Gardeners and gardeners know: autumn planting saves precious spring hours, when there is so much work that you don’t know which one to tackle first. According to experts, plants, including ornamental ones, also like this kind of agricultural technology - the test of winter cold makes them stronger and activates internal resources. The result is generous, and in most cases earlier than usual, flowering. In autumn you can plant almost any perennial flowers. Which one to choose - everyone decides for himself, but there are some favorites that are found in every second garden.
Why do you need autumn planting of perennials?
Some perennials can be planted even in slightly frozen soil; they do not require sunlight at all
A prerequisite for planting many crops is stratification (hardening) of the seeds. During autumn planting, this process occurs naturally. The sprouts that hatch from such seeds withstand weather conditions. Young growth, as a rule, is not afraid of the returning spring colds and even frosts, which would be destructive for seedlings grown in greenhouse conditions.
Flowers planted in autumn have other benefits:
- they begin to bloom about half a month earlier than those sown in spring, and remain decorative throughout the season;
- their immunity is stronger, they are more resistant to diseases and pests;
- in the future they do not require frequent replanting, like perennials grown in the traditional way (once every 2-3 years is enough);
- provide high-quality planting material obtained by dividing the plant into several parts;
- they are easy to care for.
A small disadvantage is that seed consumption during autumn planting is slightly higher than in spring. The fact is that as a result of stratification, non-viable seeds die. However, it is not worth solving this problem by deeply deepening the seeds into the soil - this will not protect them from frost in any way, but in the spring it will make it difficult for the sprouts to move towards the sun.
What perennial flowers can be planted in the fall: 7 best options
Gardeners have long been accustomed to the fact that ornamental bulbous and shrub crops are planted in the fall. The fact that perennials can be grown in a similar way without cluttering the window sills with containers of seedlings in the spring is a pleasant discovery for many. The main thing is not to make mistakes with the timing of planting at the dacha: in central Russia it is usually mid-November, in the southern regions - the end of the month, in the northern regions - the beginning. Depending on the vagaries of the weather, changes to the schedule are possible. It is important not only to know what flowers are planted in the fall, but also to take into account the peculiarities of planting and growing them, and also take into account the time that will have to be spent caring for them.
Asters differ not only in flowering time and height, but also in the structure of flowers - they are pink-shaped, peony-shaped, chrysanthemum-shaped
This crop in ornamental gardening amazes with its variety of species, but for autumn plantings, early-flowering varieties, for example, alpine aster, are best suited (late-flowering ones are usually planted in the spring).
Seeds are sown in November. A prerequisite for planting is frozen soil. Sometimes perennial aster is sown even in early December, right in the snow. In order for friendly shoots to appear in the spring, you cannot deepen the seeds more than 0.5 cm into the soil.
For successful growth, a number of conditions must be met: moisture should not stagnate in the area, otherwise the roots will begin to rot, and the place must be sufficiently sunny - asters will die in the shade.
Flowering of early varieties that were sown in autumn begins in May-June (2-3 weeks earlier than spring plantings). If seeds of late-flowering plants were used for sowing, flowering will occur in September-November.
Spring care consists of thinning: if the sprouts have sprouted very actively, some of them will have to be removed - the asters will bloom magnificently and brightly if the distance between them is 20–30 cm. Also, the plantings may need watering when the moisture formed after the snow melts is used up . If a dense crust forms on the soil surface, it must be loosened. During the further growing season, the flowers will require regular weeding, and once a season they need fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizer.
In late autumn, experts also recommend planning the propagation of perennial asters using seedlings - on the eve of winter they are planted in a permanent place. Flowers have time to take root well, provided that the soil for them has been prepared 2-3 weeks before planting, and the place is sunny.
Growing delphinium from seeds is much cheaper and easier than purchasing ready-made planting material
Pre-winter sowing is a smart solution for those who would like these flowers to bloom in May or early June. This is especially true for delphinium, since then the plant has a chance to please the gardener with repeated flowering in the fall (provided that the flower stalks of the “first wave” were cut off).
Depending on the nature of the autumn weather, delphinium seeds are sown in open ground in October or November.
