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It’s hard to imagine a garden plot without flowers. They decorate, create a mood, and serve to disguise unsightly places or neglected surfaces. Many passionate gardeners grow colorful dahlias, irises, lilies, delphiniums, gladioli and, of course, roses. Others prefer more modest flowers that do not require special care, such as marigolds, calendula, snapdragon, cosmos.
For many living on their land, it is important that the flowering period of their flower beds lasts from the very first days of spring and does not end even with frost. For summer residents who permanently live on their plots only during the summer months, the main thing is to be able to enjoy the view and fragrance of flowers from June to September. There is a fairly large group of summer residents who, for various reasons, do not want or simply cannot deal with seedlings. But they have a desire for their garden to be filled with flowering plants throughout the summer.What to do in this case? After all, buying ready-made annual seedlings in large quantities is a very expensive pleasure.
There is a way out of any situation. Unpretentious annuals that bloom all summer without seedlings are not a fairy tale at all. Such plants really exist, it’s just that this list will vary greatly for different climatic zones of Russia. But even for the conditions of the middle zone, you can select many similar annuals.
What does it mean - unpretentious plants
Experienced flower growers are well aware that there are plants that will thrive in some conditions with virtually no care, but placed in other conditions (amount of sun, moisture, acidity and soil texture) can die very quickly.
At least, there are none or very few of them among beautiful flowering plants. As you know, some are malicious weeds can adapt to anything.
Therefore, when choosing suitable annuals for your garden, be sure to focus on the conditions that characterize your particular site. The most important requirements are:
Attitude to sunlight
The vast majority of annuals require good sunlight. Some can bear it penumbra. Among annuals grown without seedlings, calendula is distinguished by its unpretentiousness to light conditions, Lavatera, malcolmia, nemophila and viscaria (tar). A blue asperula it even prefers to grow in shaded places and does not tolerate direct sun.
This annual can also be found under the name woodruff blue. In addition, it loves calcareous soils and somewhat high humidity. It is characterized by a delicate aroma that resembles the smell of lavender. You can sow it in open ground at the end of April, shoots appear after 2 weeks. The plant blooms from the end of June and can delight you with flowering until the end of summer.
How much moisture do you need?
With humidity, everything is much simpler for annuals; the vast majority of those unpretentious annuals that bloom throughout the summer without seedlings prefer moderate moisture throughout the season. Few of them like high humidity, but many like even watering and well-drained soils without stagnant water. They are more likely to withstand some drought than waterlogging.
A flower that places slightly higher demands on soil moisture is nemophila.
This low annual plant, growing up to 15-20 cm, is capable of forming a real carpet of a bluish tint. It requires abundant watering in dry weather. It can be sown in the ground as early as May; it blooms 50-60 days after sowing, but it does not bloom for very long - about two months. But if you sow it in June, it will delight you with flowers all autumn months until frost.
Soil requirements
About half of annuals grow and bloom well in slightly acidic or neutral soils. While others frankly prefer slightly alkaline soils with sufficient lime content. But still, most flowers from unpretentious annuals have high adaptability to soil acidity. Much more important for them is the air permeability of soils, which can be improved by carrying out drainage measures. Among the annuals that frankly prefer calcareous soils, one can note, for example, Iberis.
In general, it is very unpretentious, but it will feel better on calcareous soils. You can sow its seeds in open ground at the end of April. Shoots appear in 7-9 days, and it can bloom in mid-to-late June. Iberis flowers are very fragrant; thanks to its short growth, it can also form a carpet of spreading shoots. True, the flowering period of this annual is not very long - about two months, therefore, like nemophila, it can be sown additionally in the summer.
The fastest growing plants
In general, there are quite a lot of unpretentious annual flowers, the seeds of which can be sown in open ground even in central Russia. And many of them will actively grow and develop all summer, and will bloom...towards the end of August, or even in September. Of course, such a scenario is unlikely to suit gardeners. After all, they can only expect this from perennial plantsthat will survive the winter, and next year will delight you with their flowering without any additional effort. But annuals are obliged to delight our eyes starting from June. And spring, with stable warmth in the middle zone, begins relatively late.Usually the ground is cleared of snow by the middle or end of April, and these are the earliest times for sowing many unpretentious cold-resistant annuals into the ground. This means that it is necessary to sow seeds of annuals, which have a very short period from seed germination to flowering - no more than two months, and preferably 30-40 days. And such annual plants exist. You will get to know them later in the article.
