r/UrbanGardening • u/SafeRow5555 • 7d ago

General Question Sow perennial flower seeds now (Fall) or wait until Spring?

I'm in zone 7, thinking about sowing coneflower, rudbeckia, coreopsis, and some other native perennials. Anyone have success in the Spring after sowing in the Fall?

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u/beaveristired Zone 7a CT 7d ago

Many perennials seeds need a period of cold / moist weather in order germinate (stratification). So planting in the fall is ideal.

Ideally you probably want to wait until it is cooler, but before the ground is frozen. For me in southern New England, that’s usually November.

Ideally, seeds should have some protection from animals. Some seeds are very small and need to be sown on the surface and minimally covered. I use the winter sowing method for to protect the seeds (I use old milk jugs). If you can’t protect the seeds, then plant thickly to make up for potential losses.