Organized by urgency · Last frost approx. May 15 · Sandy loam · Greenhouse available
| Ordered | Sown | Plant | Urgency | Method | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annuals & Self-Seeding Annuals | ||||||
| Larkspur Consolida ajacis | ASAP | Direct sow now | Scratch in immediately; needs cold nights | Cold-stratifies naturally in the field. Self-seeds freely once established. self-seeds | ||
| Annual Poppies Papaver rhoeas | ASAP | Direct sow now | Scatter now while cold nights persist | Surface sow, needs light. Self-seeds aggressively. self-seeds | ||
| Nigella Nigella damascena | ASAP | Direct sow now | Prefers cool soil for germination | Self-seeds freely in disturbed soil. self-seeds | ||
| Phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia | ASAP | Direct sow now | Cool-season germinator, sow early | Outstanding pollinator plant. Often reseeds. self-seeds | ||
| have | California PoppyEschscholzia californica | ASAP | Direct sow now | Scatter now; cold soil aids germination — do not start indoors | Hates root disturbance — greenhouse trays cause spotty germination. Cold stratifies naturally in the field. Self-seeds freely once established. self-seeds | |
| have | Lemon BergamotMonarda citriodora | ASAP | Direct sow now | Scatter now; cold stratification improves germination | Annual/biennial native to North America. Lemon-scented, excellent for bees and butterflies. Related to your beebalm. Self-seeds once established. self-seeds | |
| have | Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla | ASAP | Direct sow now | Surface sow as early as possible; cool-season germinator | Self-seeds prolifically. Prefers being direct-sown. Once you have it, you'll always have it. self-seeds | |
| have | Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum carinatum (OSC Formula Mixed) | Can wait | Start indoors | Start indoors mid-March; transplant late May after last frost | Warm-season annual, not cool-season. OSC Formula Mixed — large daisy-type blooms. Full sun, 50 cm tall. Good cut flower. | |
| Chrysanthemum Glebionis coronarium (crown daisy) | Can wait | Direct sow or start indoors | Direct sow late May; or start indoors late April | Frost-sensitive warm-season annual (Shungiku). Edible leaves and flowers. Self-seeds in warm conditions. self-seeds | ||
| Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus | Can wait | Direct sow or transplant | Direct sow mid-May; or start indoors late April | Warm-season. Self-seeds well in sandy loam. self-seeds | ||
| Borage Borago officinalis | Can wait | Direct sow | Direct sow late April–May | Reseeds prolifically. Edible, great for pollinators. self-seeds | ||
| Calendula Calendula officinalis | Can wait | Direct sow or transplant | Start indoors March–April; direct sow late April | Tolerates light frost. Reseeds in cool spots. self-seeds | ||
| Ammi Ammi majus / visnaga | Can wait | Start indoors or direct sow | Start indoors March; direct sow late April | Prefers cool starts. Reseeds in good conditions. self-seeds | ||
| Honeywort Cerinthe major | Can wait | Start indoors | Start indoors late March–April | May reseed in sheltered spots. Bumblebee magnet. self-seeds | ||
| have | Nicotiana Nicotiana alata | Can wait | Start indoors | Start indoors late March; surface sow, needs light | Hedge self-seeding hopes with a backup indoor start. self-seeds | |
| Verbena bonariensis | Can wait | Start indoors | Start indoors Feb–March; surface sow, needs light | Warm, sheltered spot to encourage reseeding. self-seeds | ||
| have | Zinnias Zinnia elegans | Can wait | Direct sow or transplant | Direct sow when soil warm (late May); or start 2–3 wks before last frost in individual cells | Hate root disturbance. Need warm soil (>20°C). No self-seeding. | |
| Mexican Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia | Can wait | Start indoors | Start indoors early–mid May only (grows fast) | Mexican sunflower. Big, orange, butterflies love it. No self-seeding. | ||
