5 Easy Annual Flowers for Beginner Seed Savers

What’s the easiest way you can make a dent in your gardening budget?

Saving seeds!

It’s so easy to save seeds from cut flowers and other annual flowers that you can use next year. While some seeds require a little more know-how than others to save, I’ve compiled some of the easiest flower seeds to save–even if you don’t know what you’re doing.

In this blog post, I’ll give you my list of five easy annual flowers that are perfect for beginner seed savers.

5 EASY ANNUAL FLOWERS FOR BEGINNER SEED SAVERS

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 one year, only to realize that I only collected orange. Whoops!

Wait until the marigold pods are completely dry before you store them. I’ve stored them early before, thinking they were dry, only to have them go mouldy in the bag because it was too soon.

Next spring, plant the marigold seeds 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 flower 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

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.

3. Poppies

2019 was my first year growing poppies, and from then on, I’ve been in love. Since then, I’ve grown and successfully seeds from many interesting varieties. I especially love the grey poppies pictured below.

When the poppy is done blooming, it will make a beautiful seed pod. 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.

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!

If you want sunflowers as cut flowers, the branching varieties will give you a lot more blooms–and seeds to save! Check out the branching variety in the short video below:

4. Zinnias

It’s no secret–I’m in love with zinnias. There are 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 started them indoors.

If you’re starting zinnias indoors, plant more than you need, as I find that they can be difficult to harden off and I end up losing more than I imagined I would.

Want to save more money gardening? Here are five 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.

Are there any other annual flowers that you find easy to collect seeds from?

If you liked this blog post, follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more cold-climate gardening tips, delicious recipes, and cut flower goodness! I also make weekly videos over on my YouTube channel. I hope to see you there!

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO SAVE EVEN MORE ANNUAL FLOWERS?

There are so many flowers you can save from seed that will easily save you more than $200 on your cut flower gardening bill. If you’re tired of spending so much money on your flower garden every spring, you need The Cut Flower Seed Saving Companion. This book teaches you how to save over 30 different annual cut flower seeds, putting money back in your pocket!

Yes! I want to save $$!

Comments

Mellissa

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. ;)

- Kristen Raney
  
  That's what I've heard from my friends who grow them!
  
Janice Staniec

Even though I leave my poppies to self seed (they are on the boulevard instead of grass), I want to collect seeds from some of them. I have marked the ones with unusual flowers for this purpose. Does one have to let the seed pod dry on the plant or can one take it off the plant and let it dry inside? Janice

- Kristen Raney
  
  I think you can let it dry inside.
  
Pat Federico

When I cut the scapes from the garlic plants I let them dry and the collect the seeds in the pods and sow them in the fall. It takes about two seasons for the new garlic to grow this way but I think it is worth the wait. This year to my surprise I had over 100 garlic bulbs to harvest and most were big and beautiful just like you would buy in the store. I also collect the seeds of penstemon and scatter them back into the garden. I do leave some on the plants for the birds.

Janice Staniec

I collected some marigold seeds earlier this year - by accident - when I wanted to deadhead them and pulling on the dead bloom resulted in pulling the seeds out. I put them into a container, closed the lid. Checked them later, and they had stuck together and molded. I realized that they may have been damp from rain. But I also wonder if one needs to let them dry out before putting them away, whether it is into a sealed container or a paper envelope. And should one remove the remaining bit of bloom? I planted some vanilla cream marigolds this year (really a light yellow) and I want to keep them for next year. I should have lots and lots and lots and lots of seed if I harvest and store them correctly. And, in case you have any doubt, Morning Glory is an excellent self seeder. To be safe, it is a good idea to collect some seed as well, just to be safe. I think it is the easiest plant to collect from.

- Kristen Raney
  
  Yes, I've made the same mistake before too. They need a lot longer to dry out than one thinks. I currently have all of mine drying in a shed outdoors, and I'll take them in sometime in November.
  
Kathleen Nall

Thank you for this great information. I had good luck with snapdragons this year and am so happy because they were my dear Grandmother's favorite. I believe she just let the seeds fall to the ground and the next year...up they would pop! So I thought I'd try that...do you have any thoughts? I love your FB page and just read some of your blog. You are inspiring and just sweet!

- Kristen Raney
  
  Oh what zone are you in? I'd love that if my snapdragons would reseed themselves!
  
Josianne

Milkweed. Great plant and helps monarchs.

- Jen
  
  Thank you for posting that. I am working on a butterfly garden now. I am also looking for plants that the bees love. We must have a bee hive near us due to all the honeybees that come.