Hi terri,

I grew GREAT Bachelor Buttons for the first time this year. I still have a stand blooming! My best plants were the ones that I just threw out into the flower beds back in the fall. The seeds germinated and survived freezing temps and even a snowfall that lasted for about a day or two.

Love in a mist and larkspur are two others that I had direct sown with great results.

I winter sowed for the first time this past year and am a HUGE fan of the method now. However I don't think I will waste my time, potting soil or milk jugs on Bachelor Buttons, Love in a mist or larkspur.

Oh, cosmos I direct sowed heavily last spring and had an awesome stand mid summer thru fall. I threw more seeds out this past spring. I had no cosmos until the weather warmed up so despite there most likely being seeds out there from last years plants, nothing happened until spring with the Cosmos. This was not the case with the BAchelor Buttons and others I mentioned. They all sprouted during the fall and winter.

As for any techniques, I just opened the package of seeds and threw them around.

Hope I've helped.

Michelle

Thanks Michelle. So you threw out the seeds early enough in the fall for plants to grow? I thought Batchelor Buttons were annuals.

Hi Terri,

I'm not exactly sure when I threw them out there. It wasn't really early though. Maybe November or December I think.

We had some mild weather in December into about mid January which gave them the opportunity to germinate I guess. They sure were healthy looking for the rest of the winter though.

But think of it this way. Many of my bachelor buttons have finally bit the dust for the year (yes, they are annuals) so those seeds are just laying there waiting. I am not going to cast any more seed for next year. Maybe I'll throw some more of the larkspur but not the bachelor Buttons or love in a mist.

I've had love in a mist for two seasons now. Again, I threw those seeds out maybe as late as January.

I might be in a tad bit warmer zone than you. I'm right on the cusp of zone 7b to 8a. It depends on the year and which source you read. I don't know if this would make a difference as to when you'd throw your seeds.

Michelle

Spring bloomers often do best sown in fall, summer bloomers in spring.

terribuck - I see your "confusion" because bachelor buttons are annuals, but they are very cold hardy. The seeds and seedlings can take the cold weather. What makes them annuals is that their root system doesn't produce more flowers the following year, but almost seem to be perennial since they reseed so profusely.

I think most people plant them in the fall because they like the cool, sunny springs - here in NC when it is too hot, they peter out. I plan to direct sow mine this fall - instead of wintersowing and planting them out in the spring for summer blooms.

Good luck

Carrie