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10 Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed for Novice Gardeners

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Starter plants can get a little expensive for new gardeners. A cheaper way to start a new garden is to use seeds. Here are 10 easiest perennial to grow from seed.

Seeds are an excellent, budget-friendly option for gardeners that want to expand their garden on the cheap. Sure, they may be a little harder to grow as compared to plant starters. This is why we have prepared a guide for you to be able to do it yourself.

In this article, we will be talking about the right way of growing plants from seed. This includes everything from how you may have to prepare the seed before planting, planting technique, and aftercare.

Let’s take a look at it in detail.

1. Preparation before planting

Before you buy your seeds, you will need to do some preparations. You need to ensure that you have a perennial seed starting mix at hand. You can also get a potting mix for this purpose. 

Once you have the potting mix, you will, of course, need a container to place the mix into. A well-drained contained is a must. The container should also be shallow, so look for some unused small boxes and make some holes in the bottom of them.

You might need some small things like plastic bags or some plastic cell packs, but we will discuss those if they are needed. 

Now that you have made all the preparations for planting your perennial seeds, you should research the right kind of seed for you. If you are a beginner, then you should definitely go for a seed that is easy to grow.

Here are some of the easiest perennials to grow from seed:

  1. Catmint
  2. Purple Coneflower
  3. Yarrow
Catmint Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed 2
Catmint – via Wikimedia

These perennials are great options for new gardeners as they don’t require as much care to grow properly. We will also discuss more plants in detail later in the article.

Once you have your seeds in hand, you should research the ideal starting time. This will be mentioned on the packet that the seeds arrived in, or you can find out by asking the person you bought the seeds from. 

2. How to care for newly planted seeds

So, now you have made all the necessary preparations for the seeds and are now ready to plant them. Let’s now take a look at how you will need to care for them.

Take your shallow container and add your potting mix or perennial seed starting mix in it. It is important that your soil is well-drained, so make sure that you have made some holes in the bottom of the container for this purpose. 

Some seeds may need to be covered with soil after being planted. In this case, you can use some sphagnum moss. All you have to do is to cover the seeds with a very thin layer of this moss.

Watering the seeds is also a very important step. You will have to soak the soil with water so that the seeds have a moist environment to start growing. 

The best method of doing this is to place your container in a pan of warm water. After some time, the water will move into the soil from the holes made at the bottom of your container. 

You can also sprinkle some water with your hand or use a special bulb sprinkler for this purpose, but the above-mentioned method is the most ideal.

After you have finished the watering process, you need to ensure that the seeds are growing in a moist environment. Cover the top of the container with some plastic to lock the moisture in and let it sit for some time. Watch the temperature inside the packet and ensure that it is correct for growing your particular plant. 

 All you have to do now is wait. Most perennial seeds will germinate in 3-5 weeks of planting. It is also common for some seeds to germinate faster than other seeds from the same variety, so you shouldn’t be too worried if all of your seeds don’t germinate at the same time. 

3. What to do once the seeds germinate?

Once the seeds have germinated, you just need to remove the plastic covering and move the germinated seeds to a sunny area. Eventually, your seeds will grow into plants with leaves. At this stage, you can carefully transfer the plants into a larger pot. 

Perennial seeds need a lot of sunlight to grow properly, so an ideal spot for you to place your germinated seeds would be outdoors. You will need to protect them from colder temperatures as well, so once the temperature goes below the recommended amount, bring the seeds indoors. 

Keep in mind that you should follow the specific instructions provided for your species of plant. Some plants prefer to grow in shaded areas. 

Once your little plants have grown fairly large, you can move them outside and fertilize them lightly. Keep in mind to water them properly. Perennial plants may not bloom in the first 2 years of planting. For most gardeners, it may take a year or so before they start noticing some beautiful flowers on their plants.

Some lucky ones may have their plants bloom in the first year of growth, but that is quite rare.

Now you know all about the necessary preparations you have to make, let’s take a look at some of the plants themselves and the ideal way of growing them.


Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed

1. Oriental Poppies

Oriental Poppies Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed
Oriental Poppies via Flickr.com

Oriental Poppies are great for any garden. They have a very vibrant and beautiful red-orange color. You can even get these plants in other color varieties like pink, white, maroon, purple, etc.

These plants bloom from early spring into the fall season and put up a stunning display of colors throughout the blooming period. 

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Oriental Poppies like to be in full sunlight conditions. If the light is too intense, then you may want to place them in the shade for some time. Just ensure that your Oriental poppy gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day for the best growth. 

They prefer moist and well-drained soil; you will need to fertilize the soil once a year. Do not plant them on soil that is soggy or not stable. 

The USDA hardiness zones for Oriental Poppies are 3-9.

2. Bellflower

Bellflower Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed

Bellflowers are summer-blooming plants with some of the brightest displays of color on their flowers. Their cup-shaped flowers are available in a range of colors like pink-white, lavender, and blue. 

These plants are low-maintenance and can easily be grown by inexperienced gardeners with just a little bit of care. With the right care, your Bellflower plant will start blooming in June and keep blooming into October. 

