Growing Flowers From Seeds

When most people think about what I am growing, they immediately think food crops, which is very true. However, although I am indeed an avid vegetable gardener, I plant and grow more flowers that you might imagine. I love hanging baskets, potted flowers, colour throughout the yard.

I love nothing more that adding flowers to my yard and potager. The perennials have their moments, of course, but annual flowers (the kind you plant each year) are my real favourites. These flowers feed the bees that pollinate my garden, and the butterflies, too. They attract beneficial insects and birds to eat the bad bugs so no pest control is needed, while adding colour and beauty.

Besides adding companion flowers to my vegetable beds, I also grow a cutting flower garden, and plant others in pots, baskets, and throughout the yard. I love having flowers to fill vases.

Did you know that the more flowers you pick, the more that will come? Sweet peas, especially. Pick as often as you can so more can come! If you stop picking, the vines/plants begin to ripen their seeds, assuming their job is done for the year, and stop blooming.

Direct sown zinnias. Seeds from Renee's Garden Seeds.

These companies have a fantastic selection of easy to grow flowers from seed.

I buy loads of flower seeds each year, mostly ones that I can sow directly in the garden. I only prestart flowers indoors if I cannot buy what I am looking for from the nursery in spring, if I want something special, unique, hard to find. Who doesn't love unique, eh?

These are some of my most favourite seed houses for flower seeds, and I also found a few new, small seed shops this year with sweet offerings. There are many of these small growers throughout Canada and the States, and they really appreciate your business. These are my current faves and where I have ordered from this year.

Dahlia Floret Petites - these are the dahlias from seed that I ordered, but they have others!

1.Floret Flower Farms. While all their flowers are amazing, their latest special breeding program has been to grow their very own original dahlias, zinnias, and celosia from seed... and wow, they are stunning. Even if you do not order them, check out how lovely they all are. Floret only releases seeds a few times a year and they sell out super fast, so you have to be dedicated to buy from them.

Here are the seeds for this season that I have from Floret. Some were purchased last fall, some this month. Oh, and yes, I paid an obscene amount of money for one packet each of the new dahlias and zinnias. Here's to hoping they are all that, and a bag of chips, too - hah!

Amaranth (Mira)

Dahlias (Petite Florets)

Phlox (Creme Brulee, Dulce de Leche, Phlox of Sheep)

Statice (Rat Tail)

Stocks (Apricot, Malmaison Pink)

Sweet Rocket (Pale Lavender)

Yarrow (Summer Berries)

Zinnias (Precious Metals)

My bed of Verbena bonariensis

2. My next most favourite place to buy flower seeds from is Renee's Garden Seeds. They are affordable and their seeds are of amazing quality. Always great germination. You cannot go wrong with anything you buy from this seed company. They have such a great array of flowers and veggies, too. Best company out there. I buy most of my zinnias from here, also my nasturtiums (nasties).

Alyssum (Gulf Winds)

Calendula (Flashback)

Cerinthe - also known as honeywort. Fantastic cut and come again flower for bouquets.

Cosmos (Rose Bon Bon, Velouette)

Dahlias (Blazing Saddles)

Larkspur - I ordered mine last year so that I could sow in the fall.

Marigolds (Signet Starfire)

Nasties (Cherries Jubilee, Creamsicle, Cup of Sun, Spitfire)

Pelargonium (Fancy Pants)

Scabiosa - They have a lovely new dark one!

Thunbergia

Verbena (Vanity)

Zinnias (Apricot Blush, Green Envy, Moulin Rouge, Raspberry Sorbet)

I'm doing solid coloured blocks of zinnias this year, but love their combos a whole lot, have been growing them for years. My favourites are Berry Basket, Cool Crayons, Raggedy Anne).

Strawberry Blonde Calendula. Perfection.

3. Baker Creek Seeds. Huge selection, great quality seeds. They have such a great selection, but here are some of my favourites, some recommendations.

Asters (Salmon Janina)

Calendula (Strawberry Blonde)

Cosmos (Apricot Lemonade, Apricotta, Black Magic, Rubenza, Xanthos)

Marigolds (Disco Mix, Kilimanjaro White, Linnaeus Burning Embers)

Sunflowers (Astra Rose Cream, Chocolate Cherry)

Zinnias (Pink Senorita - this was my most prolific bloomer last summer. A Raggedy Anne type blossom, peach pink in colour, very pretty)

My while cupcake and Apricot Lemonade cosmos last summer.

Stems - A Canadian flower farm with seeds very similar to Floret. Shipping is pricey so fill up your cart to make it worth your while! They also have great veggies, especially the mixed packs.

Cosmos - such a lovely selection. They have pink and white cupcake cosmos, the apricot coloured ones, and all sorts and colours. Great cosmo selection!

Zinnias - Cresto Peaches & Cream! I had to get that one. They also have all the 'Queen's' and many lovely Benary's, a fantastic giant bloom that is great for cutting.

Others- Lovely selection of sweet peas, snapdragons, and sunflowers. Really, just way too many greats to mention here.

Oxford Blue salvia from Johnny's Seeds. WOW!

