Key Takeaways

  • Winter and late spring planting boosts resilience while cold stratification enhances seed germination.
  • Use plastic containers, sow seeds outdoors for successful late spring or early winter planting.
  • Alyssum, columbine, coreopsis, and several other types of flower seeds require little care but brighten your garden.

While the snowy days of the winter hold a certain ethereal charm, for the most part, the cold season is a blur of endless gray and gloomy days. A garden blooming with a riot of spring colors is a welcome sight for sore eyes.

However, to enjoy the blossoming flowers soon after the turn of the season, you need to get gardening in the late winter and early spring. Some flower seeds require cold climatic conditions to germinate, so they are ready to create flowers when the temperatures increase.

How to Plant Seeds in Cold Weather

Winter planting is the method of starting flower seeds outdoors during the winter. Low temperatures for an extended period promote seed germination for some flowering species, and this process is called cold stratification. Moreover, winter-sown plants are known to be more resilient and robust compared to seeds sown indoors.

Gather the right materials for successful winter and spring planting.

  • Clear or translucent plastic containers, such as milk jugs or 1-liter soda bottles
  • A sharp knife
  • Lightweight commercial potting mixture

First, make an incision in the middle of the container and cut around its circumference. Make sure not to cut the top half completely! Instead, leave a 1-inch uncut area that can act as a hinge. Punch holes in the container's bottom to allow for water drainage.

Fill the container with potting soil, around 2 to 3 inches deep. Water the mixture generously and allow the excess water to drain. Sow the seeds and pat the soil lightly to make it firm. Remove the lid and replace the top half of the container, securing it with tape.

Label the containers with the date and plant species. Place the containers in an area outdoors that receives plenty of sunlight and is exposed to rain. However, you will need to shelter the containers from the wind.

Keep an eye on the soil to make sure it is not dry and water if that is the case. As the temperature outside increases, open the tops of the bottles during the day and close them at night. Soon, you'll have fresh seedlings sprouting from your flower seeds!

1 Alyssum is a Hardy Garden Addition

Sweet-smelling flower clusters brighten the garden

Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is a hardy annual that produces tiny, white, four-petal flowers that you can use to blanket your landscape. It has narrow, lance-shaped, gray-green leaves with tiny hairs on them. The flowers have a honey-sweet smell that makes any landscape more pleasant.

How to Plant

If starting flower seeds indoors, plant alyssum up to five weeks before the last average frost date. For outdoor planting, wait until after the last frost date to plant seeds by broadcasting them directly onto nutrient-rich soil.

Light Requirements

Plant alyssum where it will receive full to partial sunlight.

Water Requirements

Keep soil well-watered through the germination period (seven to 20 days) and then water the top 2 inches of soil only when it is dry to the touch.

Where to Grow

USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9

2 Columbine Requires Little Care

Low-maintenance flowers that withstand drought

Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) is a perennial plant that requires very little care to grow beautiful, brightly-colored, bell-shaped flowers. The ideal conditions for this plant include cool temperatures, full sun, and well-draining soil, which makes them excellent candidates for late winter planting. The flowers are resilient and drought-resistant but can rot if the soil is wet for too long.

Be aware that columbines will not bloom the first year when planted from seed. So, don't fret when this happens!

How to Plant

Plant columbine flower seeds in early spring after the last frost, directly sowing seeds by pressing them gently onto the soil when growing outdoors. When growing indoors, start the seeds eight to 10 weeks before the last frost date.

Light Requirements

Place the flowers where they will receive full sunlight.

Water Requirements

Keep soil moist, without allowing it to become too dry or too waterlogged.

Where to Grow

USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9

3 Coreopsis Blooms in Vibrant Hues

Add bright color to your outdoor areas

Coreopsis flowers in bloom outside
Image credits: APugach via Shutterstock

The coreopsis plant is a perennial that produces vibrant flowers that look like daisies. The flowers are predominantly single and bloom in profusion. Taller varieties can bear flowers on upright stems that are great for cutting. They are more likely to bloom in the first year when planted earlier in the year.

How to Plant

Plant flower seeds directly in the soil any time after the last spring frost all the way to the start of fall to enjoy vibrant blooms in shades of red, pink, yellow, and orange. When planting indoors, seeds can be started as early as six to eight weeks before the last frost.

Light Requirements

Coreopsis flowers grow best in full sunlight.

Water Requirements

Water the flowers thoroughly when planted, then keep the top inch of the soil moist.

Where to Grow

USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9

4 Forget-me-not Flowers Make an Impact

Delicate blooms in soft colors

Forgot-me-not (Myosotis) is a reseeding annual that is ideal for sowing in winter since the plant can then produce tiny, pale-blue flowers in large masses that cover the ground in early spring. These flowers prefer moist to wet conditions and partial to full sun.

Be aware these plants will self-seed, providing you with another sea of blue when they eventually die off.

How to Plant

Plant flower seeds several weeks before the last frost date if starting these flowers indoors. Otherwise, wait at least four weeks after the last frost date to sow.

Light Requirements

Give these flowers partial shade ideally. Forget-me-nots can grow in sun or shade.

Water Requirements

The flowers like moist conditions, so they will need watering multiple times a week, particularly in hot weather.

Where to Grow

USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8

5 Foxglove Grows Unique Blooms

Fill your garden with distinct blossoms

Foxglove flowers in bloom in full sunlight
Image credits: HAL-9000 via Shutterstock

Foxglove (Digitalis) flower seeds work exceptionally well for winter planting. The plant is biennial and produces pinkish-purple, drooping blooms with oval-shaped, soft, downy leaves. The flowers prefer sunny or partly shaded areas with well-drained soil.

Foxglove flowers are an important source of pollen for bees!

How to Plant

Foxglove will bloom a year after the seeds are planted, so plant these seeds in spring to get blooms next year. Seeds should be planted directly on soil and left uncovered.

Light Requirements

Give foxglove full sunlight. The flowers tolerate only light shade.

Water Requirements

Foxglove soil should be consistently moist, neither dry nor wet.

Where to Grow

USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9

6 Poppies Add a Bright Burst of Color

Create a vibrant focal point in the garden

Poppies growing outside under bright blue sky
Image credits: Taiga via Shutterstock

Poppies (Papaver) require a natural freeze-and-thaw cycle to germinate, so they are perfect for winter planting or early spring planting. They are a desirable addition to most landscape situations due to their vivid colors and simple planting process. Poppy needs only a sunny location and limited watering to thrive.

Poppy flower seeds can take as many as 30 days to germinate, so be patient!

How to Plant

Broadcast poppy seeds on soil and lightly cover with soil once the ground has thawed enough for planting.

Light Requirements

Give these flowers full sunlight, at least six hours a day, to enjoy vibrant blooms.

Water Requirements

Poppies need rich, well-drained soil and do not need frequent watering. Poppies become leggy when they get too much water, so add moisture only about once a week to keep the soil slightly damp.

Where to Grow

USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 9

Winter Is Better With Blooms!

Winter and early spring planting allows you to take advantage of the environment to achieve a beautifully blooming garden once spring is in full swing. Since most of the work is done by nature, the process is relatively easy and budget-friendly, with amazing results.

Now is the perfect time to start planning and planting your spring garden!