They are sprinkled with a thin layer of a mixture of peat and sand and covered with spruce branches for the winter, but the survival rate of the seedlings will still be slightly lower than after spring planting. In this regard, experts recommend increasing the amount of seeds consumed in the fall by 20–30%. The shoots will be strong and friendly, provided that a sunny area has been chosen and the soil is well prepared - dug up and fertilized.
In September, delphiniums are propagated by dividing the rhizomes. For plants 3–4 years old, it is cut into 7–10 parts. A prerequisite is the presence of buds or at least one shoot on each part. The plant tolerates winter well and blooms profusely in June.
Delphiniums are unpretentious in care, but watering, especially during dry seasons, is important for them.
In order for the bushes to bloom longer, you need to get rid of the flowering shoots with a knife.
This plant is propagated by divisions, usually in the fall. In spring, the peony is not yet ready for this procedure - its root system is exhausted, since all the plant’s forces are spent on growing green mass and forming buds. In addition, after such manipulations, the peony will still not have time to bloom in the season that is just beginning.
If propagation by divisions occurs in the fall (in the middle zone - in early September), the first inflorescences will appear in May. September is good for the formation of new peony bushes because the heat is ending, night temperatures are significantly different from daytime (the plant is being hardened), it rains more often, which has a beneficial effect on the condition of the soil.
- The timing of this work differs slightly in different regions:
- in Siberia, the period from August 20 to September 20 is considered optimal;
- in the Urals - from August 20 to the end of September;
in the Volga region and Moscow region - from the end of August to the end of September. This time is enough for the peony to grow additional roots and firmly establish itself in the ground. Delaying the deadlines risks the fact that a poorly rooted plant will emerge from winter with a weakened immune system and will not be able to resist pests and diseases.
Caring for a newly planted plant involves watering up to 10 liters per bush. In the future, rains will help solve the problem, but if the autumn is dry, the plant may require 2-3 waterings before the onset of winter. Fertilizing is not needed only if fertilizers were applied to the soil at the stage of preparation for planting. In any case, nitrogen is contraindicated for peony at this time - this fertilizer activates the growth of green shoots, which is extremely undesirable on the eve of winter.
Those who are planning to propagate this flower using seeds that ripen in boxes in the place of the former bud are advised to abandon the idea. In this case, the varietal characteristics of the peony are most often not preserved, and you will have to wait at least five years for flowering.
The bushes should be planted in such a way that when growth is completed, the plantings close together: primrose has a negative attitude towards excess space
Gardeners love primroses because they are among the first to decorate flower beds with bright colors. In order for flowering to begin in May, seeds are sown in open ground in the fall (in the middle zone - at the end of September).
The seeds are buried to a minimum of 0.5 cm, and the plantings are covered to protect them from severe frosts in winter.
The conditions under which you can count on the successful growth of future plants are a well-chosen planting site (primroses like partial shade), fertility and sufficient soil moisture.
If you plan to plant flowers to decorate a rock garden, you should avoid the south side.
If it is not sowing that is required, but replanting of plants, then in the fall this operation should be completed at the end of September or October in such a way that the primrose has enough time to take root before the onset of cold weather, otherwise winter will be disastrous for it. In this case, it is easier for residents of the southern regions; they have more time.
The division of bushes is also carried out in the fall, after the completion of the flowering phase. It is recommended to cover young plants without waiting for the onset of severe cold weather.
Phlox are usually propagated by cuttings, since they take root well, and it is best to do this in the fall: spring plantings delay flowering for a whole year, and “autumn” ones will bloom next summer.
In the old days in Rus', phloxes were called “sitchik”.
More precisely, planting dates are determined depending on the flower varieties: early and mid-early ones form so-called “renewal buds” by the end of August. This means that the plant can already be propagated. For late varieties of phlox, this period is postponed to the second ten days of September. In any case, work on propagation and replanting of bushes should be completed by mid-October so that young plants are not damaged by frost.
Rooting of cuttings usually takes 30–40 days.
