- Why prefer flowers?
- Flowers to prefer A - K
- Flowers to prefer L - O
- Flowers to prefer P - Z
- Light or dark germs?
- seed pot and substrate
- Procedure for sowing
- Dahlias & Co
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Annual summer flowers bring a colorful display of flowers to the garden all summer long into autumn. They are extremely easy to care for and can fill some dreary gaps in the perennial border. Pulling the flowers forward on the windowsill will prolong the joy of the floral wonders. It's not difficult at all, even for beginners. Below we will show you how to do this and have put together suitable flowers for you.
Why prefer flowers?
Normally, the annual summer flowers are only sown outdoors at a time when temperatures are rising and the soil is slowly warming up. Then the conditions are favorable for germination of the seed. Outdoor sowing usually takes place at the end of March to the beginning of April. Temperature fluctuations can still occur, which do not allow the seeds to germinate. There would be outages.
It should also be mentioned that seedlings outdoors are a very popular food source for birds and especially snails. In comparison, flower plants grown in the greenhouse or on the windowsill in the house can score points with a certain lead in growth. The best time to sow seeds indoors is late February to early March. But there are other advantages:
- Plants are more robust
- cheaper than bought young plants
- bloom earlier, as early as May or earlier
- therefore longer flowering period
- Location can be chosen individually
As with herbs and vegetables, growing flowers on the windowsill indoors is not difficult. All that is important is the right soil mixture, the location and the seed container. We will show you later in detail how best to proceed. Now to the flowers.
Flowers to prefer A - K
There are a variety of summer flowers that are particularly suitable for growing indoors. You can then close gaps in perennial beds, but also look good in pots and tubs. Many of the annual flowers are suitable as cut flowers and are used in colorful summer bouquets. Here is a small selection of suitable flowers for growing in the house.
Asters (Callistephus chinensis)
- Flowering July to October
- Height up to 60 cm
- Sow late February to early March
- Soil temperature 15 to 20 degrees
- Germination time 10 to 15 days
- Prick out plants with four leaves
- later: sunny, well-drained, calcareous soil
- change location every year
Balsams (Impatiens balsamina)
- Synonym: garden balsam
- for beds, borders and pots
- Flowering time May to October
- Growth height 60 cm
- Sow early March
- under glass at 18 degrees
- Germination time 15 to 20 days
- light germinator
- press seeds
- later: sunny to semi-shady location
- loose, well-fertilized soil
Chabaud carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
- popular cut flower
- Growth height up to 50 cm
- Flowering July to October
- Sowing February
- Soil temperature 18 to 22 degrees
- Sowing depth 0.5 cm
- Germination time 7 to 14 days
- keep moist
- later: sunny location
- loose, lightly fertilized soil
- break out side shoots for large flowers
Cosmee (Cosmos bipinnatus)
- Synonym: jewelry basket
- blooming profusely
- for beds and borders, for cutting
- Growth height up to 80 cm
- Flowering time May to October
- bee friendly
- Promoting flowering through frequent pruning
- Sow February to early March
- Soil temperature 18 to 20 degrees
- Germination time 8 to 14 days
- cover with 1 cm soil
- keep moist
- later: sunny location
- permeable soils
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
- Creeper for trellis and fences
- helps against aphids
- Growth height up to 300 cm
- Flowering period June to September
- Sow March
- Ground temperature 15 degrees
- Germination time 14 to 20 days
- always 2 to 3 seeds in a pot
- Sowing depth 2 cm
- keep moist
- Later: sunny to semi-shady location
- leaner soils
Flowers to prefer L - O
Levkoye (Matthiola incana)
Ввласенко, Matthiola incana. Madeira, Portugal, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Group planting for beds, borders, cottage gardens
- durable, fragrant cut flower
- Growth height up to 70 cm
- Flowering time May to September
- Sowing February
- Soil temperature 10 to 18 degrees
- Germination time 7 to 14 days
- press seeds
- light germinator
- keep moist
- Continue cultivating seedlings at 10 to 12 degrees
- later: sunny location
- loamy, nutrient-rich soil
Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)
- Synonym: Loyal to men
- for balcony boxes, buckets, traffic lights, bed borders
- Growth height up to 15 cm
- Flowering time April to October
- Sowing February
- light germinator
- press seeds
- Soil temperature 20 to 22 degrees
- Germination period 2 to 3 weeks
- prick out in bunches in pots
- keep your feet warm
- later: sunny
- fertilize regularly
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
- for group planting for beds and borders
- cut flower
- Growth height up to 70 cm
- Flowering time May to October
- Sowing February
- Soil temperature 15 to 23 degrees
- Germination time 10 to 14 days
- cold germinator
- Cold period before germination 10 days at 5 degrees
- cover lightly with soil
- set up light and airy
- later: sunny to semi-shady location
- humic, calcareous soil
Almond Rose (Clarika unguiculata)
Eugene Zelenko, Clarkia unguiculata-4, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Group planting for beds and borders
- cut flower
- Growth height up to 60 cm
- Flowering time May to September
- Sow early March
- Ground temperature 15 degrees
- Germination time 7 to 14 days
- cover lightly with soil
- keep moist
- later: sunny to partially shaded place
- well-drained soil
ice plant (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis)
- Synonym: ice cream
- for borders, wall joints, beds, pots, rock gardens
- Growth height 10 to 25 cm
- Flowering time May until frost
- Sow early March
- Soil temperature 15 to 20 degrees
- Germination time 8 to 20 days
- light germinator
- just press and keep moist
- Cover pots with foil
- sunny spot in the garden
- normal garden soil
- withered flowers break out
- The flowers only open when the sun is shining
