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The best flower seeds for spring

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Flowers come to mind when spring rolls around. Home gardeners can’t wait to fill their green spaces with colorful blooms. Growing flowers from seeds is one of the most rewarding ways to cultivate a flower garden. Spring is the best time of year to get started.

Half the fun of gardening with seeds is choosing your favorite flowers to grow. Consider soil and weather conditions, regional gardening zones and care requirements to make your flower planting successful. Then, watch your tiny seeds blossom into healthy, lasting blooms that cheer up your outdoor living area throughout the growing season.

Spring flower seed preparation

It’s exciting to buy flower seeds and get them in the soil so growing can begin. But, there are several vital steps to take to grow strong plants that produce hardy flowers.

Plant hardiness zone

Where you live helps determine which flower seeds thrive in your region. The United States Department of Agriculture has a plant hardiness zone map. It helps gardeners understand which plants are best for each location.

The current map consists of 13 zones divided by 10-degree Fahrenheit temperature variations. The packaging of many flower seeds indicates which zones they grow best in. You can also research your favorite flowers to determine if they are suitable for your zone.

If you live in a zone where the weather stays cold long into the spring, get a jump-start on your flower garden by planting seeds indoors using pots and potting soil.

Soil

Flower seeds are more likely to sprout in soil that promotes germination. Soil that’s sandy, rocky or has poor drainage isn’t ideal for seeds. If seedlings do emerge, they may not grow to produce blooms without proper nutrients. Adding compost or pre-packaged garden soil to your flower garden helps with drainage and puts nutrients back into the ground where seeds take root.

Sun

Before choosing flower seeds, think about where you want to plant them. While most flowers need several hours of sun to grow, not all need total exposure. Additionally, some flowers prefer shady areas. Check the seed descriptions for sun and shade requirements to be sure you buy seeds that work in your area.

Tools

Gardening tools that work the soil, put your seeds in the ground and keep plants looking their best make spring gardening a breeze. Here are some standard tools that come in handy.

Annuals vs. perennials 

Annuals require planting each year. Sometimes seeds from blooms fall to the ground and sprout the next growing season, but the plants themselves don’t return. Perennials get planted once and continue to grow on their own each year without needing replanting. Choosing between the two categories is a matter of preference and what works in your region.

Best flower seeds for spring

Sunflower Garden Grow Kit

Sunflower Garden Grow Kit

This unique seed kit produces a garden full of sunny blooms with six different sunflower seed varieties. It includes seeds for both dwarf and giant varieties and comes nicely packaged for gift-giving.

Sold by Uncommon Goods

AeroGarden Cascading Petunia Seed Pod Kit

AeroGarden Cascading Petunia Seed Pod Kit

This comprehensive kit comes with six pods containing petunia seeds and Miracle-Gro plant food. It’s an excellent choice for growing flowers indoors.

Sold by Amazon

Tacklife 6-piece garden tool set

Tacklife 6-Piece Garden Tool Set

This garden tool set comes with the items you need to prepare soil and plant seeds. You get two trowels, a weeder, a soil scoop, a cultivator, pruning shears and a handy tote to keep them organized.

Sold by Walmart

 

Seeds2Go Orange California Poppy Seeds

Seeds2Go Orange California Poppy Seeds

California poppies like these orange beauties thrive in sunny conditions. Approximately 20,000 seeds come in a resealable bag to keep them fresh for repeat planting.

Sold by Amazon

Seed Needs Wildflower Mixture

Seed Needs Wildflower Mixture

This mixture contains more than 30,000 wildflower seeds that sprout blooms that attract butterflies, birds and bees. It includes 23 varieties.

Sold by Amazon

Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Garden Soil

Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Garden Soil for Flowers

Using this soil formulated for flowers helps your flowers stay healthy and produce gorgeous blooms. It protects delicate flower roots by allowing the right amount of water to reach them.

Sold by Home Depot

Black Duck Brand Flower Seed Packets

Black Duck Brand Set of 50 Flower Seed Packets

This is great for planting a garden full of different flowers because this set includes 50 seed packets and at least 15 varieties. Packets are sealed to maintain freshness until you are ready to plant them.

Sold by Amazon

 

Seed Needs Bulk Sunflower Seeds

Seed Needs Bulk Sunflower Seeds

This bulk pack contains 1,000 sunflower seeds with 15 varieties. Blooms have bold colors, and some even have multiple hues.

Sold by Amazon

 

Burpee Morning Glory Heavenly Blue

Burpee Morning Glory Heavenly Blue

Plant morning glories in the spring, and you can greet them in the morning all summer long. These seeds grow to produce bright blue blooms, a favorite color of those who love this vining flower.

Sold by Amazon

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Jennifer Manfrin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

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