Phlox planted in autumn requires minimal care; even watering is usually not needed, since the plant is provided with moisture by autumn rains. But fertilizing will come in handy - complex fertilizer is mixed with ash and scattered on top of the frozen soil. In the spring, plantings are watered with water containing mineral fertilizer diluted in it, thanks to which flowering becomes richer and its duration is longer.
Plants planted in autumn are protected from frost by mulching - sawdust, peat. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, the mulch is immediately removed.
Astilbes look especially impressive against the background of ferns and in the shade of conifers, but single plantings are also possible This beautiful plant, which blooms from June to August, is best propagated by dividing the bush. It is recommended to carry out work in the fall, when the average daily temperature does not drop below +5 o C for 2–3 weeks.
In central Russia, the beginning of September is considered the right time to plant astilbe.
Flowering begins already next summer (in the second half), but experts recommend preventing this and cutting off the emerging flower stalks. Unpopular “surgical” measures have to be taken because a plant that is not strong enough sometimes dies, giving all its strength to the flowers.
Caring for astilbe usually comes down to watering: as soon as it does not receive enough water, the inflorescences become small and the leaves wither.
Astilbe comfortably tolerates cold Russian winters (down to –37°C), practically does not get sick, and garden pests are not particularly interested in it.
The lifespan of loosestrife with proper care is more than 10 years
The plant, which has become popular among gardeners in recent years, is usually propagated by seeds or vegetatively. Both are usually done in the fall, but preference is still given to the second method, and here’s why: a plant grown from seeds only begins to bloom in the third year. With vegetative propagation by dividing the bush, flowers appear at the beginning of next June and continue to delight with bright colors until mid-August.
China is considered the homeland of loosestrife, where you can find more than 70 species of this flower.
Planting work is carried out in September-October. In order for the plant to better prepare for winter, there should be no young leaves on it at the time of planting. If the whole bush is transplanted to a new place, without dividing it into several, you need to make sure that the prepared hole is deeper than the previous one. This is a necessary condition for flowering not to be late, but to begin as early as next year.
Other conditions under which loosestrife will retain its decorative properties for a long time are fertile soil and fairly high soil moisture. But he is not afraid of winter cold, and there is no need to cover the flowers.
Having mastered the autumn planting of perennials in various ways, the gardener ensures that in the spring he does not waste time growing seedlings, but at the very beginning of the season he has flower beds with strong plants that have been hardened by the winter cold. They do not need to adapt to open ground; they have enough strength to begin flowering earlier than what happens during spring planting.
Gardeners are often wary of planting and sowing perennial flowers in the fall, fearing that the plants and seeds will not survive the winter and will freeze. In many cases, these fears are unfounded. Suffice it to recall flowers that reproduce by self-sowing. There are other reasons why it is better to plant some perennials in the fall.
Benefits of autumn planting perennial flowers
The first and most pragmatic argument in favor of autumn planting, replanting, and sowing perennial flowers is the freeing up of significant time in the spring, when there is a lot of other work on the site.
When deciding what planting time to choose, you cannot miss the fact that in the spring perennials begin to actively grow. The period for planting them before the start of the growing season turns out to be extremely short.
In addition, there are some features of flower plants planted in autumn:
- they begin to bloom in the first year after planting;
- overwintered plants undergo natural hardening, and the seeds undergo stratification, so these flowers, in comparison with those planted in the spring:
- have stronger shoots;
- less susceptible to spring frosts;
- bloom 2–3 weeks earlier;
- less susceptible to diseases and pests;
- melting snow allows seeds and plants to be saturated with moisture as much as possible and begin active development as soon as the weather permits; spring plantings may experience a lack of water in the upper layers of the soil, which dries out as the air temperature rises.
Some plants can be planted and replanted exclusively in the fall. This is due to the fact that in the spring their roots simply do not grow. An example would be the Siebold and Tokudam hosts.
Hostas Siebold and Tokudam are planted only in autumn
What are the risks of autumn planting?
Autumn planting of perennial flowers can only cause concern for gardeners who have little experience in growing these plants. After all, the main risk is the delay in planting flowers, which will not have time to take root well, and therefore will suffer from the cold, or even die in winter.
