What is an Annual?
A true annual is a plant that completes its life cycle in one year. This means it goes from seed to seed and then dies off, during the course of one growing season. The whole mission of an annual is to produce seed and propagate. That’s why deadheading or removing spent flowers before the seed matures, produces more flowers and therefore more potential seed.
Some tender perennials are grown as annuals in colder climates. For a perennial to be worth growing as an annual, it must flower profusely in its first year of growth. Pansies, lantana and alyssum are all actually tender perennials.
There are also plants considered to be hardy annuals. This just means that they are able to withstand a little frost without being killed off and will continue to bloom and set seed into the next year, but they will eventually expire. Annuals can be further divided into cool season and warm season.
Pansies will fade as the summer heats up. Zinnias won’t even get moving until the nights stay warm. Annual flowers give you the opportunity to have a totally different garden every year.
Three Tips For Growing Annuals
Planting and Spacing
Plant transplants closely so they fill in quickly. Usually, the tag will say to plant 8 to 12 inches apart, so pick 8 inches for a great show of flowers more quickly. Use your fingers to tease apart any pot-bound roots so they make better contact with soil.
Watering
Annuals need water to thrive. Water them deeply two to three times a week after planting. The moist soil will encourage good growth. For the best show of color all summer, don’t let up on the watering. Especially if they are in containers or hanging baskets!
Feed Your Plants
Feed your plants with a balanced all-purpose fertilizer if you want them to look beautiful. You can use granular that you sprinkle on about once a month, or something you mix into a watering can that you would apply about once a week. Anything from fish emulsion to Chickity-Doo-Doo, Fox Farm, or Espoma will work.
These are all great organic options that we are selling now. Your bed-annuals will grow even better if you mix some compost or manure into your soil before you plant. We have Coast of Maine’s Fundy Blend Enriching mulch that is a wonderful fine mulch for annuals too.
Plant Lists
 Sun Loving Plants: | |
|---|---|
| Ageratum | Angelonia |
| Argeranthemum | Calibrachoa |
| Cleome | Cosmos |
| Dusty Miller | Gazania |
| Geraniums | Lantana |
| Lobelia | Marigolds |
| Nicotiana | Osteospermum |
| Pansies | Petunia |
| Phlox | Portulaca |
| Salvia | Scaevola |
| Snapdragons | Sunflower |
| Torenia | Verbena |
| Zinnias | |
| Shade/Partial Shade Annuals: | |
|---|---|
| Ageratum | Bacopa |
| Begonia (many varieties) | Coleus |
| Impatiens | New Guinea Impatiens |
| Sweet Potato Vine | Torenia |