Seed Talk #49 - Cool Flowers Fall Planting Checklist

Did you know that fall is the perfect time to plant cool-season hardy annuals for a bountiful, flower-filled garden next spring? Wondering what to plant when, and how to adjust your grow room to provide the optimal environment for cool flower seeds and seedlings? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss their checklist of key items to keep in mind when planning your fall plantings and sowing cool flower seeds. They cover what to plant in the fall and when, how many seeds to sow relative to the number of plants you hope to end up with, why popping your seeds in the freezer may help to improve germination, the ideal grow room temperature and heat mat setup for cool flower seeds and seedlings, and more. Listen to the podcast and get ready to sow the seeds of next year's blooms!
All “Seed Talk” episodes are organized into a KZbin playlist. In addition, auto-generated transcripts are available for viewing on KZbin. On mobile apps, click the down arrow adjacent to the video name, then select “Show Transcript”. On a computer, click the three horizontal dots below the video, then select “Show Transcript”. If there is a question or topic you would like to hear discussed on a future episode of “Seed Talk”, please fill out the form linked below. We would love to hear your suggestions!
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The “Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne” podcast is produced by The Gardener’s Workshop and co-hosted by Lisa Mason Ziegler and Layne Angelo. Lisa is the founder and owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, where Layne works as Seed Manager. Lisa is the award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers and the publisher of Flower Farming School Online, Farmer-Florist School Online, and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with her on social media. Layne is an avid gardener, seed starter, and engineer who loves learning and applying her technical knowledge to all areas of life, including gardening and growing flowers. Thanks for joining us!
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Lisa Ziegler
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[@mollywells5971]

As always - Lisa and lane such a great team and such useful and helpful info- just love love love you folks!

[@BrianRosenberg92]

This is such a great podcast - I learned so much every time I listen. Everything is so practical and you always seem to address every question I have. Thank you both so much for doing this!

[@lani_lucia]

ohhhhh......it is 3AM and I need to walk downstairs to get my ammi off the heat mat!!!...sooo many good tips and information. love how layne and lisa are clear to the point!

[@joycedagostino8869]

Always enjoy your weekly programs and learn so much. Thanks Lisa and Layne!

[@LayneAngelo]

Aww, thanks so much for the kind words 🤗 We appreciate you spending time with us each week! Thanks again, and have a wonderful day 💚🤗💚

[@cogasawara1]

Zone 5b - I have baby campanula, sweet William and snaps well on their way! First time sowing them in Fall!

[@LayneAngelo]

Yay! So excited for you to see them bloom next spring 🥰 Best of luck with your seedlings, and have a wonderful day! 💚

[@kimleclair8104]

Thank you for ALL the information you and your team provide. It is immeasurable! I love, love, love purchasing my seeds from you as well! 😊💐

[@LayneAngelo]

You are so welcome! ☺ Thanks so much for the kind words and for your business 🤗 Wishing you a bountiful spring cool flowers garden and a wonderful day! 💚

[@GardeningOnTaylorMountain]

Thanks once again ladies for a great seed talk! When Lisa said “it takes a while to wrap your head around cool flowers” I was like “exactly”! I’ve said that several times! I’ve been growing them for four years now and am “starting” to understand the concept better thanks to videos like this one!

[@LayneAngelo]

Thanks so much for the kind words! 🥰 Yes, the "cool flowers" concept can take a while to grasp 🙃 So happy to hear our videos are helping to clear up some of the confusion! If you have any questions you would like us to cover in a future episode, just let me know 🙂 Thanks so much for watching, and have a lovely day! 💚🤗💚

[@guarimn]

You guys have taught me precisely what I ever wished to know about growing flowers. Thank-you guys ❤ 😊 🌻

[@LayneAngelo]

Yay! So happy to hear that ☺ Hope you are planning a gorgeous garden for next spring 🥰 Thanks so much for the kind words, and have a fantastic day! 🤗

[@bohemiangardensandgourdfar8812]

New to cool flowers just last year... your info is invaluable because very few people address this process... thanks a million 💚🌺

[@LayneAngelo]

You are so welcome! Thanks so much for the positive feedback and for taking the time to leave a comment 🤗 Wishing you a bountiful cool flower-filled garden next spring! 💚

[@KarensJerseyGarden]

Thanks for yet another Great Presentation! I have learned so much from the both of you, and my garden benefits so much from your knowledge!

[@LayneAngelo]

Aww, thanks so much for the kind words! 🥰 So happy to hear you are enjoying "Seed Talk" and that you are growing beautiful things in your garden! Keep up the good work, and have a wonderful day 💚🤗💚

[@tanyakilbane7636]

Thank you for this video. It is helping me light a fire 🔥 under my feet! I got to get busy! My home garden is the envy of the neighborhood, that’s to your podcasts. You ladies have given me permission to over plant and fill the entire lot ! I get at least 10-100 people snapping photos of the yard every day! Weird! I’ve never experienced being famous, and it’s not me, it’s the color and the shape of the yard people are dazzled about! People are freaking out! Thank you for all this valuable information!