When planting perennials in autumn, the opposite mistake is also possible - placing the plant in the ground too early, when prolonged warmth will provoke the growth of shoots, and with the advent of frost - the death of young shoots.
The only advice that can be given to gardeners is to coordinate transplants not only with the local climate and advice on the Internet, but also with the long-term weather forecast for the current season, as well as the ability of specific plants to tolerate low temperatures.
It is better to replant flowers in dry and relatively warm (+12…+15ºС) weather. In such conditions, well-watered plants will feel comfortable in a new place and will take root more easily. Flowers with low winter hardiness should be covered with peat, sawdust, spruce branches, and fallen leaves for the winter.
Perennials that are planted in early September
In the first ten days of September, maximum until the middle of the month, hostas - perennial herbaceous plants - are planted, replanted, and propagated by dividing the bushes. This genus contains about 40 species. The flower needs about a month to fully root, so later planting is undesirable.
For the host to take root, at least a month must pass before a stable cold snap occurs.
At the same time, the planting or replanting of roses, which began at the end of August - deciduous shrubs with a height of 0.3 to 2.5 m or branched vines reaching 10 m in length - is completed. Flowers have a variety of colors. The rose family has 300 to 400 species. They come from rose hips or the Gallic rose. The current varieties were developed through crossing and selection work.
Rosehip is the ancestor of many modern varieties of roses
Preference is given to autumn planting of roses in the southern regions, where plants have enough time to take root before the first cold weather.
In northern areas, spring planting is desirable, but autumn planting is considered risky.
Many varieties of modern roses are derived from the Gallic rose.
Bulbous flowers
With the onset of autumn comes the time when bulbous perennials are planted so that they have time to settle in a new place, and in the spring, as soon as the weather allows, they can begin to grow.
Autumn is the best time to plant bulbs
First third of September
- This is the best time to plant small-bulbous flowers. These include:
Scilla, or scylla, is an unpretentious bulbous plant that only needs to be planted once. The blue carpet of these early spring flowers will grow each year as they are self-seeding.
- Scilla, or scylla, is an unpretentious bulbous plant, loved by many of our flower growers.
Muscari, or mouse hyacinth, is more than 60 species of small-bulbous flowering plants of the Asparagus family. These are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. They have a pleasant and strong smell.
- Small-bulbous perennials also include muscari, or mouse hyacinth
The genus Chionodoxa includes 6 species of flowering plants that are among the first to bloom in the spring. Their leaves are from 8 to 12 cm long, and their flower stalks are up to 20 cm. The buds can be blue, white, blue and pink. By June, the entire above-ground part of the plant dies off.
Chionodox flowers are blue, light blue, white, pink
Second ten days of September
Crocuses (saffron) are popular herbaceous bulbous plants of the iris family. 80 of their species and 300 varieties are described. There are also mentions of crocus in Egyptian papyri. Few people know that among them there are primroses that bloom in the spring, and species of this plant that bloom in the fall. Spring flowering crocuses are planted in September.
Not all novice gardeners know that there are autumn-blooming crocuses, but in September they plant those that are among the spring primroses.
Daffodils are flowers that are considered a symbol of full-fledged spring. There are about 60 species. Flowers are undemanding to soil, moisture-loving, and prefer to grow in the sun or partial shade.
There are almost 60 varieties of daffodils
Hyacinths can be propagated by seeds, but the seedlings will bloom only after 5 or even 7 years, and they will not repeat the external characteristics of their parents. In gardening, these flowers are propagated by children, which can be easily separated from the mother bulb. They are grown in cold greenhouses for 2 years. If the children are still not easy to separate from the modified maternal shoot, then they are planted together with the bulb.
Hyacinths can be propagated by seeds, but a faster way would be to divide them
Third ten days of September
The end of September is the time to plant tulips.
Tulips are bulbous perennials of the lily family. Their multicolored colors from white to almost black are a symbol of the triumph of spring in nature. Planted in the ground in time (at least a month before the onset of cold weather), the bulbs of this plant will take root well and produce spectacular flowers in the spring. They are planted at a distance of about 30 cm from each other, and children - after about 10–15 cm.
