Plant these seeds NOW to get the garden of your dreams in 2024

If you’ve been to the farm in the last couple weeks, you may have noticed a giant black, ugly tarp covering a portion of the field. 

Why?

It’s killing the weeds and it’s step #1 in prepping the ground for 2024. 

2024? Yep. 

I’m about to go full swing into planting for our 2024 season, and I wanted to share some helpful insight on seeds that YOU can plant from now until the end of September that will

-survive winter in our area of  North Carolina

-thrive in the spring because the roots are so established

-and be blooming before anyone else has anything planted 

I’m splitting these flowers into two categories. 

1. Flowers that can be sowed directly into the ground from now until the end of September 

2. Flowers that need to be germinated and grown indoors and THEN planted out in September. 

I grow all of these suggested flowers, and my next blog post will feature tips and tricks for starting seeds indoors. 

Until then, here are flower seeds that will thrive all fall, winter, and spring, and give you the garden of your dreams come April and May. 

1. Flowers that can be sowed directly into the ground: 

1. Bachelor buttons 

1. The easiest spring flowers to grow. They basically grow themselves. They are the very first flowers to bloom, pollinators love them, and if you keep them cut, they will produce well into summer. I love them. 

2. Larkspur

1. A classic English garden favorite, they make every bouquet pop. Put seeds in the freezer for a week or two for better germination. 

3. Agrostemma 

1. A flowy, whimsical flower that comes in both deep purple and pure white. Agrostemma is one of the few “disc” flowers grown in spring. 

4. Rudbeckia (black eyed susan) 

1. These might do better if started indoors, but they self-seed so easily that it’s worth a shot scattering these seeds in your garden. My favorite varieties are Indian Summer, Prairie Sun, and Triloba. 

5. Yarrow

1. Another one that might be better if started indoors, but once established you can keep it in the ground for 3-5 years before they start to die! Everyone always points to my patch at the farm and exclaims in excitement, “What is THAT?” My favorite variety is “Summer Berries” 

1. Flowers that should be sown indoors and then transplanted: 

1. Snapdragons

1. Hands down my very favorite spring flower and my most requested crop in the spring. Be sure to get seeds specifically for cutting, otherwise you’ll get lil’ shorties meant for the landscape. My favorite varieties are the classic rocket series, potomac, chantilly, and madame butterfly. 

2. Pincushion

1. A small handful of these babies will give you dozens of flowers per plant–they are so prolific. They look like giant ice cream scoops in your bouquet. 

3. Sweet William

1. Most Sweet William takes two years to establish, except the Amazon series, which will bloom 3-4 months after planted. My bouquets would be nothing without these reliable blooms. 

4. Feverfew 

1. These dainty, feminine blooms add so much to a bouquet, and they do GREAT when fall planted. They look like little daisies and babies breath had a baby–it’s the perfect combination. 
   
   

All of these flowers will survive–and thrive–in our North Carolina winters, and when they start blooming in the spring, you will be floored with how healthy, tall, and large the plants are. 

Of course, if you don’t plant these yourself, you’re always invited to come to the farm in April and May to see them for yourself ;) 

Stay tuned for some ways to start seeds indoors, and in the meantime, start looking for these seeds at your favorite seed supply store!