Flowers to prefer P - Z
Petunia (Petunia hybrida)
- Balcony plant for tubs, pots, beds
- Growth height up to 30 cm
- Flowering time May until frost
- Sowing February
- Soil temperature 20 to 22 degrees
- Germination time 10 to 18 days
- light germinator
- Just press the seeds
- keep constantly moist
- under glass or foil
- Prick out as soon as the first pairs of leaves appear
- later: sunny location
- humus rich, well-drained soil
Purslane (Portulaca grandiflora)
- for borders, flower boxes, hanging baskets
- Growth height 15 cm
- Flowering time May to October
- Sow February/early March
- Ground temperature 18 degrees
- Germination time 7 to 14 days
- Sow in sandy soil
- light germinator
- Press seeds lightly
- under glass/foil until it emerges
- keep moist
- then further culture cool and dry
- later: full sun
- well-drained, poor soil
Larkspur (Delphinium ajacis)
- annual
- Group planting for beds and borders
- cut and dried flower
- Growth height up to 110 cm
- Flowering time May to August
- Sowing February
- Soil temperature 21 to 24 degrees
- Germination time 18 to 25 days
- keep moderately moist
- later: sunny
- medium-heavy, loose, nutrient-rich soil
Sea Lavender (Limonium sinuatum)
- Use as a dried flower, in bouquets
- Growth height 60 to 80 cm
- Flowering time May to September
- Sow early March
- Soil temperature 18 to 20 degrees
- Germination time 10 to 15 days
- Sow in sandy soil
- keep moist
- later: sunny to semi-shady
- sandy, poor soils
Strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum)
- for beds, borders, cut flowers, dry binding
- Growth height up to 80 cm
- Flowering period June to October
- Sow early March
- Ground temperature 18 degrees
- Germination time 10 to 20 days
- Sowing depth 1 cm
- later: sunny location
- well-drained, humus-rich soil
Zinnia (Zinnia)
- for beds, cut flowers
- Growth height up to 50 cm
- Flowering period June to October
- Sow early March
- Sowing depth 1 cm
- Press lightly, keep moist
- Soil temperature 18 to 21 degrees
- Germination time 5 to 7 days
- later: sunny location
- well-drained, loamy soils
Light or dark germs?
When pre-cultivating flowers on the windowsill, it is important to note when sowing whether they germinate in the light or in the dark. The germination of the seed depends on this.
dark germs
- Germination of the seed only with sufficient darkness
- germination is inhibited by light
- Cover seeds with a thin layer of soil
- keep moist
light germinator
- Seeds need light to germinate
- just press lightly
- do not cover with soil
- keep moist
Tip: The seeds of the light germinators can be covered with a sheet of newspaper when watering, so they cannot wash away.
seed pot and substrate
Various vessels can be used to bring flowers to the windowsill. Of course, a small indoor greenhouse with a corresponding hood that fits exactly on the windowsill is ideal. However, there is no limit to the ingenuity here. can also be used
- Propagation trays, especially for fine seeds
- small pots made of plastic or peat
- yoghurt pot
- egg cartons
- peat-free coir pots, especially for cuttings and single sowing
In addition to the seed pots, the substrate is of course crucial for success. Special growing soil should preferably be used here. This is sterilized and contains no fungal spores and other pathogens, as well as hardly any nutrients. This circumstance benefits the seedlings in their further development. The delicate roots are stimulated to go in search of nutrients. This ensures good growth and branching of the roots. The substrate must always be loose and well drained.
Tip: The bottom half of the pot can be filled with normal potting soil, with potting soil on top.
Procedure for sowing
As already mentioned, the right time for sowing indoors is late February to early March. This ensures that strong plants are available by the time they are planted outdoors in mid-May. However, not only the time plays a decisive role, but also the correct procedure when sowing. Here are some tips on how to do this
- Fill the substrate loosely in containers
- leave the top edge of approx. 2 cm
- Level the soil with your hand or wooden board
- Moisten the substrate with a fine shower
- Distribute seeds evenly on top
- not too close or on top of each other
- Cover dark germs with a thin layer of soil and press down lightly
- Light germinator no cover, just press seeds lightly
- water everything lightly
- best use an atomizer
- Write names and dates on labels to mark them
- Cover the container with a pane of glass, plastic bag or foil
The sowing would now be done. However, further care is crucial for good success. Sufficient humidity or "tight air" is necessary for germination. Therefore, a cover is mandatory. This is removed once a day for ventilation. The seed pot can now find a bright place on the windowsill at temperatures around 20 degrees. High temperatures should be avoided. The substrate must always be kept moist, but not wet.
Shading is necessary after seed emergence on sunny days. On the other hand, the container should be a little cooler on days with little sunlight, but not below 16 degrees. Otherwise it can quickly happen that the seedlings "grow". Weak, pale and thin plants then develop.
pricking
When the plants have reached a height of approx. 10 cm or two pairs of leaves have formed, the flowers should be pricked out. Before planting outdoors in mid-May, the young plants must be acclimated to the climate outside.
For this purpose, they are placed in a protected place in the semi-shade for a few days. Fleece protection is required in cool weather.
Tip: Fine seed can be mixed with quartz sand before sowing or applied to the substrate with a coarser sieve. This makes it easier to distribute.
Dahlias & Co
Dahlias, begonias or the Indian cane (canna) are usually not planted outdoors until the end of May after the ice saints. Here, too, the tubers can be grown indoors from the end of February. To do this, they are planted in pots or bowls in humus-rich and moist soil and given a bright place on the windowsill. The tubers must then be kept moderately moist. This stimulates the formation of new shoots. The plants become stronger and more floriferous.