Self Seeding Plants - Easy, Free and Beautiful in the Cottage Garden!

[@mhubertcfi]

Another fun thing about self-seeders is that you can coax desirable traits by selective culling. I do this with my calendula and celosia. Keep the earliest plants so you are selecting for early. Then you can choose traits such as color or double flowers or stem length. It is definitely easier than starting seeds indoors! I also employ ‘nurse beds‘. Where I can start many seeds direct sown and then move them around. Less weeding while they are little

[@dustyflats3832]

Yes! Nursery bed is terrific idea! I had one, but the coneflower and foxgloves had other ideas😂. I’m curious to see what others do next year as it was the sleeper year 😱. Started many new to me perennials from seed. The Amish Cockscomb sure has a lot of seed and it did Very well in winter sow and suspect that may comeback. Z5a.

[@mhubertcfi]

@ I’m new to foxgloves too and looking forward to how the next generation hybridizes. Have never heard of Amish cockscomb. My bumblebees love cockscomb so much!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Such a great point, yes, the selective culling is excellent for creating ones that do so much better in your own garden and conditions. I have yet to do that for colors, though each year when I get the pink foxglove with the yellow interior I think I will save the seeds from it, sow in a particular area and see what I get. Then I get busy in the season and fail to follow through. I have the "nurse beds" too and was thinking of doing a video on it. I sometimes do a modified 'winter' sowing in one. I should share that soon. Before snow flies.

[@dustyflats3832]

@@mhubertcfi I think cockscomb were from Seed Saver Exchange. Definitely tuff seeds because they were at least 4 years old and winter sowed.

[@alicehihn3250]

Having been reading "cool flowers". Lots of info. 📚

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I can't agree with everything in it as my local garden climate won't let me do some of the things she recommends or the timing is different but overall the information is excellent. But that is true with all gardening, we have to learn what does and does not work in our own gardens. 🙂

[@GardenHappy]

Great video and information Pam. I learned that plants that re-seed themselves do better than me trying to plant them, because they chose their location and obviously it was an ideal spot for them to germinate. 💙💚💛🧡💜 Liz

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

In the spring many times I get impatient waiting for things as we have such cold springs but I do love the surprise of what comes back each year and where they choose to shine. It does make for a very thick yet rather wild garden but still so enjoyable.

[@Kimbergem1]

Hi, I'm in zone 6 Michigan and I planted one chamomile plant in ground this summer and now I have a ton of baby plants. Thanks for this video

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I have creeping chamomile that is fabulous for a ground cover and I mow it so I have not had it reseed. I should let a portion go to seed and see if it will. I have yet to try the regular chamomile too, I have the seeds so I should put that on my list to try and grow. I am trying to limit myself this year, I tend to get carried away then come planting time I am overwhelmed.

[@DebbyKillebrew]

I would love to try this! I planted Chamomile seeds this summer in a large pot. She had lots of light and consistent watering, but she still died. 😢

[@jSheapullen]

Flowers new to me this year did ok ..then cooler weather cane to north ga...and pop! Also love the mexican sunflower! So do butterflies and bees late into season.

[@TamaraLMJ62]

Thank you for this video! This summer in Alabama was a rough one. I want an easier garden, and growing flowers from seed like you are talking about is exactly what I am planning to do!❤

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Exactly, and you find which ones will do the best with little effort. And when you grow from seed you can experiment even on a budget and if one doesn't work it is no big loss.

[@rhondaschenk5727]

Thanks for all of your wisdom Pam!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

You are very welcome! I do enjoy sharing and rambling on. It feels like I am talking to a gardening friend.

[@GlendaClark-ns7cm]

Always great information Pam. You are so knowledgeable. Thank you

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@debradiggs7489]

Pam i just love your videos! I want to till up the two acres and grow flowers !

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Sometimes I wish for more property but I know I would kill myself trying to plant it all. The one thing I have the toughest time with is not planting more than I can take care of.

