Late summer and early fall don’t sound like they’re the best time for planting annuals from seeds. However, depending on your climate, it might be just right. As summer is drawing to a close, cooler fall weather is making an appearance. As unlikely as it may sound, it’s the ideal time to plant quite a few annuals from seeds.

One of the main factors that makes this a good time for sowing seeds is the cooler air and cooling soil. Seeds germinate faster once the extreme heat of summer isn’t causing stress. It tends to be a bit rainier this time of year as well, so there is less watering needed. 

Sowing hardy annuals in the fall helps them to develop stronger roots. This means that they will be more vigorous and bloom sooner in the spring. For some fast bloomers, sowing now will provide lovely flowers throughout the fall and even winter in mild climates. 

Before you get started, make sure you know your zone. In cold climates like zones 6 and lower, you’ll be planting hardy annuals that will overwinter as seeds or seedlings. In milder climates like zone 7 and higher, you can sow seeds for both hardy annuals and cool-weather annuals that go from seed to bloom quickly.

Let’s take a look at some cool-weather annual seeds the Epic crew are sowing right now, and where they will grow best!

Pansy

Keeps flowering even through frosty nights.

Pansies are perfect for just about any climate right now. These cool-weather annual seeds are fast to germinate. Under the right conditions, they bloom in as few as nine weeks, but 10 to 12 weeks is more typical. Even if your first anticipated frost date is closer than that, it’s still ok to plant these. They are quite frost-tolerant!

In mild climates, your pansies should survive through the winter, and may even continue to bloom. Once established, they tolerate temperatures down to 20°F (-7°C), and even colder with protection. In cooler climates, they may die back over the winter, but will commonly come back and bloom again in the spring.

Calendula

Germinates quickly and flowers within six weeks.

Calendula is another cool-weather annual seed that we are planting now. The seeds germinate best in soil between 60 and 70°F (16-21°C). They grow quickly, and in cool temperatures, they will begin to bloom in as few as six weeks after planting. They’re also frost-tolerant down to about 25°F (-4°C).

In mild to warm climates, this is the ideal time for growing calendula. Plant them now for flowers through the winter and into the spring months. In colder zones, now is a good time to get them started. They will get established in the fall and, with protection, overwinter as seedlings. Then they will be extra strong and vigorous in the spring. 

Snapdragon

Performs best when fall-sown in warm zones for early spring blooms.

Snapdragons are one of my favorite cool-weather annual seeds. They prefer temperatures between 40 and 70°F (4-21°C). Once established, they survive sub-freezing temperatures with ease. Here in zone 9, I sow them in the fall, they grow over the winter and begin to bloom in late winter to early spring. 

If you’re north of zone 7, you’re better off waiting until the spring to plant these. You can start them indoors too if you want strong transplants in spring. In zones 7-11, get started now, and you’ll enjoy vigorous plants that burst into bloom much earlier than spring-sown seeds. 

Nasturtium

Thrives in cool, frost-free climates until winter.

If you live in a warm climate, this is the perfect time for sowing nasturtium seeds. Nasturtiums are cool-weather annuals, so they’re not happy in warm-weather summers. However, they’re not frost-tolerant, so you’re limited to frost-free climates. 

In zones 8-10, you should have plenty of cool weather to enjoy before your first anticipated frost. They will germinate quickly in the cool soil, and they’re fast growers. You’ll begin to see blooms in six to eight weeks, and they will continue until the first frost. In a frost-free climate, you can enjoy these throughout the winter. 

Sweet Alyssum

Fast-growing borders that keep blooming through light frosts.

Sweet alyssum is another cool-weather annual seed that is best planted in the fall or early spring in warm climates. It’s a fast grower and blooms in as few as six to eight weeks from seed. This annual has a lovely scent and makes wonderful fall borders.

In a cool climate, you may not get any flowers from this planting. But it will help the soil and add organic matter if you till in spring. In warm climates like zones 7-10, crimson clover survives over the winter as a green crop. In early spring, you’ll have brilliant red flowers that feed early-season pollinators. Be careful planting where this one is invasive.

