Quick-growing annuals to sow now

There is still time in late spring to sow quick-growing hardy and half-hardy annuals straight to the soil, says Anne Swithinbank, as she describes the best ones to grow

- Anne Swithinbank

FOR those making a late start with their flower garden, there is still time in late spring to sow ‘last-minute’ annuals straight into prepared soil. This is gardening pared down to the basics, requiring only a few packets of seeds and prepared, sun-warmed soil to create a summer of abundant blooms. You’ll need to find an empty section of border, or use a collection of containers topped up with fresh multipurpose compost.

Annuals are plants that have evolved to germinate, grow, flower and shed seed in one growing season, after which they die off. Those with origins in harsh, dry climates including California in the US, the Mediterranean and South Africa are especially speedy, to complete their cycle while there is sufficient moisture in the soil. Some frost-hardy annuals will germinate in autumn and sit the winter out as small plants, as well as coming up in spring. Half-hardy annuals are frost tender and need warm conditions for germination and growth.

Useful for a quick fix

In the garden, last-minute annuals bring flower colour, cut blooms and attract many beneficial insects. They are particularly useful where a quick fix is needed for borders waiting for autumn plantings of perennials and shrubs. Although generous swathes of clarkia, mallow or Venus’s navelwort are eyecatching, annuals such as borage, calendula and nasturtiums are easy to sow into small gaps, too.

Give them space