[@tanyakilbane7636]

I encourage you to do it!!! ❤

[@SuffolkSusie]

So addicted to your channel Thank you for sharing all you do. 💜💙🩵💚💛🧡❤️🩷

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I appreciate your kind words! Glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@carole8430]

Thank you! Enjoyed watching :-)

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Was the bug crawling up my neck towards the end distracting at all? 🙃

[@PatThomas-v8p]

Loved your video. I felt it to be very encouraging. Thank you for all of the information. I can't wait to check out some of your other videos.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

You’re welcome, I am glad you found it helpful! I hope you enjoy my others too.

[@user-rosesroses]

Great info

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Thank you, I am glad you found it helpful. There are so many more but this video got long winded as it was. 🙂

[@MartinHouseFlowers]

Thanks for this list Pam! In Northern Illinois, I just completed my first season with cut flowers. Snapdragons from seed are my favorite, they also grew all summer into late fall for me, as long as I kept cutting on them. I left them in the raised beds, hoping some will self-seed in the spring. I also grew from seed: Bachelors Buttons and left them in the beds hoping they self seed. Cosmos I pulled out, so I wonder if any will return. My Alyssum is now overwintering in the greenhouse, underplanted in my topiary pots. I also cut back the Marigolds, but there maybe a couple that were left in the raised bed. I grew Delphiniums from seed vs. Larkspur, hoping they overwinter. I wasn't successful with direct sowing Poppies (I think they were in too much shade), but will try again in my sunny raised beds, or maybe will start them indoors under grow lights. I will have to look into Cleome, Columbine and Sweet William for my zone. Do the bunnies like your Black Eyed Susans? I tried Prairie Sun Rudbeckia and the bunnies ate all the flower tops! I have yarrow seeds planned for the spring. Peach Digitalis foxglove bloomed in the first year for me on the east side, but not on the west side. Happy to see your pelargoniums are doing well in your greenhouse! Mine in the greenhouse are starting to struggle with our extreme cold temps below freezing! We've had to run 2 heaters in our new greenhouse. Great video! 💚

[@julesdavis1845]

I’ve seeded foxgloves for years here in Connecticut, zone 6b. The deer eat them, also the lupine and the wolfsbane. They pull them out of the ground eating every part. This year,however, for whatever reason, the foxgloves bloomed throughout our property.so much so, that a neighbor asked me, ‘What’s with all the foxgloves?’.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Extra hungry deer will eat anything but if they have other choices they will pass by the foxgloves . So far if I plant a wall of daisies, foxgloves and black eyed susans the deer just walk on past my garden but then my neighbor has fruit trees that they prefer, so that may be my saving grace.

[@doreenhenry8805]

I don't have chickens so my balsam impatiens are what I consider to be invasive now. I do love them and wish they would make good cut flowers Maybe if I kept the bees off they would last longer. They make nice house plants too.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I never thought of them as houseplants. Great tip! Even when the chickens don't get into the area where they reseed, they are still modest as far as how many come back. Might be where I have them planted. There are some things I try and cut back before they go to seed if the are too vigorous, that way, so far, I have been able to grow them yet keep them in check.

[@soniewhitten4844]

great video, i hope that mine come up like yours this year. don't really do good with sowing them. maybe this is the way for me. thanks for sharing with us. hope you have a great day

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Yes, sometimes to old fashioned way of direct sowing is the ticket to success. I notice that it does take more seeds so instead of sowing half a dozen seeds where I want a particular flower I sow an entire packet. Then I will get at least a few to grow, then they reseed in abundance and it is easy peasy from then on out.

[@laurieg5308]

Yes, very tall. Some varieties are. I’m zone 7b Jersey shore snapdragons are perennial for me as well.. also reseed on their own beautifully, including Potomac varieties, Madame butterfly, etc. blooming through summer fall and into winter at times. can’t go wrong, deer resistant too!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

My love of snapdragons is new found so I will definitely give all of the varieties a try and see which I enjoy the most. I love easy flowers and so far these are hitting the mark! Thanks for the recommendations and good to know they are perennial for you too.