Tulips are planted at least a month before the onset of cold weather so that the bulbs have time to take root.
A general rule when planting almost all bulbous perennials: the depth of embedding the bulb in the soil should be approximately equal to three times the height of the bulb itself.
Table: other perennial flowers, which begin to be planted in September
| Name and brief description of colors | Best landing time |
| Astilbe is a plant resistant to frost and disease. Prefers to grow on light, nutritious soils in partial shade or sun, adjacent to hostas, conifers, junipers, and ponds | Beginning of September |
| Rhizomatous irises are unpretentious plants of the iris family. Propagated by planting parts of the rhizome with fibrous roots and leaves | End of August and all of September |
| Daylilies are sometimes called red-day lilies, because each flower, having bloomed in the morning, fades in the evening, but the many peduncles and buds on them guarantee long-term flowering | The ideal time is the end of August and the beginning of September, although this plant can undergo replanting or dividing the bush at any time during the growing season, except flowering |
| Late-blooming varieties of phlox paniculata are unpretentious, like their earlier-blooming counterparts, planted in late August or early September. They all love sunny or partial shade. Plants reproduce by dividing the bush, but can live in one place for many years, although on old bushes the flowers become smaller | Second half of September |
| Aquilegia, or catchment, is an unpretentious plant of the buttercup family. There are many varieties of this flower: some sources indicate 60 varieties, others - almost twice as many. The catchment grows well in loose, nutritious soil, covered with partial shade of shrubs. Tall aquilegias are planted at a distance of 0.4 m from each other, low-growing ones - about 0.25 m | Second half of September |
| Perennial Rudbeckia belongs to the Aster family. It easily tolerates our climate, since it is similar to that observed in its natural habitats in North America. In total there are about 40 annual and perennial plants in the family. They reproduce by seeds and by dividing the bush | The second half of September, when the plants have bloomed |
I have been growing the perennial Golden Ball rudbeckia for a long time. The plant is completely unpretentious, as long as it is watered on time. She doesn't get sick and isn't afraid of pests. Its stems up to 2 m tall, with large green leaves and then bright yellow flowers, perfectly decorate a mesh fence. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of myself, but I found a very similar version on the Internet.
Rudbeckia Golden ball perfectly decorates the fence
When planting cuttings of rhizomatous plants, you should not forget to treat all cuts with charcoal or ash to prevent rotting and infection.
Photo gallery: perennials that are planted in September
Rhizomatous irises are propagated by dividing the rhizomes Phlox likes sunny places or partial shade Aquilegia grows well in loose and nutritious soil Daylily flowers open in the morning and fade in the evening Astilbe is resistant to frost and disease
October planting of perennials
The first half of October is usually still accompanied by weather that makes it possible to continue planting and replanting those perennial flowers that the gardener for some reason did not have time to work with in the second half of September.
The end of October is already cooler. The weather of this period allows you to plant lilies of the valley. Today it is not only the May lily of the valley, which symbolizes spring, and is known to everyone, but also various breeding varieties, up to a variety that has pink flowers. The May lily of the valley is not afraid of cold weather and overwinters without shelter even in the 3rd frost resistance zone of plants, where minimum temperatures range from -43 to -34ºС. When purchasing varietal lily of the valley, it is better to check its wintering conditions.
All parts of the lily of the valley are poisonous, so you need to wear gloves when working with this plant. The fruits are bright berries - it is better to remove them, especially if there are children on the site.
The May lily of the valley is not afraid of cold weather and winters without shelter
During the same period, bushes of peonies that have become too large are planted - deciduous herbaceous perennials that make up the only genus of the peony family. Now there are many varieties of these flowers. They are very diverse, including tree-like peonies that have the shape of a bush.
Peonies are deciduous perennials that form the only genus of the peony family.
Planting perennials in November
At this time, stable cold weather usually sets in or is already in place. Perennials are not planted this month. Pre-winter sowing of seeds is possible (and for some species even preferable). Such plants include:
- rudbeckia;
- Veronica;
- gypsophila paniculata;
- perennial lupine;
- bells;
- echinacea;
- evening primrose.
