Growing Annuals, Annually!

Annuals are plants and flowers that grow, bloom, and die in one growing season, from frost to frost. Unlike perennials, many of which reproduce by spreading their roots and growing back each year, annuals tend to produce a profusion of seeds, which can either be collected, or that fall to the ground and make new plants each year, at least naturally, and then the original plants expire. For most of us, however, buying new annuals each spring is more economical, and faster. This may actually sound expensive, but annuals usually come in trays or "6-packs," and don't cost nearly as much as perennials. You can even purchase some annuals by seed, such as wildflowers, for about $1.00 or less.

Likewise, you don't need as many to go a long way, and you can further maximize the cost by simply surrounding large perennials like bulbs with annuals, or use them as a border, keeping them front and center. But why not just go with perennials, which come back every year? That has to be better in the long run, doesn't it? I mean, you don't have to buy them but once. Well, I don't want to discourage you from going with perennials. After-all, they can take up a large space or provide great, carefree cover in the form of a bush, groundcover, or climber; and let's face it, there are some gorgeous perennials out there.

When it comes to long-term display, however, annuals tend to "take the cake," so-to-speak. You see, what makes annuals so appealing is there tendency to produce those seeds we talked about; and with those seeds come flowers, color, variety, and lots more of it. Another great feature of annuals is that they tend to bloom all season too. Perennials more often than not bloom only once, maybe twice, in a given season, and often have only a few actual blooms at a time. They usually fail to provide that punch you long for throughout the whole year. Even if those Easter Lilies are perennials, they can't out-perform 100+ blooms of a bed of marigolds from April to September!

Here are a few of my annual favorites and how to grow them. They're all easy to plant, don't require too much maintenance, and can tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions. As with most annuals, they do indeed like sun, but some can tolerate light shade. For all of these, I recommend giving them a little slow-release fertilizer (found in the garden center in a box for about $4) and maybe a bit of water-soluble fertilizer once every two months or so, to give them vigor. Also, pruning them of dead blooms every-so-often will make sure that they keep blooming profusely until winter's return. Happy gardening!

Marigolds

Marigolds are an all-time favorite. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes ranging from 6-inch tall French Dwarfs and Orange Petites to 3-foot tall Crackerjacks. You can find them in white, often titled Snowball, Orange, Red/Orange Mix, Yellow, and other combinations of the same. You can get selections with a single layer of petals on each flower, like Safari, or with multiple layers too, like Snowball. It's hard to go wrong with Marigolds! Cost: Low From Seed?: Marigolds grow easily from seed. Ease: Simple Light: Full Sun Water: Can tolerate short dry spells, but not long. Soil: Well-drained, average, or rich. Fertilizing Requirements: Minimal, but they'd love some too!

Snapdragons

Snapdragons are a great spring starter. They love the cool temperatures that persist early-on. Snapdragons bloom pretty abundantly, and though they're flavors are more-limited, they do come in a variety of colors from pink and red to yellow and white, as well as tie-dyed mixtures of the same. They don't do wonderful in searing heat, but until the days of 95-100* roll around they will be fine. Once the temperatures do rise, move them to a shadier spot. Snapdragons require being pruned for dead flowers or they will stop blooming. They are sensitive to over-watering, so don't give them any more if the soil is still wet. Cost: Low From Seed?: Snapdragons grow somewhat easily from seed but take some time. Ease: Moderately easy. Light: Full Sun/Light Shade. Water: Can tolerate short dry spells, can't tolerate waterlog. Soil: Well-drained, average, or rich. Fertilizing Requirements: Minimal, but they'd love some too!

Alyssum

Alyssum makes a great border in partial shade or full sun. It comes in purple and white and its short, dainty stems sport hundreds of tiny blossoms that stand out from a distance. No need to buy whole plants of Alyssum, once sowed its seeds will sprout fast and before you know you'll see the first blooms. A bonus feature of this annual is that if it is in a protected corner, under some mulch, and the winter days don't stay completely frozen, it will often survive! In my garden in the south it actually spread, grew, and bloomed, all by January! It's also great in hanging baskets.

Cost: Low From Seed?: You bet! Ease: Very Easy. Light: Full Sun/Light Shade. Water: Can tolerate short dry spells and wet too, but don't overdo it. Soil: Well-drained, average, or rich. Fertilizing Requirements: Minimal, but they'd love some too!

Zinnias

Zinnias are like Marigolds; easy and great just about anywhere there's a lots of sun. Zinnias come in several different colors and styles, from short with large flowers to tall with only a few blooms per plant or stem. Some short varieties can even be found with multiple tiny blooms all over, with thin foliage. Colors range from pastels to "hot" colors of pink, purple, fuchsia, cream orange, white, yellow, and more (I've even seen one bred to bloom green!) Cost: Low From Seed?: Yes, or plants are easily found. Ease: Moderately easy. Light: Full Sun. Water: Can tolerate very short dry spells, can't tolerate waterlog, prefers nominal water. Soil: Well-drained, average, or rich. Fertilizing Requirements: Some; excess nitrogen causes leggy stems.

Cosmos and Poppies

Both Cosmos and Poppies are great wildflowers and they work famously together. Plant your Cosmos here and there at about ¼-inch deep in a sunny, open area and broadcast your Poppy seeds over the same location. Lightly rake the Poppy seeds in, water, and that's it! In a few weeks your Poppies and Cosmos will be on their way toward bringing to you a sea of color. Poppies come in red, yellow, or even white and Cosmos are similar in pallet availability. Both are pretty tall and Cosmos alone make a great background. If nothing else, try just one of these this year. Cost: Low From Seed?: Definitely, but Cosmos can be found as plants too. Ease: Simple Light: Full Sun. Water: Can tolerate short dry spells, can't tolerate waterlog. Soil: Well-drained, average, or rich. Fertilizing Requirements: Little or none to minimal, unless soil depleted.

Geraniums

There are perennial Geraniums too, but the annual varieties are usually cheaper, easier to find, and come in more colors. Geraniums make good window box and potted flowers, though they will grow in the ground too. Geraniums can tolerate full sun in milder climates, but in hotter ones, afternoon shade is recommended. Clip spent flowers to encourage more to replace them. Soft leaves can be variegated, "painted" with brown inlays, or dark green, and colors range from red to pink/white and red/white/pink! Flowers form on long stems that produce from the main trunks. Pick-off browned spots and dead leaves to prevent rot.

Cost: Low to Moderate From Seed?: Not usually. Ease: Moderately easy. Light: Full Sun/Moderate Shade. Water: Can't tolerate waterlog. Soil: Well-drained, average, or rich. Fertilizing Requirements: Yes, please, about once a month.