[@laurieg5308]

@@FlowerPatchFarmhouse can’t wait to see what you get!

[@Annastasia666]

Hello from a Northern NJ gardener! Good to hear what reseeds for you down the shore. Super excited to try these esp if you say they are deer resistant too. Thanks!

[@ursulabatheja9912]

I agree with you about Daisy May, didn’t bloom long enough and no rebloom. As you said, more hype than substance.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I'm glad to know it wasn't me. It is a pretty plant, but it certainly did not outperform my much less expensive daisies grown from seed. 🙂

[@maylingsmom]

I grew Crazy Daises as well. I also bought a Proven Winners daisy. My Crazy Daises bloomed nearly all summer here in zone 8b & hot, hot, hot. Proven Winners kind of browned and died back somewhat. I tried cutting them back to see if that helped but no go. PW is not always the best for some of us.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I have learned that many plant heavily promoted are not all they are cracked up to be and others do perform better, like with disease resistance etc. That is why I try to do comparisons so some folks can save money and know they don't have to spend big dollars on pricy plants to enjoy a beautiful garden. Plus, for me, there is such a sense of satisfaction from growing from seed that is magical.

[@dustyflats3832]

I believe you hit all the points!🎉. There is a reason I don’t clean up gardens in the fall 😊. I do struggle with Cleome, just can’t get enough started for some reason. What happens is you keep trying and then one year they take off 😂 and you wonder what the heck ave I created 😅. This year was first year for forget me nots and mine have annoying sticktite seeds, omg! I thought they were the weed seeds until I figured it out and my gloves and pants were covered. I love the blue flower though and have pink to try. Does yours have those seeds? Lately I’ve noticed some hybrids are sterile. With the prices going up I want seeds! Many of those colored coneflowers do not come back true either. They will go back to purple or white or just be a dud. The warmer than normal winters are allowing Many flowers to return. So far I’ve noticed many jumping ship to far away places😂 like my vegetable areas. I had to look twice and seen columbine, coneflower, petunias, moss roses, rudbeckia, gaillardia/blanket flower, allysum and oddly enough strawberries. And of course the purple morning glories which were here when we moved in and Never left-it’s Crazy how I never let them reseed and they have returned for over a decade. Those 4-O’Clocks do have a ton of seed but never reseeded. I am very happy the snap dragons return, but winter may be ready to return. We’ve had some really cold days, however it’s going back close to 50F again this weekend. I have an area like you that I throw extra seeds, I call it the meadow. It’s part inside the orchard and outside the fenced area. Rabbits were taking care of poppies when I started that area. I let the native bee balm, horsemint, Mullien and grasses go and try to incorporate more color. I’m thinking to lightly till strips through to expose more soil so seeds I spread have a better chance. I know those poppies will take off if given open ground. They create a nice carpet before winter. I briefly read some info on the cool flowers and think she’s in West Virginia? I seen they start them in high tunnels and wasn’t sure if the book was for me. Have to see if library has it. Oh if it wasn’t for these deer eating everything I could freely plant the whole acreage. My husband just informed me that a poor skinny pine we’ve been protecting didn’t have the cage on it and a buck found it 😡. All these years and the cage blew off and wasn’t staked back in place right away and-BAM! Hope all is well as I think the earthquake was near you. I learned from a comment on a ‘Live’ there was tsunami warning. I know you are in the mountain area and would be fine there. 7.0 and a lot of rumbling 😮. Enjoyed the video! Great ways to save $$$ and so much fun to look for in spring. Thx!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Yes, the seeds of forget me nots are sticky but my patch has been so small it hasn't been a big issue.... yet. Yes, many hybrids are sterile and that is why they are supposed to bloom longer than the old fashioned ones. I often try to warn folks of that when they see those seeds on Etsy or Ebay of the sterile hybrids, like my Tomato Soup echinacea, they won't germinate at all. Deer can be so devastating. I did not have any in my garden all season until now, they are browsing along and eating the leaves off many plants but since it is time for things to go dormant it isn't an issue. Typically they have moved off the mountain at this time of year but it has been so warm. The earthquakes and tsunami were 5 hours north of me, so far enough we did not even notice the earthquake.

