Sow These 5 Flower Seeds Before Winter Ends For Gorgeous Spring Blooms

It might still be cold outside, but brighter days are just around the corner and time is running out to start a glorious spring garden from seed. While many spring flowers need to be started the previous year, some fast-growing varieties will delight you with an early season show if you sow them before winter’s end.

Starting seeds indoors provides the ideal opportunity to extend your growing season. The tender seedlings will establish themselves in the warmth of your home and soon be ready for transplanting into the garden once the last frost date has passed.

However, for some flowers, it is even possible to direct sow seeds into the garden in winter, or into a DIY mini greenhouse or cold frame for protection from the elements. As a general rule, winter sowing seeds is an option for any flowers hardy in your USDA zone.

If starting seeds indoors, all you need is a seed-starting tray, some potting mix, and suitable seeds – all of which can be found in the Gardening Know How Shop, including complete growing kits.

Start these flowers from seed now and you’ll be enjoying blooms from spring, through summer, and even into fall.

1. Poppies

When growing poppies, the seeds require a period of cold stratification before germinating, so sowing them in winter is fine for flowers from mid-spring through early summer.

There are many types of poppies you can grow, covering almost every USDA zone, but the stunning deep violet hues of Hungarian Blue poppies, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, are as good as it gets. The heirloom flowers have a maturity time of just 84 days and the seeds are edible, making a delicious addition to baked goods. You can grow them in USDA zones 5 to 9.

Poppies dislike being moved, so direct sow seeds where you want them to grow. The soil needs no enrichments as long as it’s well-draining in a sunny spot. They need little watering once established, and the only maintenance is deadheading spent blooms to encourage further flourishes.

2. Marigolds

Sunny marigolds need little encouragement to flower from late spring to the end of summer. But you do need to get an early start on sowing if you want them to make an appearance before June.

French marigolds are particularly prized by vegetable gardeners as they are excellent companion plants for many crops – attracting beneficial insects, serving as a trap crop for certain pests, and repelling others with their scent.

Tigers Eye marigold, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, is a French marigold variety with particularly captivating red and yellow flowers. It’s also compact, making it perfect for edging a vegetable garden and brightening up containers and window boxes.

Start marigold seeds indoors in late winter, about 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds onto the surface of a well-draining but moist potting mix, then cover them with a light layer of soil on top. Place the tray in a warm, sunny location. Once the last frost date has passed, harden off seedlings before transplanting them into your garden.

3. Pansies

These cold-hardy early bloomers are prized for their ability to add color to the garden in winter. Yet, pansies can also bloom in spring and even summer as long as temperatures don’t soar too high. The flowers thrive when temperatures hover around the 60s during the day and dip into the 40s at night. They can be grown as annuals in USDA zones 4 to 10.

Grow pansies from seed indoors about 10-12 weeks before your last frost date. Use well-draining soil and keep the seedlings in a bright spot. Once they’re ready to move outside, plant them in a sunny or partially shaded location.

Pansies mix beautifully with spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils, adding layers of color to flower beds or containers. With minimal care – just regular watering and deadheading – you’ll enjoy their charming faces well into the season.

4. Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum is a fast-blooming flower that can be started in late winter and transplanted outdoors the moment frosty nights have passed for flowers in mid to late spring. Depending on the variety, it can bloom in spring, summer, and into fall.

Snow Crystals Sweet Alyssum, available in the Gardening Know How Shop is an award-winning variety that blooms from late spring or early summer with an abundance of super-sweet lacy flowers. The plants are robust and compact, making them perfect for edging borders or filling out containers.

Fill a tray with moist potting mix, scatter seeds over the top, and cover with a thin layer of compost. Keep in a warm, sunny spot. Once the last frost date has passed, gradually harden off seedlings and transplant them into final positions.

5. Snapdragons

Snapdragons need to be started indoors in the fall for a profusion of spring flowers, but if you missed the optimum sowing window, you can still start them towards the end of winter for a late spring or early summer flowering.

These charming flowers come in an array of vibrant and more delicate colors and are hardy in zones 7 to 11, but can be grown as annuals in cooler zones.

Chill seeds in the fridge overnight to encourage germination and scatter thinly across the potting mix. Snapdragons need light and moisture to grow, so ideally grow them in a humidity biodome, such as Park's Original 60 Cell Bio Dome, available in the Gardening Know How Shop.

Once the seedlings are large enough, pot them into individual pots and plant them out as soon as the last frost date has passed.

More Flower Growing Inspiration

• Discover the 7 must-sow flower seeds for February to ensure a dazzling summer garden.
• Chase away the winter blues by starting these enchanting blue flowers from seed before spring.
• Not sure how deep to plant seeds? Get it right every time with this simple trick.
• Shop seed-starting kits in the Gardening Know How Shop – from mix-and-match seedling trays and lids to complete growing collections.

This article features products available from third party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop.