For a New England garden, annual poppy, larkspur, love-in-a-mist, calendula, and cosmos are five flowers University of Vermont Extension lists as suitable for fall sowing. They are not a universal list: fall arrives at different times, and seeds respond differently to winter in different climates. In the UK, the Royal Horticultural Society specifically recommends calendula, love-in-a-mist, and cornflower for early-autumn sowing. Check local extension advice and your seed packet for the right window and method where you live.
Why sow flower seeds in fall?
In suitable regions, fall sowing lets seeds experience winter cold and spring thaw. That seasonal exposure may help some kinds germinate, and University of Vermont Extension says fall-sown flowers may bloom earlier than spring-sown ones. The benefit depends on the species and local conditions; fall sowing is not appropriate for every flower or climate. UVM describes cold-stratification seeds as generally well suited to fall seeding in USDA zones 3–5, reflecting its Vermont and New England context rather than a universal boundary.
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Nadie VanZandt, an Extension Master Gardener with UVM Extension, writes: “With just a little extra work, direct sowing in the fall is a simple and inexpensive way to grow a colorful garden with plants that will bloom earlier than when seeded in the spring.” Read UVM Extension’s regional guidance.
Five flowers to consider for fall sowing
The first five entries below are a practical selection from UVM Extension’s New England list of annuals known to self-seed and suitable for fall sowing—not an official ranking. Choose varieties and timing based on your climate, seed packet, and local guidance.
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1. Annual poppy (Papaver)
UVM includes breadseed poppy among the annuals it recommends for fall sowing in its regional guidance. Sow it where you want it to grow: Purdue Extension says poppies do not transplant well. Follow the packet for depth and whether the seeds need light or darkness.
2. Larkspur (Delphinium consolida)
Larkspur appears on UVM’s New England fall-sowing list. Its inclusion is not a guarantee for other climates, so check local advice and the packet for your cultivar’s timing and sowing requirements.
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3. Love-in-a-mist (Nigella)
Both UVM and the RHS include love-in-a-mist in fall or early-autumn guidance for their respective regions. The RHS also notes that its seed pods can be dried for winter decoration, making it useful beyond its flowers.
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Calendula is on UVM’s New England fall-sowing list, and the RHS names it for early-autumn sowing in the UK. The RHS says those UK early-autumn sowings can flower in May the following year; that timing applies to its guidance, not to every climate. Calendula’s presence on a fall list should not be confused with all calendula-growing advice: UNH Extension’s guide specifies early-spring planting in New Hampshire.
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5. Cosmos
UVM includes cosmos among annuals suitable for fall sowing in its regional advice. Use the packet and local extension recommendations to check whether your climate and cultivar suit this timing.
UK alternative: cornflower
For UK gardeners following RHS school-gardening guidance, cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is named alongside calendula and love-in-a-mist for early-autumn sowing. The RHS says these hardy annuals can flower in May the following year. This UK recommendation does not establish cornflower as a suitable fall choice everywhere; check local guidance before using it in another region.
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How to sow seeds in fall
- Choose for your climate. Check local extension advice, your hardiness zone where applicable, and the seed packet. RHS timing is for UK conditions; UVM’s advice is grounded in Vermont and New England.
- Wait for the local sowing window. In Vermont, UVM advises sowing after a killing frost to reduce the chance of seeds germinating prematurely. Do not transfer that timing directly to a different climate.
- Prepare the seedbed. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot. Remove weeds and debris, then lightly loosen the soil surface.
- Sow according to the packet. Follow its directions for depth and whether the seeds need light or darkness. Sow thinly or in rows, and place poppies in their permanent position because Purdue says they do not transplant well.
- Label and water gently. Mark where you sowed so you can identify the seedlings later. Use a gentle flow of water to avoid displacing seeds.
- Thin seedlings if needed. Once seedlings emerge, follow packet spacing and remove crowded plants carefully so you do not disturb the ones left in place.
What to check before choosing
- Regional fit: A species recommended for Vermont or the UK is not automatically suitable for your local fall. Follow local extension advice and the packet for your climate and cultivar.
- Winter exposure: Fall sowing can provide cold and thaw exposure that may help some seeds, but species and conditions determine the result.
- Site conditions: A sunny, well-drained seedbed is part of UVM’s guidance; remove competing weeds and debris before sowing.
- End use: Consider whether you want flowers for a border or cutting, or seed pods such as those of love-in-a-mist for drying.
- Transplant sensitivity: Sow poppies in their final place. Purdue gives the same advice for sweet peas, but the sources do not establish sweet peas as a universal fall-sowing choice; regional method and timing matter.
Sources: University of Vermont Extension, “Seeds To Plant This Fall”; Royal Horticultural Society, “How to grow annual flowers / Sowing seeds”; RHS Campaign for School Gardening, “Sowing hardy flowering seeds”; Purdue Extension, “HO-99: Growing Annual Flowers”; UNH Extension, “How to grow calendula”.
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