| have | Sunflowers Helianthus annuus | Can wait | Direct sow | Direct sow mid–late May | Birds will "plant" extras for you. Use branching varieties for long bloom. | |
| have | Strawflower Xerochrysum bracteatum | Can wait | Start indoors | Start indoors 6–8 wks before last frost (late March); surface sow, needs light | Warm-season annual. Excellent cut and dried flower. Prefers well-drained sandy soil — yours is ideal. | |
| have | Marigold Tagetes spp. | Can wait | Start indoors or direct sow | Start indoors 6–8 wks before last frost; or direct sow late May | Warm-season. French types self-seed more readily than African. Excellent companion plant. | |
| have | Love-lies-bleeding Amaranthus caudatus | Can wait | Direct sow or start indoors | Direct sow after last frost (mid-May); or start indoors 4–6 wks before | Dramatic drooping crimson plumes. Self-seeds aggressively in warm soil — can become weedy in a good way. self-seeds | |
| Biennials (sow now for next year's bloom) | ||||||
| Foxglove Digitalis purpurea | ASAP | Start indoors / greenhouse | Start now in greenhouse; surface sow, needs light | Part shade under deciduous canopy. Self-seeds once colony established. self-seeds | ||
| Sweet William Dianthus barbatus | ASAP | Greenhouse start | Start now for next year | Fragrant, self-seeds in open borders. self-seeds | ||
| Mullein Verbascum chaixii / phoeniceum | ASAP | Greenhouse or direct | Start indoors now; or direct sow late spring | Architectural, self-seeds freely. self-seeds | ||
| have | Caucasian MulleinVerbascum pyramidatum | ASAP | Start indoors / greenhouse | Start indoors now (March–April); transplant after last frost (late May) | Perennial. Tall architectural spires. Surface sow, needs light to germinate. Will establish first year, bloom year 2+. Self-seeds once mature. self-seeds | |
| Lunaria Lunaria annua | ASAP | Direct sow or greenhouse | Sow now; tolerates cool soil | Great under deciduous trees. Self-seeds freely. self-seeds | ||
| Dame's Rocket Hesperis matronalis | Can wait | Direct sow | Direct sow spring or fall | Fragrant May–June. Naturalizes vigorously. self-seeds | ||
| Perennials from Seed | ||||||
| Echinacea Echinacea purpurea | ASAP | Cold-stratify then greenhouse | Refrigerate seed 4–6 wks, then start indoors; or direct sow now outdoors | Native. Blooms yr 2–3. Slowly self-seeds. self-seeds | ||
| Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan | ASAP | Direct sow or cold stratify | Direct sow now; or start indoors with light stratification | Native. Reseeds freely. Vital for late pollinators. self-seeds | ||
| Columbine Aquilegia spp. | ASAP | Cold-stratify then greenhouse | Stratify 4 wks in fridge, then start indoors; or scatter now outdoors | Shade tolerant. Self-seeds and hybridizes beautifully. self-seeds | ||
| Agastache Agastache foeniculum | Can wait | Surface sow indoors | Start indoors March–April; needs light to germinate | Anise hyssop. Aggressive self-seeder. Outstanding pollinator. self-seeds | ||
| Monarda fistulosa Wild bergamot | Can wait | Start indoors or direct sow | Start indoors March; direct sow late April | Native. Spreads by rhizome and seed. self-seeds | ||
| Liatris spicata Blazing star | Fall sow | Fall direct sow | Sow October–November; or buy corms in fall | Native. Needs natural cold stratification over winter. | ||
| Showy Spreading Perennials (sunchoke alternatives) | ||||||
| Rudbeckia laciniata Tall coneflower | Fall sow | Fall direct sow or cold-stratify | Best: scatter in Oct–Nov. Or: refrigerate 4–6 wks, start indoors March | Native. 5–6 ft. Spreads aggressively by rhizome + seed. Give it room. self-seeds | ||
| Heliopsis helianthoides False sunflower | Fall sow | Fall direct sow or cold-stratify | Best: fall scatter. Or: cold-stratify and start indoors March | Native. 4–5 ft. Less aggressive than laciniata but vigorous. self-seeds | ||
| Helenium autumnale Sneezeweed | Either timing | Start indoors or fall sow | Indoors Feb–March (surface sow); or fall direct sow | Native. Orange-red-gold fall blooms. Spreads by clump + seed. self-seeds | ||