Speedy Sowing Spring Flowers!

September 9, 2016

For this blog post, we're going to focus on speedy sowing flowers, especially those flowers that are known to attract bees into your garden.

As the days become warmer, you'll start to notice more bee activity in the garden. Why not take advantage of this key time by introducing some of these quick flowering bee favourites:

Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) - Flowering time eight weeks

alyssum


Uses - Borders, edgings, rock gardens

This sweet smelling annual may be sown directly into the ground early Spring after all signs of frost have passed. Light is needed for germination so lightly sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil and gently press down.

In our range, we have: Alyssum Carpet of Snow, Alyssum Royal Carpet

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) - Flowering time ten weeks

sunflower

Uses - background, borders

Nothing says Spring like this sunny sunshine favourite. Easy to grow and often used to introduce kids to the joys of gardening. Sunflowers love to follow the sun so make sure you choose a spot in your garden where they will get full sun exposure. Seeds can be sown outdoors just ensure you give your plants plenty of room to grow.

Popular Varieties: Sunflower Giant Single, Sunflower Dwarf EOS, Sunflower Royal Velvet

Phlox (Phlox drummondii) - Flowering time ten weeks

phlox

Uses - Colourful display in beds and pots

If you're a beginner in the garden, then this charming annual is the flower for you. For successful growth, cover the seeds lightly with seed raising mix ensuring they are well covered. Phlox seeds need darkness to germinate so ensure you cover the seeds completely. Being drought tolerant makes it a great addition to any Spring/Summer garden.

Popular Varieties: Phlox Brilliancy, Phlox Tapestry

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) - Flowering time 14 weeks

Cosmos flower

Uses - Beds, borders, pollinator friendly gardens

This cheerful annual loves the heat and makes an attractive backdrop to lower growing plants. When all signs of frost have passed, sprinkle seeds lightly across the top of the well-drained soil. To prolong flowering remove the spent flower heads from the plant.

Popular Varieties: Cosmos Carpet Formula, Cosmos Puritys, Cosmos Sensation Mixed

Looking for other Spring flower seeds to sow? View our 'What flower seeds to sow this Spring' page for inspiration and ideas.

Want to attract bees to your garden? Check out our Bee and Butterfly attracting range here.