Love-in-a-Mist

Overwinters as rosettes and flowers early in spring.

Love-in-a-mist is a cool-weather annual seed that many of us can plant this time of year. In mild climates, your seeds will sprout and overwinter as low-growing rosettes. In early spring, they will burst into bloom, filling the garden with airy beauty. 

In cooler climates, you might want to hold off for a month or two, as they won’t overwinter if they sprout. However, cold stratification can increase your germination rate. Fall-sown seeds will sprout as soon as the soil starts to warm up, so you’ll get an early start. 

Sweet Pea

Fall planting in warm zones makes stronger spring plants.

For warm-climate gardeners, now is the perfect time for planting sweet pea seeds. These cool-weather annual seeds are frost-tolerant enough to overwinter in zones 7-10. It’s actually the most effective way to grow them in warmer regions. The cold weather will serve the same purpose as manual pinching, producing larger, more floriferous plants. 

In colder climates, wait on these. Instead of planting your seeds now, sow them as soon as the ground is workable in late winter to early spring. The seeds are large, and they don’t transplant well. It’s best to sow them in the garden directly. Make sure your sweet peas have a support to climb. They need it!

Bachelor’s Button

Overwinters well in mild zones for spring flowers.

In milder climates, late summer is a good time to start some bachelor’s button seeds. These cool-weather annual seeds are frost-resistant and will overwinter as far north as zone 7 or zone 6 in some cases. You’ll get plenty of good root growth over the fall and winter, and in spring, they will bloom excellently. 

In cooler climates, zone 6 and lower, it’s risky. They take between 65 and 80 days from seed to bloom. Since they are frost-resistant, you may get some flowers in zones 5 and 6 if you plant them now. If you want a robust season with these pretty annuals, sow them as soon as you can work the soil in early spring. Whatever you do, keep them out of the ground in their invasive range.

California Poppy

Fall sowing ensures earlier spring blooms.

In regions with mild winters, September is the best time to plant California poppy seeds. They are adapted to fall germination and spring bloom. Fall-sown seeds will flower earlier in the spring. They overwinter as rosettes of leaves and grow solid root systems. 

In cooler climates, you can sow seeds in the fall and spring, and fall-sown seeds may sprout better after cold stratification. If you sow seeds in both fall and spring, you are sure to get a bounty of blooms. They also self-seed, so although they are annuals, there’s a good chance they will be back next year. 

Baby Blue Eyes

Cold stratification boosts germination for early spring color.

Baby blue eyes behave similarly to California poppies. These annuals germinate well in cool soil, and in warm climates, they will sprout and grow into small plants over the winter. Then, as soon as the temperature suits them in the spring, they will bloom quickly. 

In colder climates, they are also best sown in the fall. The cold stratification helps increase the germination rate. Seeds won’t germinate until spring, but they will germinate as soon as possible, so in this way, you save yourself some time in the spring. 

Bells of Ireland

Fall sowing results in a longer spring bloom time.

Bells of Ireland love cool weather, and they prefer a period of cold stratification to germinate best. They may or may not sprout in the fall. In warmer climates, this is fine, as they tolerate a light freeze. However, in cooler regions, they are more likely to sprout in early spring. 

The natural stratification that occurs when you sow these seeds in the fall makes this plant establish faster and sooner. This gives them the longest span of cool spring weather, which is what they prefer. Either way, September is an excellent time for sowing these annual seeds. 

Flax

Produces plenty of blooms, though each lasts one day.

Sowing flax seeds in late summer can be a good choice. It depends on your climate, of course, and the type of flax. We are talking about ornamental flax here, which is a cool-weather annual seed that produces lovely, airy flowers. In mild climates, flax will germinate in the fall and overwinter as seedlings. 

In cooler climates, your flax seeds are unlikely to germinate until spring. The cold stratification that comes along with fall sowing may improve germination. These pretty annuals produce red or blue flowers. Each bloom only lasts for one day, but they are prolific producers.