7 Flowers to Sow in October – For Stronger Plants and Earlier Blooms Next Year

With the summer now firmly behind us and the nights drawing in fast, you might be thinking that you can put the garden to one side and forget about it until spring. This can certainly be the case, but if you want to get a head start on next year, October is a great month to begin, especially for sowing flowers.

With the soil still just warm, October is the ideal time for sowing certain hardy annuals, perennials and spring-flowering bulbs, as they still have time to germinate and get their roots down before winter arrives, resulting in stronger plants and earlier flowers next year.

Nevertheless, it is not just flowers you can plant in October, as depending on your location, now can be an ideal time to plant cool-weather crops, shrubs and trees. With lots of digging and transplanting potentially on the horizon, the correct tool, like this Berry & Bird Digging Spade (available from Amazon), will help make light work of the tasks ahead.

Flowers to Sow in October

Whether you have a cottage garden or a gravel garden, the fall is a great time to sow flower seeds. If sowing directly, the remaining warmth in the soil encourages germination and strong root systems to develop before growth slows over the winter. This means that when spring arrives, these plants produce blooms earlier than their spring-sown counterparts.

However, you will want to judge the timing. Sowing 4-6 weeks before your first frost of winter tends to be a good guide. Depending on your location, sowing too early may mean plants grow too quickly and flower before winter, and sowing too late can result in poor germination rates and tiny seedlings that may not make it through winter.

Having grown year-round in the community and private gardens I have managed over my nearly 20-year horticultural career, I share some of my favorite flowers that benefit from an October sowing.

Bishop’s Flower

For whimsical beauty, both in the borders and as a cut flower, the Bishop’s flower (Ammi majus) is one of my trusted go-tos. A hardy annual, you can start Ammi in the spring, but it also does well when sown now and tends to produce stronger, larger plants that flower earlier.

Producing soft domes of tiny white flowers on slender stems, this umbellifer looks delicate but the plants can tolerate light frosts and winters in USDA zones 6 and above. In warmer parts, sow directly, if possible, as it develops a tap root that doesn’t like being disturbed, and cover with frost cloth, available from Lowe’s, as required.

In colder parts, sow under cover in cell trays 4-6 weeks before the first frost and overwinter in a greenhouse or hoop house before planting out in spring.

You can purchase Ammi majus seeds from Burpee.

Ammi plants can cause skin irritation, and as with all horticultural activities, gardening gloves should be worn.

Honeywort

Another flower to sow in October is the hardy annual honeywort (Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'). Grown for its arching branches of blue-green foliage and deep purple bracts, it grows to around 3-4 feet tall and is a magnet for pollinators.

Although generally sown in the spring, you can sow honeywort in October for strong, early-flowering plants next year.

Germinating best at a temperature between 64–68°F, in warmer areas you can sow it directly in October or 4-6 weeks before the first freeze. For colder zones, use a heated propagator, available from Amazon, to aid germination and grow on young plants in a greenhouse or cold frame, which you can purchase from Lowe’s.

White Lace Flower

Although you can sow Orlaya grandiflora, or the lace flower as it is also called, in early summer, October sowings are known for their strong stems and earlier blooms next year.

It produces white, lace-like umbels up to 2-3 feet tall and makes for an equally good border or cut flower. Perhaps lesser-known than other hardy annuals it is definitely one to try and when I grew it commercially, it was one of the most requested stems we produced.

In USDA zones 7-9, direct sow in a prepared seed bed where it should overwinter unscathed. In colder areas, sow undercover in deep cell trays (its taproot dislikes being disturbed), and grow under the protection of a hoop house or cold frame.

Orlaya grandiflora seeds are available to purchase from Botanical Interests.

Snapdragon

Another flower to sow in October is the snapdragon (Antirrhinum). As with some of the other flowers mentioned, you can sow snapdragons in the spring, but if sown now and overwintered as small plants, you will have taller stems and earlier buds compared to those sown in spring.

Germinating best at 65°F to 70°F, you will most likely need a heat mat or propagator to help these tiny seeds germinate. Sow 1-2 seeds to a cell (but do not cover) prefilled with a fine-textured seed starting mix, such as Miracle-Gro’s available from The Home Depot.

Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and pot up to overwinter in a greenhouse or cold frame. Harden off gradually before planting out in the spring.

Snapdragons are available in a wide array of vibrant and pastel colors to suit every planting scheme. However, for its ruffled, apricot-copper blooms why not try Antirrhinum majus 'Chantilly Bronze', available to purchase from Amazon.

Pincushion Flower

Developing pincushion-like flowers held aloft on slender stems, Scabiosa atropurpurea, are ideal for planting in a border or container. Another hardy annual, you can sow pincushion flowers in the spring, but also in the fall for earlier-blooming plants next year.

To grow in October, sow the seeds 1-2 per small pot or thinly in a seed tray, available from Amazon, and maintain a temperature of 65°F to 70°F, using a heat mat if required, to aid germination. Grow on under the cover of a greenhouse or cold frame, protected from any heavy frosts, and plant out after all risk of frost has passed in the spring.

With its deep-maroon flowers, ‘Black Knight’ pincushion flower seeds are available to purchase from Botanical Interests.

Pot Marigold

Prized for their cheerful, edible flowers, pot marigolds (Calendula officinalis) are also grown as companion plants to help deter pests.

Naturally blooming in shades of orange and yellow, new calendula varieties are also available in pastels or other bright colors.

One of the easiest flowers to grow, you can sow the seed this month directly outdoors in southern parts where hard frosts are not an issue. However, in colder regions, sow in a propagator set to 65 to 70°F and overwinter young plants under cloches, available from Amazon, or cold frames before planting out in spring.

Calendula ‘Pacific Beauty Mixture’ is available to purchase from True Leaf Market.

Dwarf Iris

Although technically a spring-flowering bulb, October is also prime time to plant dwarf irises (Iris reticulata). Growing from bulbs that are not much bigger than some seeds, dwarf irises might only grow to around 4-6 inches tall, but their exquisite and delicate flowers more than make up for their small stature.

Best planted when the soil falls to below 60°F, but before the first frost, two favorites I regularly return to are Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’, available from Burpee, for its vibrant blue petals or ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ for its subtler pale blue hues.

With their limited height, plant the bulbs 3-4 inches deep where you can appreciate them best, typically at the front of a border or in a shallow container.

What to Shop

Along with considering which flowers to sow in October, you might be wondering if now is a good time to plant some spring-flowering bulbs. With the soil still holding some warmth, October is an ideal month to get bulbs in the ground so they can develop a good root system before they enter winter dormancy.

From white carpets of snowdrops to vibrant snake’s head fritillaries, our specialist feature on bulbs to plant in October will help you decide what to plant for a spectacular spring flower display.

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