As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, fall lends a quiet magic to the garden. The vibrant colors of summer may be fading, but now is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for new life when the seasons turn again.
There’s something deeply satisfying about planting seeds in fall, knowing that nature will take its course through the cold months, preparing for a dazzling display of blooms come spring and summer.
Fall planting is an act of faith and anticipation. The soil, still clinging to its summer warmth, nurtures the seeds, while the cooler nights encourage slow, steady growth beneath the surface. The garden may look bare now, but it holds the promise of vibrant color, texture, and fragrance in the months ahead.
There is a wide variety of seeds that can be planted in October, including our recommended flower seeds to sow in September. Before you begin, it’s important to consider the conditions – soil preparation, frost protection, and the specific needs of each seed type.
Many autumn-sown flowers thrive when started in cooler temperatures, as they benefit from the winter cold and bloom in the spring or early summer. Meanwhile, more tender plants can be started under cover in October, protected from the frosts, before being planted out in the spring.
With a little planning, your efforts now will be rewarded with a garden that bursts into life just as the world begins to thaw.
Shop Sensational Fall Flower Seeds
Summer may be over, but fall is the ideal time to plant flower seeds of many hardy and even tender annual and perennial flowers. Head over to the shop to browse our top seed selections.
1. Larkspur
(Image credit: Alamy)
Featuring lovely tall spires of purple, pink, or white, annual larkspur (Consolida spp.) is fantastic for adding height to the garden in late spring through summer. It’s a type of delphinium with softer, looser flowers, and like its close relative, it’s an essential addition to a cottage garden.
Larkspur seeds require a cold period before germinating, which makes them ideal candidates for October sowing. Ideally sow directly where you want seeds to grow, as the plant’s tap root does not like to be disturbed. Alternatively, you can start them in pots if you plant one seed per small pot or module, for later transplanting into their final positions.
Larkspur thrives in a full-sun position in well-draining, fertile soil that is alkaline to neutral. Keep soil moist but not soggy – watering deeply when the soil begins to dry out. Fertilize every two weeks in the growing season and keep the site weed-free. Regular deadheading will prolong the bloom period.
2. Sweet Peas
(Image credit: Jacky Parker Photography / Getty Images)
Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are essential additions to summer gardens with their heavenly scent and pretty flowers ranging from white, pink, and mauve to deep red and navy blue. These prolific climbers will cover a wall or trellis, adding color to the vertical plane and allowing them to perfume the whole garden. Sweetpeas also make delightful cut flowers, and picking them regularly will encourage them to keep producing.
Though they can be started as late as spring, an autumn sweet pea sowing ensures stronger plants, and can extend the growing season if you sow succesionally. As the flowers have deep roots, you will need to sow seeds into tall pots, such as root trainers, and then pot them on before they become rootbound. They will need the protection of a cold frame or unheated greenhouse, and the potting mix will need to be kept continuously moist, but not soaking wet.
Pinch out sweet peas once they have developed 3-4 sets of leaves, to encourage bushier plants, and plant out in the spring. Tie them onto a trellis or frame and fertilize with tomato feed every two weeks after planting.
3. Snapdragons
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) make charming additions to beds and borders but are also ideal for growing in pots. They come in a wide range of colors, from vibrant sunny hues to elegant whites and pastels.
These hardy annuals will bloom from spring to summer in warmer USDA zones and will go on into fall in cooler areas. They are deer-resistant, and can even be used as a companion plant to deter them from nearby crops.
Sow snapdragon seeds on the surface of fine compost and grow in a cold frame or greenhouse. Once seedlings have formed, pot them in individual pots and plant them out in the spring, once the risk of frost has passed.
Snapdragons thrive in a sunny spot in fertile but well-draining soil. Pinch out the main stem to promote more flowers, or harvest them regularly as cut flowers. Keep the soil moist, watering in dry periods.
4. Agastache
(Image credit: Alamy)
Agastache – or anise hyssop – is a drought-tolerant perennial herb that can be planted in poor soil, but provides a long flowering season. Its tall, fuzzy spires, are most commonly seen in shades of purple, but can also be found in pink, blue, orange, or white. The flowers’ height makes them an ideal back-of-border plant, but they can also be planted in containers.
Plants are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 10, but benefit from a layer of mulch to overwinter in colder zones.
It’s easy to grow agastache from seed: sow directly in the fall or indoors once the frosts have hit, for planting out in the spring. Plants require a sunny spot and well-drained soil. Water only until the plant is established, and keep the site clear from weeds.
Agastache’s licorice aroma and flavor make the plant resistant to deer – and it can also be used to make a delicious tea.
5. Rose Campion
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) is a biennial or short-lived perennial in USDA zones 4 to 8. This versatile plant has interesting gray-green foliage and bold magenta flowers that look great in cottage gardens to modern xeriscaped schemes. Plants prefer poor, dry soil, which makes them ideal for rock gardens.
As the seeds require a cold period before germinating, rose campion is ideally planted in the fall. The seeds also need some light, so should be lightly pressed into the surface of the soil without being covered.
Rose campion thrives in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Water only in periods of extended drought.
6. Livingstone Daisies
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Livingstone daisies – or Mesembryanthemum – are low-growing succulents with vivid daisy-like flowers. Ideal for as a ground cover in dry areas, rock gardens, and even between garden pavers, the plants are perennial in USDA zones 10-11, otherwise they must be grown as annuals. Alternatively, confine plants to containers and overwinter indoors.
Sow seed directly into the ground, or indoors in seed trays in cooler zones. Alternatively, wait until spring and sow directly. Livingstone daisies require a sunny spot and well-draining soil. There’s no need to water until the soil has dried out – then give them a good soaking.
7. Pink Evening Primrose
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Pink evening primrose (Oenothera Speciosa) is a beautiful, low-growing native plant that blooms with waves of blush pink flowers all from spring to summer.
Unfortunately, it is aggressive in certain conditions and prone to spread, so should be confined to patio containers or planted as ground cover in an area of poor, rocky soil, where it can naturalize without becoming invasive. Never plant it in wetter areas in fertile soil.
Sow pink evening primrose seeds directly into well-draining soil in the fall or spring, and water minimally.
8. Columbine
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Columbine – or Aquilegia – is a perennial favorite in gardens, as its bell-shaped flowers are wonderful at attracting hummingbirds and are lovely in floral arrangements. It’s suitable for USDA zones 3 to 9.
Growing columbine from seed is easy, and can be started any time from spring through to fall – although flowers will not appear in the first year. Directly sow seeds where you want plants to grow. Columbine thrives in full sun, though benefits from partial shade in warmer zones. Mulching will help plants to overwinter in colder zones.
Keep the soil moist until plants are established, then water occasionally in dry periods.
This article features products available from third-party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop.
