SHIFTING ROOTS

home, garden, food, and prairie lifestyle

  • About
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
  • Gardening
  • Recipes
  • Popular Posts
  • Courses

5 Easy Annual Flowers for Beginner Seed Savers

September 26, 2018

Pin2K
Share
Tweet
+1
2K Shares

What’s the easiest way you can make a dent in your gardening budget?  Saving seeds!!  While some seeds require a little more know-how than others to save, I’ve compiled a list of 5 easy annual flowers that are perfect for beginner seed savers.

Seed saving annual flowers is way easier than I could have imagined.  Here's 5 perfect-for-beginners plants to collect seeds this fall for a frugal flower garden next spring. #annuals #annualflowers #seeds #seedsaving #beginners #garden #gardening #flowergarden #flower #tips #ideas

1. Marigolds

The humble marigold is one of the simplest flowers to collect.  Wait until the flower has dried up, squish the little pod, and voila!  Tons of seeds for next year’s flower bed with little effort.

Just make sure you collect at least one flower pod of every colour you want to grow next year.  I thought I had done that last year, only to realize that I only collected orange.  Whoops!

Start marigolds indoors 4-6 weeks before you intend to transplant them, or direct seed for a later bloom.  Give them adequate sunlight and water, and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful and cheap companion plant for your vegetables.

Seed saving annual flowers is way easier than I could have imagined.  Here's 5 perfect-for-beginners plants to collect seeds this fall for a frugal flower garden next spring. #annuals #annualflowers #seeds #seedsaving #beginners #garden #gardening #flowergarden #flower #tips #ideas

Related: 36 Flowers to feed your Flower-Arranging Habit all Summer Long

2. Nasturtiums

Like marigolds, nasturtiums are excellent companion flowers in the vegetable garden.  Some gardeners will even use them as a sacrificial plant–they expect that bugs will eat the nasturtiums so they leave the vegetables alone.

Once the nasturtium is done blooming it will leave a pod like the one below.  Collect the pods and let them dry until they turn brown and slightly shrivelled.  Store in an air-tight container and start 4 weeks before the last frost in the spring, or direct seed.

Seed saving annual flowers is way easier than I could have imagined.  Here's 5 perfect-for-beginners plants to collect seeds this fall for a frugal flower garden next spring. #annuals #annualflowers #seeds #seedsaving #beginners #garden #gardening #flowergarden #flower #tips #ideas

Related: 14 Companion Flowers for the Vegetable Garden

3. Poppies

This year was my first year growing poppies, and I am in love.  I have no idea what this variety is, but even though it was short blooming, I just loved how interesting it was!

Seed saving annual flowers is way easier than I could have imagined.  Here's 5 perfect-for-beginners plants to collect seeds this fall for a frugal flower garden next spring. #annuals #annualflowers #seeds #seedsaving #beginners #garden #gardening #flowergarden #flower #tips #ideas

When the poppy is done blooming, it will make a beautiful seed pod like the ones below.  Let them dry out for a few weeks and crush them open to reveal tons of tiny seeds.  Use them in baking or save the seeds to grow more next year.

Seed saving annual flowers is way easier than I could have imagined.  Here's 5 perfect-for-beginners plants to collect seeds this fall for a frugal flower garden next spring. #annuals #annualflowers #seeds #seedsaving #beginners #garden #gardening #flowergarden #flower #tips #ideas

Plan the Perfect Garden

Garden planner small

Get your free Garden Planner and worksheets and start creating the garden of your dreams.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

3. Sunflowers

Sunflowers are an old favourite, and easy to grow.  If you have kids or grandkids, consider planting one for each of them to be their special flower.  Kids love the big flowers and tall size.

Once the flowers are done blooming, let the seed heads dry out, then collect them and bring them indoors.  Roast the seeds for eating (if it’s an edible variety), or save them for planting next year.

If you leave the seed heads out for the winter, the birds will thank you!

