Seed Starting for a Second Planting: Brightening Up Your Summer Garden
Second succession planting for flowers involves strategically sowing seeds at a later time to make sure there’s a constant supply of stunning blooms to be used for gorgeous bouquets. For our second planting, we start seeds on or around the first of May, which will eventually be planted out on or around the first of June.
Beginning seed starting in May for a June planting is crucial, as it allows for the seeds to germinate in their seed starting medium to develop into healthy seedlings in time for the warmer months. This timeline helps to make sure the flowers will flourish during the peak of summer, filling the garden with an array of bright, cheery, and colorful blooms. By taking this approach, gardeners can enjoy an extended period of floral beauty and create a visually stunning outdoor space that uplifts the spirit throughout the season.
Some of our favorite seeds for a second planting include:
Zinnias
Zinnias are a must have at our farm because of how tough and productive they are. Once established, this flower just keeps giving blooms. Benary’s Giant provides a bloom large enough to work as a focal flower for our season bouquets. Oftentimes they help us through times when there aren’t any other focal flowers to pick from to use in bouquets, which makes them a nice bridge flower to use during seasonal transitions.
Strawflowers
Strawflower is one of our favorite flowers to use in fresh flower bouquets, in flower crowns, or dried and used in dried flower bouquets. The interesting color and texture makes them even more valuable to grow in the cut flower garden.
Gomphrena
Gomphrena has been a favorite dried flower we grow season after season, but this color specifically is one we absolutely love. The color of the bloom has a lovely muted color that lands somewhere between pink and purple, but is more muted, which makes also makes this flower perfect for an addition into fresh mixed bouquets.
Statice
These flowers boast sturdy stems and compact, vivid blooms, making them an ideal addition to sun-drenched flower beds and gardens. Thanks to modern hybridization, statice varieties now offer extended longevity, allowing for their versatile use throughout the season. Their popularity as cut flowers remains steadfast, adding a touch of elegance to any floral arrangement.
What You’ll Need for Seed Starting:
Now that you are equipped with the knowledge of extending the beauty of your blooms further into the flower growing season, the next step covers materials you’ll need. Get ready for seed starting by gathering some of these essential supplies to for seed starting for your second round of blooms.
72 Cell Tray - Perfect for Starting Seeds
We love seed starting in these trays, because we can plan exactly how many plants we’re going to have to plant.
Organic Seed Starter Soil Mix
The #1 question we’re asked is what we use here to start seeds. Using a seed starter mix helps to make sure you have a higher success rate with starting your seeds.
And seeds, of course! We have seeds available online from February-April online or any time after that at the farm. You can find seeds pretty much anywhere! Check your local nurseries, farm or hardware stores.
Are you curious about succession planting and want more information? Check out our YouTube video on how we do multiple successions at our flower farm from early spring through early July to have vibrant, beautiful blooms until our first frost in mid-October.
As you dive into your second round of planting for a vibrant summer garden, get ready for the excitement of watching those seeds burst into a riot of colors! With just the right timing and a little TLC, your garden will soon be a lively tapestry of blooms. Armed with your seed starting essentials, you're all set to make magic happen. Get ready to get your hands dirty, have fun, and here's to a summer filled with blossoming garden beauty!
