9 Flower Seeds To Plant In The Winter For A Beautiful Spring Garden

Need something to help cure the winter blues? Why not try starting some seeds for your spring garden? Aside from helping distract from cabin fever, winter sowing has a lot of benefits that make it worth the effort of getting off the couch. For one thing, it lets you get a head start on a set of spring blooms. Maybe more importantly, depending on your stance, it can remove the need for cold stratification for seeds that won't start without living in low temps for a while, reducing the effort you and your seeds need to get going. Look at you, replicating Mother Nature right in your indoor garden spot! Sowing flower seeds in winter can also allow you to get a more thorough show out of hardy annuals during the spring. If winters are too cold in your region to plant hardy annuals in the fall, you can enjoy them in the spring, however, you have to get a head start on sowing, because cool weather loving annuals will stop blooming when the heat of summer hits. 

But before you swap your PJ pants for gardening sweatpants (we see you), it's important to understand that not all seeds are designed to be cold-hardy or able to produce early-season flowers. That's why we've compiled a list of nine flowers you can start during the winter that should make it through the tough weather and brighten up your March and April days. You have a couple of options regarding how to plant the seeds, including winter sowing outside in covered containers (starting from around winter solstice), direct sowing for certain select species, and finally, starting seeds indoors either in a bright window or under lights. So grab your DIY seed-starting trays, and get ready to crack open some seed packets.

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are one of our favorite flowers for starting in the winter because they're incredibly cold-hardy, handling temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit like a champ. They do need warmer temperatures to germinate — around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Some gardeners start them outdoors in a semi-opaque lidded container (you can use anything from plastic gallon jugs to clear soda bottles cut in half, to a dedicated domed propagator) and set them in a protected spot outdoors that gets good light. This exposes seeds to the natural freeze-thaw cycles. Species like snapdragons should be ready to transplant as spring starts using this method. Alternatively, you can also opt to plant the seeds in trays indoors under growing lights. 

For indoor sowing, start your snapdragon seeds eight to ten weeks before you expect to plant them. If your germination temperature is 70 degrees, you can expect your snapdragons to germinate in as little as a week, but give it two weeks before you start to worry. They need consistently moist but well-draining soil that's full of organic materials to feed off of; baby seedlings need their nutrients, after all. Before planting them out, harden off the seedlings outside (if you germinated them indoors). If you do this, your young snapdragons should be able to handle a light frost. While they can enjoy some shade during hotter times of day, aim to position your snapdragons in a place that will receive four to six hours of sun. For even more flowers, you can experiment with pinching off the first stem, leaving a few sets of leaves behind. This should encourage side branches, a bushier structure, and with that, more blossoms. Deadheading your snapdragons can also encourage flowering. 

Dianthus (Dianthus barbatus), better known as sweet William to some and "pinks" to others, is a spring-blooming flower that's hardy in cold temperatures and fairly tolerant of hot temperatures. Planting them in the fall lets them develop strong root systems to handle winters but don't worry if you're running behind; dianthus are easy-going and a favorite pick for winter seed starting. What makes them such a winter seed staple is their adaptability, fantastic cold tolerance, and quick, yet reliable germination rates. Findings published in the second edition of Seed Germination and Practice (which evaluated 20 dianthus varieties) showed that when placed in a spot that reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit, varieties germinated at a rate between 70% and 100%. With those odds, it's probably safe to assume that you, too, can grow these flowers.

Like snapdragons, dianthus can be germinated outdoors via the winter sowing method in a semi-opaque lidded container that can trap heat from the sun. Gallon milk jugs are perfect for this; just cut them in half but only three-quarters of the way around, leaving a connected spot that's a makeshift hinge for the lid. Begin your dianthus seeds six to eight weeks before the last winter thaw. Use a well-draining soil mix that's full of organic material and slightly alkaline. To get fast germination, plant the seeds shallowly; the deeper the sowing, the longer the germination. Once the temperatures warm up enough, you might see germination as quickly as three to nine days. If you have the space, you can also start sweet William indoors under lights (6-8 weeks before the final frost) for faster results and more established seedlings that are rearing to get planted out as soon as spring hits. 

