February is an ideal time to start planning—and purchasing—the seeds for this year’s annual flower garden.
Buying early not only gives you the best selection, it also helps you avoid the last-minute rush. By May 10th, Santa Fe’s official frost-free date, many stores are often sold out of the most popular and high-demand varieties.
So what’s our number one best-selling annual flower seed year after year?
That honor goes to blue-flowered morning glories (Ipomoea purpurea ‘Clarke’s Heavenly Blue’), prized for their vibrant color and vigorous growth. Close behind are classic sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), a favorite for their cheerful blooms and pollinator appeal.
If you have access to a greenhouse, fluorescent grow lights, or a very sunny sunroom, late February is not too early to begin starting seeds indoors. Flowers such as begonias, petunias, pansies, violas, lobelias, and snapdragons benefit from an early start, as they take longer to grow to a healthy, blooming size.
For those who prefer to let us do the seed-starting, we’ve got you covered. We’ll have a beautiful selection of annuals available in convenient four-packs beginning in March—perfect for planting once the weather warms and the frost danger has passed.