How to get the earliest spring blooms: Cool Flowers
It’s time to start your 2025 garden. As the crisp autumn air settles in and the leaves begin their vibrant descent, many gardeners are already thinking ahead to spring.
But did you know that fall is the perfect time to plant many “cool” flowers?
Yes, while others are packing away their gardening tools, you can be preparing your garden for a burst of early spring beauty. Let’s dive into the world of fall-planted hardy annuals and discover how you can set your garden up to get the earliest spring blooms.
From the picture book Mrs Rumphius By Barbara Cooney.
Alice Rumphius, who longed to travel the world, live in a house by the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful… The countless lupines that bloom along the coast of Maine are the legacy of the real Miss Rumphius, the Lupine Lady, who scattered lupine seeds everywhere she went.
What Are Cool Flowers?
Cool flowers (also know as hardy annuals) are plants that can withstand frost and continue to grow and bloom even as temperatures dip. Unlike tender annuals that are sensitive to cold and need to be planted in spring, hardy annuals can be sown in the fall and will establish themselves during the winter months.
When spring arrives, they’ll be ready to burst forth with vibrant colors and lush growth.
Benefits of Fall Planting
Early Blooms: Hardy annuals planted in the fall have a head start on the growing season. As soon as the weather warms up, they’ll leap into action, often providing blooms weeks earlier than their spring-planted counterparts.
Less Weeding and Watering: Fall planting can be less demanding in terms of maintenance. The cooler temperatures and frequent rains mean you’ll have fewer weeds and less need to water, allowing you to enjoy a more relaxed gardening experience.
Extended Growing Season: By planting in the fall, you’re essentially giving your plants a head start on the growing season. This extended period of growth can lead to more robust plants and a longer blooming period.
Let’s Get Planting!
Now that you know about cool flowers, what cool flowers should you plant? Good question, let’s get to it.
In central Virginia, zone 7, the following cool flowers do great overwinter:
Ammi
They have the beauty of Queen Anne’s Lace but last much better in the vase; not dropping petals on your table cloth.
Bachelors Buttons
Can be directly seeded in the garden. An easy to grow classic wildflower.
Monarda
Also known as Lemon Mint, this beauty smells terrific and attracts beneficial insects.
Rudbeckia
Aka Black Eyed Susan. These are a cheerful icon.
Icelandic Poppies
These ephemeral beauties are super hardy and easy to grow.
Snapdragons
When you grown Snaps from seed there are so many colors to choose from!
Sweet Peas
Not only are they beautiful, Sweet Peas have a heavenly scent.
*All flower pictures are from Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Maine. The flowers shown are a small sampling of what they have. Check them out for seeds and tons of great growing information.
