Get a profusion of blooms through late summer and into fall.
With little effort but a big impact, these blooms will add plenty of cheer and color to your yard.
In my time as a professional gardener, I’ve grown annuals in all sorts of places. From small, south-facing balconies filled with pots to sprawling country gardens with plenty of room for things to self-seed and spread. And, while July may seem a little late in the growing season for annual seeds, I’d argue that it’s still worth it. With the right varieties, you should get a good showing in September and October, and it’s definitely worth it.
Some things really struggle in the heat. Some annuals may refuse to grow or bloom on sunny days and in dry soil. But there are a few, like nasturtiums and alyssums, that are reliable and move quickly, even if you’re a little late in terms of your planting schedule.
My advice: Plant them directly outdoors or in small eco-friendly pots that can be easily transplanted without disturbing the roots. These July-sown annuals may not be the most showy or bushy display you’ve ever grown, but they’ll still provide a nice container display while providing a pollinator or two as fall approaches. Here are my favorite flowers to plant in July.
These seven fast-growing annuals sown in July have remarkable growth rates and will sprout and bloom in record time.
In fact, many annuals, like some of the best zinnia varieties, can help fill containers and borders with color for the last few weeks and months of the growing season.
Here are seven of my favorite annuals that I’ve tried and tested in my professional career and grown myself.
1. Calendula
Calendulas are some of the best summer flowers you can grow. I’ve planted them in vegetable beds, flower borders, and even in gardens with cracks and crevices. They germinate quickly, with shoots usually emerging in 7 to 10 days. You can expect flowers about 8 weeks after germination, meaning if you sow them in July, you can expect to see some blooms in September and October.
I always recommend growing ‘Indian Prince,’ a classic gardener favorite, and seeds are now available to order through Amazon. For me, this soft orange flower is always a winner, especially when planted with other colorful annuals. Like all of these annuals, calendula, which can grow in a range of U.S. hardiness zones, likes plenty of sunlight and a good watering from time to time.
During hot summers, provide some protection for seedlings and young plants, choosing a spot in part-sun to part-shade, which will protect the young leaves from the harsh rays. Deadheading will help prolong the summer display, but allow one or two to go to seed. These self-seeding flowers will help provide you with supplies for next year’s display.
2. Violas
Beautiful violas are more resilient than they look. While they are not patio plants that thrive on neglect, these fast-growing little flowers are very hardy as long as the soil doesn’t dry out completely. As for how to grow and care for violas, choose a sunny to partially shaded spot in the yard, although I find it easier to start them in a cool spot or greenhouse first, then transplant them outdoors.
They usually take about 10 to 14 days to germinate, and will flower within eight weeks. Be sure to keep the soil moist to prevent them from wilting in the heat. ‘Tiger Eye’, as seen in the picture here, is my favorite viola for obvious reasons. The markings, I think, are very special, and even in miniature, they steal the show. ‘Tiger Eye’ live plants can be ordered now from Burpee. Give them a good, deep watering upon arrival and plant them in the ground as soon as possible.
3. Nasturtium
Nasterdiums are one of my favorite climbers to grow in containers and borders, and they’re great if you want flowers in a hurry. In fact, they’re a vigorous climber that thrives on neglect, with a sprawling, creeping habit that’s my favorite, often sneaking its way across the garden, sometimes producing several inches of growth in a single day.
In kitchen gardens, they’re useful plants for pollinators and for adding color to soften the edges of beds, but I’m much happier growing them in containers.
As for how to grow nasturtiums, choose a sunny or partially shaded spot in your yard. I recommend direct sowing them in large containers with dahlias, zinnias, or other flowering annuals. They’ll germinate in about a week in warm soil, and don’t need a rich fertilizer. This pale-lemon 'Peach Melba' variety, available from Burbee, is one of my favorites this year, and will grow quickly and produce flowers in late summer and early fall.
4. Alyssum
Alyssum is a wonderful old-fashioned annual that I rely on, especially for potted displays or when used as a flowering ground cover. When it comes to flowers, it is remarkably undemanding, a plant that will quietly grow with it. Direct sow seeds in a spot of your choice in a sheltered corner of the yard.
Alyssum prefers cool conditions, with partial shade being considered best as an annual, so in southern areas like zone 9, be sure to give it a spot with some afternoon shade.
Germination takes about a week, and you should see the first blooms by the sixth or seventh week, which is pretty impressive by any standard. Alyssum seed tape is available to order from Burbee and takes the stress out of flower growing. Dig your shallow trench and roll out your tape. The seeds are already spaced out properly, so you don't have to worry about measuring or counting them. Easy.
5. Morning Glory
Morning glory vines are known for their fast growth rate. I've grown them on several occasions, and I've chosen vibrant varieties like this 'Candy Pink' option, and the seeds are now available to order from Burpee. How to Grow Morning Glory from Seed Direct Sow in July or in compostable pots, available from Walmart, to minimize root disturbance.
Germination can take seven or more days, sometimes less if the seeds are gently sanded or licked first. Sowing in the spring can lead to growth of over 10 feet in a few months, and while this won't happen if you sow in July, they will still reach a significant height by fall. In my experience, a sunny position with at least six hours of direct sunlight is best. Also, don't forget to be generous with the watering can every few days.
6. California Poppies
California poppies, or Eschscholzia californica, are a classic (and foolproof) summer annual. They were the first flowers I grew from seed with my father many years ago, and if a heavy-set 13-year-old can do it, I’m sure you can too.
I’ve found that they grow almost anywhere, from dry, dusty beds to rich flower borders. And, as you might have guessed from the name, these are California natives, so they thrive with very little water.
Direct sow them in July. I’ve found that they hate being transplanted. They germinate in as little as seven days and bloom in as little as six weeks. This ‘Yukon Gold’ variety, with its bright golden-yellow flowers, is on my shopping list and is currently available online from Burpee.
7. Cornflowers
If you’re looking for wildflower garden ideas, you won’t find anything better than cornflowers. Often thought of as some of the best blue flowers, I have grown them in gravel borders, wildflower mixes, or cut flower gardens, and have found them to be consistently reliable and late bloomers.
Cornflower seeds, available from Walmart, can be sown directly into full sun flower beds and borders this month, and you can expect flowers in eight to 10 weeks, lasting until the first frost. So, while it is preferable to grow them early in the year, you can still enjoy the colorful blooms for a few weeks in September and October.
For an unusual option, buy cornflower seeds from Amazon Try 'Black Ball' with its seeds. I love this dark, maroon option that looks great in a border or when cut and placed in a vase indoors.
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