Late spring is a weird transition period for gardens where early bloomers die back and summer growers are only waking up. Rather than dealing with bare patches, add a gorgeous pop of color with native larkspurs, one of America's favorite annuals that bloom with bold purple flowers. As U.S. natives, these pretty annuals have cold tolerance baked right into their genetic makeup. To get gorgeous flower spikes in spring, most gardeners sow native larkspur in the fall, as their seeds need cold stratification to germinate. But, larkspur can also be planted in winter and is another candidate for winter seed sowing in old milk jugs, or any other suitable container. Most larkspurs prefer cooler temperatures, so they'll typically bloom around May but can bloom earlier than that in the South and will die back during the height of summer. However, you can extend their blooming season if you're able to plant them somewhere that's partially shaded from the harsh midday summer sun. 

Unfortunately, larkspurs can be quite the prima donnas when it comes to transplanting. If you choose to start them indoors during winter, be prepared for slightly less vigorous plants versus what you'd get from direct seeding. If winter sowing in containers outdoors, be sure to spread out seeds sparsely so you can transplant them without damaging any taproots, and aim to do this while the seedlings are still small (2-3 inches). Larkspur seeds should be laid on top of loose, well-draining soil so that the light can improve germination rates. Keep the temperature around 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit if germinating indoors, and you should see seedlings within two to four weeks. Be aware that these plants can be highly toxic to animals and, in rare cases, to humans as well. 

The corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is a flower that's here for a good time and not a long time. It's known to bloom only for one day in the spring and fall, but the blooms are abundant. Gardeners love to start these in the winter due to their short germination period (14 to 21 days) and bright burst of colorful blooms that definitely help chase the winter doldrums away. While red flowers are the most well-known variety, corn poppies can also produce orange, yellow, pink, white, or even slightly purple flowers, making them a great option for colorful spring gardens. They are invasive in certain pockets of the United States, so check the Invasive Plant Atlas, or consult your local Cooperative Extension Service for more location-specific, accurate guidance. 

The reason why corn poppies are considered invasive in some areas is because they can be prolific self-seeders. Even if you live in a locale where they are not considered invasive, you might want to do some deadheading if you're worried they'll overtake your garden. While they germinate readily, corn poppies are finicky flowers that don't like to be transplanted, so you may want to sow them directly into garden beds by simply scattering the seeds. Some gardeners do this even with a layer of snow over the ground, so don't let snowfall stop you. Others have also reported success starting poppies using the winter sowing, milk jug method; since the seeds are tiny and abundant we think it's worth a shot trying both just to see which works best. Both techniques will provide cold stratification, and the milk jug method will give you control over the exact placement of your poppy plants — just be sure to transplant the delicate seedlings with care. 

Calendula plants are fairly easy to grow, and make good candidates for starting from seed in winter. Besides germinating well and growing fast (reaching maturity within two months after sowing) calendulas also love cooler temperatures. Although often grown as frost-sensitive annuals, in places that enjoy warm winters, like California and Florida, calendulas can flower right through winter. Also known as pot marigolds, these cheerful plants push out orange and yellow blooms that make great additions to floral arrangements. Besides providing cheering spots of color, calendula is also an edible flower that will attract bees and pollinators to your garden.

The surest way to get a set of calendula seedlings ready for spring planting is to germinate them in trays indoors three or four weeks prior to the last frost date. Sow them thinly, about ¼-inch deep. If you keep the trays at roughly 70 degrees Fahrenheit, you should see signs of germination within one or two weeks. Give your baby calendula plants lots of light. If you don't have a dedicated grow light, or the space to suspend one, something like this convenient clip-on plant light from Amazon could be a handy solution. Although calendula seeds don't need cold stratification, you can also try out winter sowing them, and plant the seeds in covered containers outdoors. While plastic gallon jugs sliced open are one of the most popular methods, you can use pretty much any container that will protect the plants from direct contact with snow, ice, and rain, while still allowing light through — including clear storage containers. Alternatively, you can buy a cold frame, like this two-tier one from Amazon, or build your own DIY cold frame out of wood and polycarbonate.

Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) are like the quintessential poster child for hardy early spring bloomers. They're one of the most popular flowers to grow and can produce a rainbow of colorful blooms as early as April. In southern parts of the U.S., they're able to flower in the winter, carrying on for up to six months until the warmer temperatures of late spring/early summer. Because they enjoy cool temperatures, pansies are also a perfect plant to start indoors during winter in harsher climates. 