Seed saving annual flowers is way easier than I could have imagined.  Here's 5 perfect-for-beginners plants to collect seeds this fall for a frugal flower garden next spring. #annuals #annualflowers #seeds #seedsaving #beginners #garden #gardening #flowergarden #flower #tips #ideas

4. Zinnias

It’s no secret–I’m in love with zinnias.  There’s so many colours and sizes that growing one variety simply isn’t enough for me.  Grow them for late-summer/early fall bouquets, or use them in the vegetable garden as a companion flower.

Once the flowers have dried up, like below, collect the petals for planting next year.  I’ve started zinnias for many years, and I find that if you’re planning to put them in your vegetable garden, it’s best to direct seed.  If you want them for pots, you can start them 4-6 weeks before you need them.  Zinnias have always been very successful for me when I’ve started them indoors.

Seed saving annual flowers is way easier than I could have imagined.  Here's 5 perfect-for-beginners plants to collect seeds this fall for a frugal flower garden next spring. #annuals #annualflowers #seeds #seedsaving #beginners #garden #gardening #flowergarden #flower #tips #ideas

Want to save more money gardening?  Here’s 5 simple things you can do this Fall to save money next Spring.

5. Calendula

The process for saving calendula is exactly the same as saving zinnias.  Let the seed heads dry out, break them up, and collect the seeds.  Calendula is a wonderful companion flower and is great in homemade salves and soaps.

Seed saving annual flowers is way easier than I could have imagined.  Here's 5 perfect-for-beginners plants to collect seeds this fall for a frugal flower garden next spring. #annuals #annualflowers #seeds #seedsaving #beginners #garden #gardening #flowergarden #flower #tips #ideas

Are there any other annual flowers that are easy to collect seeds from?  Tell us about it in the comments!

Seed saving annual flowers is way easier than I could have imagined.  Here's 5 perfect-for-beginners plants to collect seeds this fall for a frugal flower garden next spring. #annuals #annualflowers #seeds #seedsaving #beginners #garden #gardening #flowergarden #flower #tips #ideas

Plan the Perfect Garden

Garden planner small

Get your free Garden Planner and worksheets and start creating the garden of your dreams.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Related Posts

  • The Last Fall Flowers

    "Tis the last rose of summer, left blooming alone.  All her lovely companions are faded…

  • 15+ Gifts for Flower Lovers

    Looking for the perfect gift for your flower-obsessed friend?  Look no further. For the Home…

  • 20+ Canadian Seed Companies & Nurseries to Order the Garden or Landscape of Your Dreams

    Are you a beginner gardener with no idea where to buy your seeds?  Whether you're…

2 Comments
Filed Under: Backyard Florist, Flowers, Gardening Tagged: annuals, Autumn, calendula, easy, fall, Flowers, nasturtium, poppy, seed saving, sunflower, zinnia

Comments

  1. Mellissa says

    October 3, 2018 at 6:42 am

    Oh thank you for this info, I do this with morning glory, because I love to use it along fencing. Although you don't always have to collect the seeds-I've discovered they fall and grow pretty much anywhere. ;)
    Reply
    • Kristen Raney says

      October 5, 2018 at 8:46 am

      That's what I've heard from my friends who grow them!
      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Grow roots with us

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

P.S. First time gardener? You'll want to download the quick start gardening guide below!

Recent Posts

  • The Best Method for Making Tea-Dyed Easter Eggs
  • How to Design a Front Yard Raised Bed Vegetable Garden
  • Cold-Climate Vegetable Gardening for the Complete Beginner
  • A Grain of Salt: What You Should Know Before Following Gardening Advice on the Internet
  • Real-life design ideas for your small space garden

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Connect with Shifting Roots On. . .

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Find What You’re Looking For. . .

Learn the Basics of Gardening in Just a Few Minutes

Screen shot 2018 04 19 at 4.23.58 pm

Gardening doesn't have to be complicated. Learn the basics in minutes, get started with your first garden in a day or less, and start your lifetime gardening adventure.

Enter your name and email address to download the Quick Start Garden Guide. You'll also get a mini-email course and weekly gardening tips and advice.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit
Load More…Follow on Instagram

Theme Design By Studio Mommy · Copyright © 2019