Johnny's - this US company has so many great flower seeds to choose from but please note that both the seeds and the shipping are pricey.

Cosmos - They have the most amazing selection of varieties out of all the companies. They have cupcakes, bon bons, apricottas, frizzies, pinks, whites, red mixes, pink blends... I want them all.

Zinnia selection is also really good, they have the Zahara, Benary, Oklahoma, and Queenie zinnias.

Others - Gorgeous sweet peas! They have White Swan marigolds and a new lime green one called Nosento Limegreen. If you like the pale pastels (as I do), check out the Iron Pastel Mix of Stocks. I mean, there are pages upon pages of lovely flowers for direct sowing to create cut flower bouquets and feed the bees. Check out that lovely blue Salvia.

Apricotta cosmo seeds from Fraiche Flower Farm.

Here are some Canadian Seed Companies and why I think they are worth checking out.

Revival Seeds - while their pictures are not of the caliber that you find with the flower sellers, they have a lovely lupin mix, echinacea mix, Joe Pye, scabiosa, Touch of Red Buff Calendula.

Cicada Seeds - I picked up some Fizzy Rose Picotee cosmos from this very small island company as I had to order some of their potato onions ; ) My shipping for 3 seeds packages only came to $3.

Fraiche Flower Farm - This small Alberta company has the prettiest flower selection! If you like pinks, you will love this one. If you love sunflowers or sweet peas, you will love this one. Best thing is that shipping is only $5 for 10 packets of seeds.

Antonio Valente Flowers - A small Ontario company with the most amazingly lovely selection of flower seeds. The pictures are to die for pretty, shipping is only $4.95.

T&T Seeds - This company has been around for ages, has all sorts of flower and veggie seeds to offer. Shipping is only $5.75 for 10 packages in Canada. They have the new dwarf Baby Rose nasties, Strawberry Blonde marigolds, White Swan marigolds, plus Lemon and Tangerine Gems. All terrific companion flowers. The ornamental gourds are the cutest! So many great buys at this seller, very affordable prices!

I grew flowers for my daughter's August wedding.

Growing Tips

Stokes Seeds - this company has been around for a long, long time, but really only sells to high volume buyers, like growers. They carry all the seeds you can imagine. the flowers that you find at the nurseries in spring. Things like geraniums, petunias, lobelia, osteospermums, verbena, alyssum, bacopa.... pretty much everything! They recently upped their minimum purchase to $250. No way I am buying that much but here is a tip you need to know...

The very best thing about this company is that they tell you exactly how and when to start your flower seeds. So even if you do not order from them, they are a great resource.

Direct sown cosmos and zinnias - 2023

I Direct Sow....

China Asters - these guys are beautiful! Can be pre-started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before last frost, or direct sown after the last frost (mid April on the west coast, early May on the prairies).

Cosmos - I always direct sow. They tend to come up just a little later than the zinnias. (sow mid April on the west coast, early May on the prairies).

Zinnias - very prone to mildew if started indoors. I always direct sow and have the best flowers! Same timing as above.

Secret tip - when the package says sow after last frost, I sow a week or two before. The seeds are safely underground, not yet popping up, so even if you get a late frost the seedlings are not affected. You can always lay down a frost blanket 'just in case'.

I always use the later last frost dates for seed starting and sowing purposes.

*As an Amazon affiliate, if you purchase an item from one of the links, I make a teeny bit of money to support my blog. It does not cost you a penny more than it would if you went to the item on your own, without my link. Huge thanks : )

Tangerine Gem Tagetes grown for pest control in my greenhouse last summer.

How & What I Prestart...

I usually buy any that need pre-starting as ready plants at the nursery , but if I want something unique or different...

Alyssum - easy to start, sow in March, a few seeds per cell.

Dahlias from seed - Start March on heat or direct sow in mid May.

Marigolds - All types (tagetes, French, and African). Start in mid March to mid April.

Snapdragons  - start in February and March. Place them in the freezer first for a minimum of 2 days. They need light to germinate so just press them lightly into the moist soil. Cover with humidity dome till you see germination.

Stocks also need light to germinate so are to be sown on top of the soil. March.

Verbena bonariensis - place in baggie with moist soil, stick in fridge for a few weeks. Fill cell packs 3/4 full of moist potting soil, top up with the refrigerated seeded soil so that the seeds are not buried too deep.

I think that covers most of the plants I would prestart indoors. I direct sow most everything. If in doubt on how or when to start something, check the Stokes website under growing conditions (located on each listing).

Rose Bon Bon cosmos direct sown in my 2023 cutting garden.

You may have noticed my fascination with cosmos this year, getting some from almost every vendor. When they came out with the lovely new colour blends, new pinks, frizzy blossoms, and the cupcakes... well, I fell even more in love with them!

Zinnias have always been a favourite of mine, of course. I grow long beds of them, in all sorts of colours. The bees, butterflies, beneficial bugs, and hummingbirds do so love them.

The cut flower garden is going out back this year as that is where we do our summertime living. I am also adding annual flowers to the front yard when we revamp the beds, for the bees and neighbours to enjoy. Now that the seeds have been purchased, I can hardly wait!

Happy Planning!

The wait is almost over ~ Tanja