Did you read about winter sowing? The very easiest way is to use a zip lock bag with appropriate drainage holes and ventilation holes cut in. However, considering that so many of these self sow, I imagine you could just rough up and rake the surface soil, you could plant them shallowly and they would come up. I absently mindedly scatter columbine in pots of soil in the summer, and I end up with a huge number of seedlings. I think this would work for rudbeckia, foxglove, and a lot of others.

With your living in Birmingham you have a long warm season left. If you do start the under lights to speed up germination, I would put them outside in big pots in shade, and by the time it is too cold, you should have some perennials that will bloom next spring. Also you can use remay or a ventilated piece of plastic to protect them from the first frost or two. Why don't you start now? Don't use all of your seeds of any variety though, in case you need to start over.

Gloriag,
Thanks for the info. I had wondered how long it is going to be sooo hot and if I could germinate & get seedlings before frost. I am currently trying to plastic bag theory. I hope it works. I am going to do several small pots with different kinds of seeds in each, labeled of course and see how that goes. I do believe the name of the game is trial & error. Yet bet your petunias I am going to start right now. The fam is coming to visit and I will just tell them they can watch. lol. I have important gardening to do!!

Sincerely,
Traci

calendula seeds can be planted now for winter flowers? i have the seeds and read that they are cool weather plants but i thought that would mean i should plant them in the fall for early spring bloom--we will have 6-8 weeks of warm weather before the cold sets in--i wonder if that would be enough time to start if i just scatter seeds--i think i will give it a try

I don't know how to hyperlink yet, but according to http://www.gardenguides.com/seedcatalog/flowers/calendulapacificbeauty.asp , in warmer climates sow in the fall. Seed depth 1/2 to 1/4", 2" apart. Takes 5 to 15 days to emerge. We will learn together, as I have some of these too. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Traci

Wow, I just copied and pasted the website and it created a hyperlink. Learn something new everyday!

Traci

Here's one to Dave's Garden. So glad I figured this out!!

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/211/

Traci

thanks--i went to both sites and enjoyed reading about the flower--i plan to get some into the ground very soon so i will have plants flowering in the colder times of year