[@LayneAngelo]

Oh, wow - how inspiring! Your garden must be beautiful 😍 Congratulations on your flower-growing success, and keep up the good work! Have a fantastic day 💚🤗💚

[@YvettaChandler-yd2er]

Thanks, Layne and Lisa. As always, great show, great information. I'm so excited for all the new flowers for next Spring. ❤❤❤

[@LayneAngelo]

Thanks so much, Yvetta! Hope you will have a garden bursting with cool flowers next spring 💚😍💚🤗💚 Have a wonderful day!

[@eugeniamotte2731]

Thanks for the info

[@sheelaghomalley5459]

Excellent breakdown of timing. Thank you

[@flowerfairy1950]

Thanks for mentioning the Southern Hemisphere 🇦🇺 Currently I am waiting (impatiently) for my Autumn-sown cool flowers to jump out of the ground 🤞😊

[@galakrupa469]

This was so helpful, thank you Lisa and Layne!

[@LayneAngelo]

You are so welcome! Thanks so much for the positive feedback and for taking the time to leave a comment 🤗 Have a wonderful day! 💚

[@durendalawson2373]

Thank you so much for sharing! I have Lisa’s Cool Flowers book and love it.

[@LayneAngelo]

Fantastic! Wishing you a flower-filled garden next spring 🥰 Thanks so much for watching, and have a great day! 🤗

[@cbak1819]

This video, even tho you may have had success in the spring growing seeds may give you tips on having better germination for instance . Something I'm currently struggling with. # 7 happened here.. I nuked my campanula and cool veg my first try.. It is was my first time soil blocking. The tip on leaving them direct on heat mat for a short duration would have helped in the success of there germination. I will be trying the blocks again today. I have used small rose pots for year because I like reusable product. Another transition is plug trays or pots hold more soil and don't heat up as fast as a soil block. Now I learned a valuable lesson. I was feeling very disappointed and discouraged. I have more confidence in growing seeds that have a short window of time to get going in the fall now. Woosh.. thanks ladies❤May God's continuous blessing be known to you.

[@LayneAngelo]

Yes, no need to be discouraged! It is all about learning how to give our seeds the conditions they need to thrive 🙂 Each "failure" is a new opportunity to learn! Thanks so much for sharing, and best of luck on your next round of cool-season starts 🍀🍀🍀

[@oriolymama9083]

Wow, one of the best episodes by far. Thank you for sharing your experience Lisa, and Layne for making the best questions that help us. Saludos desde España ❤

[@LayneAngelo]

¡Hola! Thanks so much for the kind words - they really mean a lot 🥰 So happy you enjoyed this episode! Hope you are having a wonderful summer in beautiful Spain 💚🤗💚

[@janpapworth7956]

Great summary, thank you.

[@LayneAngelo]

You are so welcome! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, and have a fabulous day 🤗

[@MrsDebBee]

Sometime frustration teaches us new tricks. I got so frustrated once trying to get foxglove seeds to germinate that I literally put the planted seeds in the refrigerator for a day or two, brought them out for a day and put them back in. I did this for a week and they sprouted!!!

[@patrinamason8164]

Thank you so much

[@LayneAngelo]

You are so welcome! Wishing you a beautiful, flower-filled garden next spring 🥰 Have a lovely day! 💚

[@dianemcmullen7766]

I learned so much from your presentation! Much of it I had never heard before, so I'm excited to try it out this fall. Thank you!

[@cbak1819]

Fall planting campanula, Indian summer, Cherokee, rocket snapdragons, sweet William, poppies❤

[@LayneAngelo]

Oooo - sounds beautiful! I am dreaming of spring already 😂

[@jennyrose843]

I keep all my seeds in the freezer. When I am ready to plant, I take what I need out of freezer, and plant. If I have any leftover seed, I just put it back in the freezer. I have had Wonderful germination doing this 😊

[@LayneAngelo]

Fantastic! Storing in the freezer will give you a longer shelf life overall, as well 🥶 As long as the seeds are properly dried and free of excessive moisture, the freezer is an excellent option 😊 Thanks so much for sharing, and so glad to hear you are having success with your seed storage and sowing! Have a lovely day 🥰

[@bridavis7345]

Have you done one on collecting seeds from your flowers at the end of the season? I would love to hear tips for that!