[@laurieg5308]

What would cause lupine to not bloom first year? Direct seeded.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Lupines can behave like biennials, annuals or perennials depending upon variety and your local conditions. See what they do next year and go from there.

[@laurieg5308]

@ that’s what I’ll do. I’ve moved to a new house.. I saved some old seeds from my previous house. never had that happen before.

[@debradiggs7489]

I want to grow lisianthus so bad and i cant get them started and my cleome never comes up either

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I struggle with lisianthus too but cleome seems to do okay. That reminds me, I need to find my packages of seeds to see if I have anymore cleome, the ones I saved from my plants were eaten by mice that got into the greenhouse.

[@debradiggs7489]

​@FlowerPatchFarmhouse they got into mine too before

[@normarobles4899]

If you’re struggling to grow Lisianthus from seed, try not to overwater them they are very tiny so they do take a very long time to grow as long as you know are not over watering them. You should be fine.

[@lesliekendall5668]

AAARG, my nemesis morning glories. 😡. My English ivy isn't anywhere near as bad. I fell in love with your Junior Walker nepeta on an earlier video. Have you ever tried it from seed and how did it go? I'm going to try Larkspur, Snapdragons, and Sweet William. Columbine didn't come up for me. Neither did Lupine but read later that I was supposed to scar them first. Oops. Could you pin a list of your list? I went through the transcripts but wanted to see if I missed anything. Do you get credit if I buy from your seed links?

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Junior Walker nepeta is a sterile hybrid and won't grow from seed. I have another variety that I have seeds of that I want to try this season. I need to dig out my seeds and organize what I do and don't want to start. The hardier ones I can start now and once they are a tad bigger I can keep them in the greenhouse. Some seed links I do get credit so if you use those, thank you. I will get a printable list going and put it in the description box for everyone soon. I don't bother scarring seeds but I do give them a good overnight soak in tepid water first.

[@lesliekendall5668]

@FlowerPatchFarmhouse Funny you bring up the soaking instead. I had bought Senna seeds YEARS ago. Scarred some at the time they were received and a couple seasons after that and not a one germinated. Gave up. Fast forward like 6-10 years, saw the packet, and thinking they were probably no longer viable, I put them in the tepid water overnight and EVERY ONE of them germinated. 👍

[@lesliekendall5668]

​@@FlowerPatchFarmhouse Do I need to put in your name or anything on your seed links?

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

@@lesliekendall5668 No, just click the link and it works fine, I get credit. Thank you so much!

[@drew609]

Timestamps!

[@bobbiechinn9578]

My husband is not a gardener and knows nothing. Ive been growing everything on God's creation for over 40 years. Last night my husband had a couple of beers and decided to "rake" my gardens for me 🙄 not garden but gardenS. 🫤🫤🫤 All my winter growing cool flowers i sowed at the beginning of fall are now only root systems 🙄 hopefully their roots are strong enough to come back up in the spring. 🙏🙏🙏 Nigella, columbine, etc

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Oh my! I feel you, bless his heart. 🥺You sound so calm. Sometimes plants are a lot tougher than we give them credit, and if they come back you will then know what will do well for you. 🤣

[@tlovesgreens8244]

Yikes!😱 Well you’re not alone. My son raked and disposed all my decomposing mulch this Spring. I told him he doesn’t have to take all the mulch up. He said,”Ma,it’s a new season, new mulch!” I didnt say anything.😢😅

[@tanyakilbane7636]

Long, COLD winter for that old man!

[@solveigludviksdottir4787]

Thanks for all love from Iceland

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Wow, welcome to my channel!

[@solveigludviksdottir4787]

@@FlowerPatchFarmhouse 😘