How to Grow Flowers From Seeds

A beautiful flower garden boosts your home's curb appeal--a definite plus if you are a seller in this buyers' market! Flowers make your home more inviting, and make your day a little brighter. But buying potted flowers to plant in your garden can get expensive. Growing flowers from seeds can save you money and give you a gorgeous variety.

Things You'll Need

• Small pots or egg carton
• Starter mix or potting soil

Instructions

1. Harvest seeds from mature plants when the seeds are dry. Try to collect the seeds before they drop off the plant.

2. Store the seeds in an envelope or a paper bag in a cool, dry place. If you know the type of flower you collected the seeds from, label the bag or envelope.

3. Determine your area's typical last frost of the season. You will want to start your seeds indoors no more than six to eight weeks prior to the last frost.

4. Fill your containers with soil or starting mix. Make sure the containers have proper drainage, poking holes if necessary. Set the containers on a tray to collect draining water.

5. Plant only two or three seeds in each container. Keep moist and give adequate sunlight and wait to see sprouting seedlings!

6. Transplant the seedlings after they grow an inch or two tall. If the last frost has passed, plant outside. If it has not, transplant each seedling into its own individual pot until all danger of frost has passed and you can transplant outside.

Tips & Warnings

• After harvesting seeds from your own yard, ask friends and family to do the same. Swap some seeds (you will only need a few from your bounty) and your garden will grow into a beautifully colorful one!