Plant your pansy seeds up to 14 weeks before the last frost. They'll need consistently moist, well-draining soil that's humus-rich and shouldn't be planted too deep, as light will speed up germination. Once sown, place your seed tray in the fridge for two weeks to cold-stratify the seeds, then move them to a place that stays between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit; this will better improve the chances of sprouting. After about a week, you should start to see seedlings popping up. If you're short on space indoors, pansies are also good candidates for winter sowing outdoors in covered containers. Germination won't happen as fast as with indoor sowing, but it will naturally cold stratify the seeds, and give you pre-hardened-off pansy seedlings that are ready to plant out as the weather starts to warm up. Pansies can handle full sun or partial shade, so don't worry too much about where to plant them as long as their need for fertile soil conditions is being met. Deadhead spent flowers to get the longest bloom period possible.

Blue salvia (Salvia farinacea), also known as mealycup sage, is a native perennial to Texas and Mexico but is often grown as an annual in cold regions of the U.S. Its spiked stems can grow up to 3 feet tall, and it is a fantastic background flower for pollinator gardens. While it won't survive harsh winters, blue salvia kickstarts its bloom season in the spring and doesn't stop until late into fall, making it an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance yet prolific blooming plant.

Start salvia seeds 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost by laying them on top of well-draining, moist soil; do not cover the seeds. Place your seed tray somewhere that stays around around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and within 14 days, you should start to see sprouts. When you're ready to transplant your salvia seedlings, place them in an area that gets full sun with well-draining soil that stays consistently moist. If you're in a USDA hardiness zone that's below zone 8 then take a cutting of your salvia in late summer and propagate it as a houseplant during the winter months. You can also help protect established salvias from winter damage by delaying fall flower spike pruning until the next spring. The dead bloom spikes can help shield the plant from frost damage.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) are late spring bloomers that gardeners love for filling in those weird, bare patches that happen during the seasonal transition from cooler temps into hot summer days. Foxgloves are particularly popular for winter seeding because they love shade, thriving when there's not much sunlight and temperatures are still cool. They're also adaptable plants that can tolerate most soils and are a favorite for hummingbirds. This plant can become invasive in the Pacific Northwest, and the Invasive Plant Atlas also shows reports of it getting out of hand in northern eastern seaboard states, so use caution and do not plant it if you live in these regions.

Foxgloves are typically biennials that only bloom in their second year. But, there are some First Year Flowering (FYF) annual varieties, such as 'Foxy' and 'Dalmatian Purple' (Amazon sells the mixed Burpee Foxy Mixed Foxglove Seeds) which will bloom within the first growing season. FYF varieties should begin flowering in late spring, making them an ideal plant to transition a garden into summer. Start foxglove seeds around 10-12 weeks before the last frost date in well-draining soil that's consistently moist. Place your seed tray either in a bright window or under a grow light. The seedlings should germinate within 14-21 days, and you probably won't need a warming mat if they're being kept inside a heated home. Don't have space inside for seed trays? Gardeners also report that foxgloves do well when winter sown outside in containers (with covers). When transplanting, place your foxgloves somewhere that gets partial shade and keep the soil moist. Parts of this plant contain toxic cardiac glycosides, so position out of reach of small children or pets that might ingest the leaves.

Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), also known as sundial lupine because it will turn its flowers to face the sun, is another native that's happiest in the cooler temperatures of spring, when established plants put on an impressive display of flower spikes. Not only is it a great addition to spring gardens, but can also give soils a little nutrient boost. Wild lupine is a member of the bean family (Fabaceae) and, like its other leguminous relatives, can infuse soil with a shot of nitrogen. It's like a plant that brought party favors. When grown from seed, lupines may only flower in the following year — but some might produce blooms during their first spring, and you can potentially increase the chance of this by starting the seeds inside during winter. 

Lupine seeds have hard coatings that help them retain viability — some have even germinated after being stored for 30 years — and scarification can help germination. Some gardeners use a sulfuric acid soak, but if that sounds a little out of your wheelhouse, don't worry; there's actually a hack for scarifying seeds using sandpaper. Alternatively, you can use a utility knife. They prefer slightly acidic soil, so try a soil mix designed for azaleas or blueberries, like this Acid Loving Plant Potting Soil Mix from Soil Sunrise. If you've successfully broken down the seed coating, germination should occur between 10 to 14 days. Starting them a few weeks before the last frost should be fine, but some gardeners get them going as early as January. Harden off before planting out, be very careful not to disturb the taproots, (lupines hate this), and position in full sun or partial shade.