How to get annuals to return -

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smb12321 Franklin, TN Jun 22, 2010

Many of my annuals return - Celosia, Petunias, Basil, etc (Zone 6B). Is there any way to get the others to return or is it an impossible task for Coneflowers, Marigolds, etc? Is there a botanical reason why they won't return? In the fall, I cut way back & mulch. Thanks for any advice.

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tggfisk Garner, NC(Zone 7b) Jun 22, 2010

Coneflowers are reliable here. I don't deadhead until winter to give the birds time to eat and spread seeds for me. Plus I don't really mulch much underneath them. Marigolds are easy to collect seeds from. I wintersow them actually in late Feb early March and then transplant out after the last frost date.

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KyWoods Highland Heights, KY(Zone 6a) Jun 23, 2010

I had one marigold seed survive the winter here in the northern tip of Kentucky, and the plant is blooming now. I have never seen that happen before--maybe I missed one while deadheading last year, lol. It's in a container, too.
So yours reseed and actually sprout in the spring, smb? Wow! What's your secret?

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tggfisk Garner, NC(Zone 7b) Jun 23, 2010

Hey Renee:))

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KyWoods Highland Heights, KY(Zone 6a) Jun 23, 2010

Hi, nice to see ya here! Oh, and yeah, the purple coneflowers grow thicker every year,

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smb12321 Franklin, TN Jun 25, 2010

Ky woods - No secrets. My mom's beds of impatiens returned when she "hoed" them under after the first frost. They came up late but very thick. I use good dirt (compost) and plenty of mulch. Maybe it's the weather - I'm on the cusp of Zone 7 although last year we had a 9 day period where it did not get above freezing. I use tree chips for mulch. After a season or two it turns into dirt. The "seed lady" at the nearest nursery told me yesterday that ALL flowers are perennials if we handle them properly (whatever that means).

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KyWoods Highland Heights, KY(Zone 6a) Jun 25, 2010

That could save us alot of money, lol. Thanks for the tip--hoe 'em under and mulch 'em down, I'll try it this year!

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