One more article, newscast, blog post or Facebook comment complaining about snow or record cold and you’ll barf, right? So, I will spare you. (You’re welcome!) Let us focus on what we do want, Spring!
Why do I want Spring? Well, aside from the warmer weather, of course, FLOWERS! I’m jonesing to get my hands in the dirt, man! So, in the meantime, I dream and plan…a little, but mostly dream. One choice I have made this year is to direct sow seeds for most of my flowers. I am also using heirloom seeds. (Ooooh, two decisions, …hmmm, maybe I am a planner?)
Direct sowing requires faith. It’s so much easier to go to the nursery and pluck the healthiest looking plants already in bloom. So, why bother growing from seed? You have to wait weeks for anything to happen. Then when the seedlings come up; It can be hard to tell at first if it is your flower or a weed.
Direct sowing does have a number of advantages. Variety is a big one. You can order way more varieties of a flower if you go for seeds , rather than live plants. The company I ordered from had 22 different morning glories alone. Wouldn’t it be cool to have flowers in your garden that are different than same ones you see at every other house on the block? Another plus is you know where, how and what your plants were grown in. You can avoid gmos, pesticides and other chemicals if you wish. Direct sowing is also kinder to the earth because there are no plastic cel paks or pots. One paper envelope of seeds has the potential to provide 50-250 plants. And this also means it’s A LOT cheaper!
Most importantly, you get to see your little seed turn into a beautiful flower. It’s a very satisfying reminder in a world of instant gratification that life can be astonishingly beautiful when you put time, nurturing and love into it.
Here’s what I am planting this year. I picked them all because they are known to do well when sown directly into the ground in Spring. (No messing with starting seeds indoors for this gal!)
- Love-In-A-Mist
- Sweet Pea Flora Norton
- Sweet Peas Old Spice
- Sweet Pea Painted Lady
- Morning Glory Sunrise Serenade
- Morning Glory Rose Feather
- Morning Glory Heavenly Blue
- Moon Flower
- Zinnia Royal Purple
- Bonbon Zinnia
- Zinnia Miss Willmont
- Pansy Orange Sun
- Pansy Swiss Giants
- Pansy Historic Florist Mix
- Nasturtium Dwarf Jewel Mix
- English Daisy Rose Ball
- Marigold Petite Mix
- Marigold Brigade Mix
- Poppy Purple Peony
- Poppy Ballerina Double Mix
- Cosmos Sensation Mix
- Calendula Orange King
- Bachelor’s Button Frosted Queen Mix
- Bachelor’s Button Blue Boy
- Zinnia Button Box
- And Several different Hollyhocks (I ordered them separately. They haven’t arrived yet.)
Have you ever direct sown seeds? I would love to hear from you.
Love and Blessings to All,
Cynthia
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