[@LayneAngelo]

Great idea! I will add this to my list of future episode topics ☺ Thanks so much for watching, and have a wonderful day! 🤗

[@bridavis7345]

I'll be watching for it! Love the podcast ♡ You have a wonderful day too! 😊

[@cbak1819]

Oh so many questions I have for y'all 😄 Q? Do I even need a heat mat? My house is warmer in Summer then 65-70 * for the most part. Not going to turn in air just to cool down seeds☺️

[@LayneAngelo]

Hello! I would still start with the standard cookie cooling rack setup first. If that does not work, I would try putting the seeds on the cookie cooling racks for a day or so only. If that does not work, then I would try eliminating the heat mats altogether. Hopefully one of those solutions will work! 😂 I am with you on not reducing the house temperature just for the seeds 🙂 Best of luck, and let me know how it goes! 💚

[@cbak1819]

@@LayneAngelo thanks Layne! I sure will🌻🌻💜

[@clairegill7891]

Great video/ podcast as always! 😍 Layne said she keeps her cool flowers on heat mats because she doesn’t have a temperature controlled environment, I’m the same and it can get pretty chilly where I grow mine so I was wondering what temperature she sets the heat mat to please? 🌸

[@LayneAngelo]

Hey, Claire! The air temperature is typically around 55-60 degrees F in my growing space in the winter (most often on the lower end of that range) 🥶 Hope that helps, and thanks for the kind words! 💚🤗💚

[@clairegill7891]

@@LayneAngelo thank you for reply xx

[@fredo79]

I’m 9b

[@cindyhenderson6866]

When do you fertilize in the spring for the cold hardy plants that were planted in fall?

[@cbak1819]

Q? Do I need to freeze all my cool season seeds ? And if I'm only using 10 seeds do I just freeze what I need and keep the rest out of freezer? I am thinking that wouldn't be good for the seeds I don't use bringing them in and out? Am I overthinking it? 🙃

[@LayneAngelo]

I agree that a constant in-and-out cycle would not be good for the seeds long-term. If the entire pack only has to go in and out one time for the season, though, I think you will be fine! Your thought process is correct, though - fluctuations in temperature can reduce a seed's shelf life. Again, I think you will be fine since you will not be repeatedly pulling the seeds in and out. Good luck! 🍀🥶🍀

[@brendawood8379]

Do you have any resources on how to store seed that I am saved from my own flowers? For example, campanula thank you!

[@LayneAngelo]

How fun that you are saving your own seed! In terms of storage, the most important thing when saving seed is to make sure the seed is properly dried before putting it into storage. Once the seed is nice and dry, you can follow our standard seed storage tips. We actually have an entire episode about seed storage (episode 11), so you may want to check that out! Thanks so much for watching, and keep up the good work with your seed saving! 💚🤗💚

[@brendawood8379]

@@LayneAngelo thank you! Do you have any episodes on correct harvest times for cut flowers?

[@LayneAngelo]

@@brendawood8379 Hello again! We have mentioned harvest stages in some of our flower-specific episodes, but we do not have a comprehensive episode on that topic yet (great idea, though!). However, we are working on a special project that would address this 😃 Thanks so much for this topic suggestion, and have a wonderful weekend! ☺

[@margaretstribling4306]

What flowers(names) are the cool weather- plant now-sept18- flowers?

[@maritmadsen554]

Can you send the temperature list to me?

[@emkn1479]

Last year in zone 6 I direct sowed (broadcast) so many bachelors buttons in fall, and resowed later on, more than once. I didn’t get one plant! It has always worked in the past. Could a few warm and dry spells have ruined everything? I want it to work this year, but I’m not up to starting them in trays. I’m a home gardener, not a flower farmer.

[@LayneAngelo]

Hello! Do you recall when you sowed the seeds relative to your first expected fall frost date? If you sow seeds directly outdoors in the garden too late in the season, sometimes there is not enough warmth in the soil to encourage the seeds to germinate. There are also a lot of other things that can lead to poor germination when sowing seeds outdoors 🙃 We have actually done two cool flowers direct seeding "Seed Talk" episodes (episodes 4 and 5). I would highly recommend checking those out, as they may be helpful to you. Thanks so much for watching, and best of luck! 🤗

[@emkn1479]

@@LayneAngelo I didn’t mark down the date, I’m just puzzled because I’ve never had an issue in the past. I’ll try to work with the frost date this year.

[@LayneAngelo]

@@emkn1479 It is always possible the seeds were not viable, or - as you mentioned - perhaps they dried out during the germination process. Consistent moisture is very important and difficult to achieve outdoors, particularly during dry spells! I would try again this year, direct seeding 6 to 8 weeks before your first expected fall frost. Let me know how it goes! Wishing you lots and lots of sprouts 🌱🌱🌱

[@emkn1479]

@@LayneAngelo Thank you Layne. I used so many seeds, it would be hard to believe that not even one was viable. We had a strange winter season, with odd windy, warm, and dry spells. I didn’t get many poppies either, and that’s what I’m blaming…the weird weather. I’ll try harder this year, thanks!

[@LayneAngelo]

@@emkn1479 I think you are probably right! Hopefully the weather will behave this year 😂🤞🌱