In parallel with sowing seeds in November, perennials are prepared for winter - they mulch the soil and cover plants that require this.
Photo gallery: perennial flowers, the seeds of which are sown before winter
Rudbeckias are sown with seeds Speedwells can be planted with seeds before winter Gypsophila paniculata will survive the winter cold if planted with seeds Bluebells are sown in November Echinacea is also suitable for sowing before winter Evening primrose in seed form will easily overwinter underground Perennial lupine is best sown in November
In order to correctly use the information provided in the article, one must not forget that the timing of planting, transplanting, propagating and sowing plants is approximate, taking into account the specifics of the middle zone. In areas located to the south, all these operations are carried out a month later, and in areas located to the north - approximately the same time earlier. In addition, each season brings its own surprises; when planting, replanting, propagating, and sowing perennials, you need to take into account the weather conditions of each year.
Autumn is the time to plant plants that bloom in early spring and reproduce by bulbs or rhizomes. And planting some flowers with seeds before winter frees the gardener from some of the spring troubles or unnecessary work with seedlings.
Planting flowers before winter
Planting flowers before winter not only frees the gardener from some of the spring troubles, but in some cases it is simply necessary. Autumn is the best time to plant flowers that reproduce by bulbs or rhizomes. And with the first frosts, you can sow seeds of annual and perennial flowers in prepared beds.
Table: pros and cons of autumn flower planting
What plants to plant in the fall
At the beginning of autumn, bulbous and rhizomatous perennials are planted; with the onset of frost, seeds of annual flowers can be sown, as well as seeds of those plants that need stratification.
Table: a selection of bulbous and rhizomatous perennials that are planted in the fall
| Name | Description | Landing date |
| Allium (decorative onion) | It blooms in late May early June, producing a tall peduncle up to 80 cm tall. The color of the flower-ball can be different. | September October |
| Hyacinth | A low plant, up to 30 cm high, with a large dense inflorescence - a raceme. The colors of the flowers are different. | Second half of September |
| Iris | A beautiful plant that remains decorative even after the flowers have faded. The height of the iris depends on the variety and can reach 60 cm; varieties can be selected so that flowering begins in early spring and ends in autumn. | September October |
| Crocus | A spectacular corm plant, one of the first to delight with its flowering after the snow melts. Height is only 15 cm. Some varieties bloom in autumn. | August - early September |
| Muscari | Unpretentious plants, 15–20 cm high, blooming in late spring early summer. The main colors are blue and blue, but there are some varieties with white and pink flower colors. | Beginning of September |
| Narcissus | A beautiful plant with yellow or white flowers. The height depends on the variety and can vary from 25 cm to 60 cm. It blooms in late spring. | Late August - early October |
| Tulips | There are several types of tulips, which differ in the size and shape of the glass (flower), flowering period, and height of the peduncle. Breeders have created magnificent varieties with different flower colors, as well as double and multi-flowered varieties. | Late September - early October |
Photo gallery: bulbs that are planted in autumn
Hyacinths look good in a dense planting 
Irises differ not only in the color of the petals, but also in the flowering period 
Crocuses are the first to bloom and can grow in one place for up to 5 years. 
Muscari grows well not only in the ground, but also in wide flowerpots 
Daffodils are best planted in groups in a sunny place. 