Alyssum, or lobularia
This short annual with a honey aroma is known to most experienced gardeners. It comes in white, pink and lilac shades. Prefers light, neutral, poor soils and full sun. Shoots can appear literally in 3-5 days. And flowering is possible already 40-50 days after germination. Alyssum is able to form flower stalks until November. If the summer turns out to be dry, then alyssum needs watering to maintain its decorative appearance. In order for flowering to continue for such a long time, it is necessary to cut off the stems with fading flowers; otherwise, alyssum is very unpretentious.
cornflower
Despite the fact that most people associate cornflower flowers with the color blue, there are yellow, white and lilac varieties of this unpretentious and well-known annual. The seeds germinate within a week, and it blooms approximately 50-65 days after germination.
Gypsophila graceful
Florists know and appreciate this unpretentious annual. Rises gypsophila quickly and can bloom 40-50 days after sowing. True, its flowering does not last very long, only about a month. But you can sow it throughout the summer and even sow it before winter. Iberis has already been described above in the article.
Clarkia
This charming, unpretentious annual can even be used as a cut flower, although its stems often need a little support. Seeds germinate easily when planted in April after 10-12 days, and flowers appear after 7-8 weeks. The shades of Clarkia flowers range from pure white, pink, to dark lilac.
Limnantes
This pretty flower, only 15 cm high, is rarely found in gardens, but it can bloom 50-60 days after sowing. It tolerates light frosts, so you can sow it at the end of April. In addition to flowers, it has very decorative feathery leaves. The plant captivates with a sweet, mild aroma. In terms of unpretentiousness, this annual is difficult to find equal.
Malcolmia
One of the most unpretentious and fast-growing annuals. It can also be found under the name Cheiranthus maritima. It takes about 1.5 months from sowing seeds to flowering. It can cover any place in the garden, and even rocky paths, with a low, up to 20-30 cm carpet. It is so cold-resistant that it can be safely sown even before winter.
Matthiola bicornuum
This variety of matthiola, unlike its luxurious sister, is not particularly beautiful, but is famous for its unpretentiousness. It can be sown as soon as the snow melts and after 1.5-2 months you will be able to enjoy the wonderful aroma in the evening and at night. This flower, inconspicuous during the day, smells like the most luxurious French perfume in the evening.
Nigella, or Damask nigella
The plant is an old-timer in gardens, undeservedly forgotten in recent years. After flowering, its seed pods can be used in flower arrangements. You can sow the seeds of this annual in the ground from the end of April and even in November in the snow.Although seedlings do not appear quickly, often on the 15-20th day, it is capable of blooming within two months after the sprouts appear.
Mignonette fragrant
The name of this plant alone draws attention to the aroma it emits. The flowers themselves are not distinguished by a riot of colors, but because of the aroma, many are happy to plant mignonette in their garden. It germinates in 8-14 days, and blooms two months after sowing.
Eschszolzia
It is not for nothing that Eschscholzia is so popular among gardeners; it is one of the fastest growing and unpretentious plants. Capable of blooming within 40-45 days after planting. The seeds germinate within two weeks. The seedlings can withstand temperatures down to -5°C, and the plant itself can bloom until November. The only thing this annual needs is bright sunlight. It reproduces well by self-seeding.
Other annuals grown in summer without seedlings
In addition to the above plants, there is also a whole set of rather unpretentious and cold-resistant annuals that can be sown in late April - early May in open ground. But you must understand that the first flowers will appear on them no earlier than July. If this suits you, then try experimenting with the following varieties of unpretentious annuals:
- Acroclinum
- Agrostemma or Kukol
- Anhuza
- Arctotis
- Bartonia
- Sweet pea
- Goldenflower (Chrysanthemum) keeled
- Calendula
- Coreopsis
- Cosmea, or space
- Lavatera
- Leia graceful
- Malopa
- Nasturtium
- Sunflower
- Tar, viscaria
- Bruise, echium
- Tolpis bearded
Conclusion
The unpretentious annuals described in this article will please gardeners in any climate zone.Of course, in the south the choice of plants for growing without seedlings will be even greater, but flower growers in the Urals and Siberia may also be able to choose something from this list for themselves.
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