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Bellflowers prefer to be in full sun conditions. Some varieties can grow in partial shade or even full shade as well. Their soil should be rich and well-drained. 

You only need to water Bellflowers once you notice that the top part of your soil is starting to dry out a little. Water them just when you notice a little bit of dryness on the top of the soil.

3. Catmint

Catmint Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed
Catmint via Flickr.com

Catmint is a kind of herb that is great for gardens. These plants are very easy to grow and also display some beautiful colors when they bloom. 

Catmints are available in colors like blue, white, pink, violet, etc. Their foliage is grey-green. This combination of colors makes this plant a very attractive choice for any gardener. 

Ideal Growing Conditions: 

These plants should be kept in the sun. They can also survive in partially shaded areas but may not bloom as beautifully. Catmints don’t have too high water requirements. These plants are drought-tolerant. 

Young Catmints need to be watered weekly, but once they are established, you will only need to water the soil once every 3 weeks. Just don’t add too much water to the soil, as Catmints do not like soggy soils.

The USDA hardiness zones for these plants are 4-8.

4. Yarrow

Yarrow Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed

Yarrow is also a kind of herb. This plant is also used for medicinal purposes. It is used to treat fevers, colds, diarrhea, etc. 

These plants bloom from June to September and are available in some beautiful colors like white, red, pink, and yellow. 

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Yarrows should be planted in full sun areas. They can survive in partial shade but will not be as healthy. They need slightly moist but well-drained soil. 

The USDA hardiness zones for Yarrow plants are 3-9.

5. Purple Coneflower

Purple Coneflower Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed

These plants are very easy to care for. Purple Coneflowers are drought-tolerant and have long blooming periods. These plants are commonly found in colors like purple and pink. 

Purple Coneflowers bloom from July into September. They attract butterflies and bees, making them a very attractive choice for gardeners. 

Ideal Growing Conditions:

These plants like to be in the sun. You should plant them in a sunny spot. If the light is too intense, then you can move them into a shaded area for some time. 

You just need to ensure that your plant is getting at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, and it will grow healthy. They don’t have too high soil requirements. Just make sure that the soil is well-drained.  The USDA hardiness zones for these plants are 3-8. 

6. Creeping Thyme

Creeping Thyme Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed

This plant is low to the ground and is a great option to cover the floor of your garden with some color. You can even put this plant in some dishes. It adds a mint-like aroma to teas and other dishes. 

These plants bloom from late spring, with blooms lasting till early summer. Their flowers are very vibrant and come in colors like white, red, pink, blue, etc. 

Ideal Growing Conditions:

These plants love to be in the sun. You can even grow them in lightly shaded areas. Their soil should be moist but well-drained. 

The USDA hardiness zones for this plant are 4-9.

7. Gaillardia

Gaillardia Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed

Gaillardia is a type of herb that is used for treating some skin disorders; these plants have beautiful flowers that come in a nice combination of colors. 

They start blooming in early summer, and their blooms last for many weeks. They are available in colors like yellow, red, and orange. 

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Gaillardia prefers to be in full sun conditions. They don’t have too high soil requirements as they can grow even in rocky or sandy soils. Ideally, their soil should be moist and well-drained.

The USDA hardiness zones for these plants are 3-10.

8. Alliums

Alliums Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed

Alliums are a type of bulb that includes over 700 varieties. Alliums have unique and beautiful flowers that are ball-shaped and come in bright colors. 

These plants are very easy to take care of as they don’t mind harsh soils and don’t have many pests.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

Alliums should be kept in sunny areas for ideal growth. Their ideal soil should be slightly moist and well-drained, but these plants can survive fairly well even if you forget to water them.

The USDA hardiness zones for Alliums are 3-9.

9. Veronica

Veronica Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed

These plants have tall, needle-like flowers that are commonly found in purple or blue colors. They are unique in their look and are great for any garden.

Veronica’s bloom from early summer into late summer. Their blooms may not last very long but are still beautiful to behold.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

These plants like to be in the sun and should be placed in sunny areas. They can also tolerate some shade. Their soil should be moist, well-drained.

The USDA hardiness zones for Veronicas are 3-8.

10. Delphinium

Delphinium Easiest Perennial to Grow from Seed

Delphinium flowers are somewhat similar to Veronicas, but these plants have much brighter colors on them. Delphiniums are known for their vivid colorations. 

These plants bloom throughout the summer season. Some varieties can bloom until the early fall seasons.

Ideal Growing Conditions:

These plants love to be in the sun, but the noon sun can prove to be a little too harsh for them. Ideally, you should expose them to early morning and afternoon sunlight. Their soil should be moist, fertile, and well-drained. 

The USDA hardiness zones for Delphiniums are 3-7.


Conclusion

And that was all for our list of easiest perennials to grow from seed. These plants are great for any garden and will provide you with some beautiful colors for little extra care.

It can be a little daunting to grow plants from the seeding stage, but we are sure that you can easily accomplish the task with the detailed guide provided in this article. 

You just need to make some light preparations and have some patience for the best results.