Simple tulips will delight you with glasses of various colors 
Terry tulips are new for gardeners, very beautiful 
Allium is a decorative onion, the flower can reach 25 cm in diameter
Table - annual flowers that can be planted before winter
| Aster | A beautiful flowering plant, from 25 cm to 90 cm in height. Can be used as a border plant or for cutting. It is distinguished by a huge number of colors and flower shapes. | October-November, after the establishment of permanent frosts |
| Iberis | A low-growing bush, only 30 cm high, strewn with caps of umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Many varieties have a very pleasant aroma. Flowering is long lasting. | |
| Calendula | An unpretentious garden flower, a medicinal plant. The height of the bushes depends on the variety and ranges from 30 cm to 80 cm. The color of the flowers is most often orange, yellow or red. | |
| Phlox annual | An unpretentious annual, up to 25 cm high, with a wide variety of flower colors. | |
| Compact bushes 20–30 cm high with flowers of various colors. Due to the tap root system, it is recommended to plant immediately in a permanent location. | ||
| An excellent unpretentious plant that forms a bush up to 60 cm tall. Suitable for both cutting and flower beds. | ||
| Alyssum | A ground cover plant that blooms with small flowers with a strong aroma. Flowering begins in June and continues until autumn. | |
| Lavatera | An unpretentious plant with flowers up to 9 cm in diameter. The height of the bushes is up to 80 cm. | |
| Cosmea | An ornamental plant with openwork foliage and simple or double flowers of various colors. Bush height up to 80 cm. | |
| Snapdragon (anthurium) | Plant height is from 20 cm (dwarf varieties) to 160 cm (cut plants), but most often about 50–60 cm. It propagates well by self-sowing, blooms from June until frost. | |
| Marigold | Unpretentious bushes with fragrant flowers and leaves. Plant height depends on the variety and varies from 30 cm to 80 cm. |
Photo gallery - annual flowers that can be planted before winter
Iberis is a low-growing bush that can bloom all summer 
Calendula is not only a beautiful and fragrant flower, but also a medicinal plant 
Eschscholzia flowers are delicate and thin, like butterfly wings 
Cornflower is an unpretentious bush that blooms all summer 
Cosmea will perfectly decorate an empty space on the site, since it is very unpretentious 
Unpretentious marigolds sprout beautifully in the spring on their own 
Annual phlox is unpretentious and easy to care for 
Alyssum looks good not only as a border, but also in a hanging flowerpot 
Not a single autumn bouquet is complete without asters
Table: perennial flowers that can be planted before winter
Photo gallery: perennial flowers that can be planted before winter
Mallow - a tall plant with simple or double flowers, looks great near a fence or walls 
Aquilegia should only be planted in the fall, as the seeds need stratification 
Rudbeckia, grown by sowing before winter, blooms next summer 
Delphinium is difficult to grow from seedlings, so it is better to sow it directly into the ground
Almost all spring-flowering bulbous plants are planted in the fall; during the winter they undergo the necessary stratification and bloom in the spring. Seeds of unpretentious annuals can also be sown in late autumn, when the ground is already slightly frozen.
Pre-winter sowing of garden flowers greatly simplifies the life of a summer resident in the spring. After all, this is exactly how the life cycle of most plants is structured - ripened seeds fall to the ground, overwinter, and germinate in the spring. To successfully cope with the task, you need little - to know which flowers can be planted with seeds before winter and how best to do it.
What flower seeds can be sown before winter?
Most garden flowers can be sown safely in the fall. This applies to perennials wintering in open ground and most annuals that can easily tolerate cold.
Annuals
You can sow annuals directly in the planned place in the flower garden, in school beds, followed by transplanting the planted seedlings into small containers in the spring. Plants whose taproot system is negative for replanting are sown in a permanent location:
- Clarkia marigold;
- varieties of flax - large-flowered, sowing;
- hybrid varieties of lupins;
- self-seeded poppy;
- matthiola (“night violet”);
- mignonette;
The following flowers are suitable for school beds:
- Adonis;
- calendula;
- nigella;
- Chinese cloves;
- pyrethrum;
- annual asters.
For southern flower beds, snapdragons, godetia, Sander tobacco, sowing and swamp chrysanthemums are added to the above. Many annuals easily reproduce by self-sowing, but not all of them show good results. For example, it is better to grow petunia and lobelia through seedlings, since winter sowing gives late flowering, but more often the plants do not have time to develop sufficiently until autumn and please their owners with flowering.
The optimal choice for winter sowing is annuals with a short growing season - up to 60 days.
Perennials
Perennial flowers are planted in school beds, from where in the spring they are transplanted to selected and prepared places. Choose plants that are resistant to spring cold snaps:
- winter-hardy varieties of cyclamens;
- bells;
- decorative yarrow;
- daisy;
- forget-me-not;
- evening primrose;
- echinacea;
- digitalis.
Advantages of winter sowing
In addition to significant time savings in the spring, sowing flowers with seeds in the fall has the following advantages:
- Germination of planting material takes place under natural conditions.
- The seeds undergo natural selection, the strongest, healthiest, and most resistant to adverse external influences emerge.
- Flowering occurs earlier.
This situation is not true for all flowering plants, since for many, spring return frosts delay development. But if, after the snow melts, light greenhouses are installed above the schools, flowering is guaranteed to occur 10–15 days earlier.
- The summer resident has free time in the winter. You can devote it to the germination of heat-loving exotics.
- The growing season of plants planted before winter begins earlier, and at this time the activity of pests and pathogens is not yet high.
Important points about autumn seed sowing
In order for pre-winter sowing to really free up time and effort, some technological features are taken into account, starting with the choice of location: choose a well-lit area located on the south side of the buildings, preferably elevated, but without a slope. The second important aspect is the timing of sowing. Sow only in stable cold weather, which prevents premature germination.
Soil preparation
The places where the seeds will be sown are prepared in advance, while the weather is warm - in September, in the south it covers October, even November.
- The soil is loosened, and at the same time a complex of fertilizers is applied.
- Seeds need light, loose soil, so if necessary, it is refined, including deoxidation or alkalization.
- The bed is leveled and the soil is compacted.
- Furrows are cut along the compacted soil. Their depth depends on the size of the seeds, from 1 cm for small ones to 4 cm for large ones.
- The beds are covered with film, matting, and agro-fabric so that they are not covered with the first snow.
- A soil mixture is prepared from peat, sand, and humus in equal parts, which is kept in a warm place until sowing.
How to sow correctly
Sowing method:
- Planting is carried out when cold weather sets in.
- They peel back the film that covered the bed.
- The seeds are placed in the grooves. They are sown thickly, since at this stage it is unclear how many of them will sprout.
- The furrows are filled with prepared soil mixture.
- The soil is insulated with dry plant residues or covered with agro-fabric.
If it was not possible to find a suitable place in the country for autumn sowing, the seeds can be planted in small containers - cups, containers, boxes, always with drainage holes. Sowing technology:
- a 2-centimeter layer of drainage is placed on the bottom;
- pour a substrate of peat, sand, garden soil (3:1:1), compact it;
- place the seeds and water them;
- the containers are buried in the garden in well-lit places protected from the wind in holes commensurate with the volume of the seedling boxes;
- empty spaces are filled with dry leaves, and the pots are mulched.
In spring, seedlings are planted in permanent places.
Disadvantages, dangers, mistakes of pre-winter planting
Sometimes summer residents are indignant that nothing has grown from the autumn crops. The failure can be explained by the following reasons:
Low seed quality. Planting material that has lost its condition is often used: expired, stored in improper conditions.
Failure to comply with sowing deadlines. They often sow as early as the second half of October, guided by the advice of old publications, without taking into account the climate change that has occurred in recent years throughout the planet. As a result, the seeds have time to germinate before frost. Tiny tender seedlings cannot stand it and die.
Wet beds. Hurry-up summer residents, having waited for the first frost, are in a hurry to sow. However, the earth still retains moisture, and after mulching it retains heat. This promotes swelling and germination of seeds. The result is the death of seedlings.
Seeds are sown only 5–6 days after the onset of persistent cold weather. During this time, the moisture contained in the soil freezes out, and the earth becomes dry.
Excessive seed penetration. It is naive to believe that the depth of embedding will protect them from freezing. Seeds of correctly selected flowers are not afraid of frost. But it will be difficult for fragile sprouts to break through; many do not have enough strength for this.
Post-sowing watering. Beginning flower growers are afraid that their autumn labors will be in vain. The first skills of winter sowing can be obtained by sowing flowers, of which it is known for sure that self-seeding is their usual method of propagation. These include marigolds, cosmos, echinacea, rudbeckia, as well as garden crops of rare vitality - coriander, dill, parsley.
The correct choice of beautiful flowers for winter sowing, carrying out the process according to the rules described above, is a guarantee of early blooming of garden favorites that decorate life and attract bees.