3 Cut Flowers You Can Still Start from Seed Now and Enjoy This Season — Even in a Pot!
We believe it’s never too late — to plant something new, to add a little beauty to your day, or to create a small moment of joy just outside your door. And if you’ve been watching summer fly by thinking, “I missed my chance to grow flowers this year,” here’s some good news:
You can still start beautiful, blooming cut flowers from seed — right now in July — and enjoy them this season. Whether you have a sunny patio, balcony, or a corner of your garden, these three flowers thrive in containers, love warm weather, and reward you with blooms into fall.
Here are three easy cut flowers you can start from seed today and still enjoy blooms this summer or early fall — perfect for pots, patios, and raised beds.
1. Zinnias – Cheerful, Colorful, and Always Blooming
Days to Bloom: 60–70
Zinnias are the ultimate warm-season flower — heat-tolerant, fast-growing, and perfect for cut bouquets. They’re also a favorite of bees and butterflies.
Grow Tips
Sow directly into a sunny pot or raised bed.
Water gently until they sprout (usually 5–7 days).
The more you cut them, the more they bloom!
Best for Pots: Try ‘Benary’s Giant’ for full-size cuts, or ‘Profusion’ for a more compact option.
Zinnias
2. Cosmos – Airy, Romantic, and So Easy to Grow
Days to Bloom: 60–75
Cosmos have a delicate, cottage-garden charm. Their ferny foliage and long stems make them perfect for arrangements, and they bloom nonstop when you keep them deadheaded.
Grow Tips
Full sun is best, and they’re very drought-tolerant once established.
Use a deeper pot or container with good drainage.
Stake taller varieties or choose dwarf types like ‘Sonata.’
Bonus: Butterflies love them, and they pair beautifully with herbs or other annuals.
Cosmos
3. Calendula – Bright Blooms with Healing Benefits
Days to Bloom: 45–60
Calendula isn’t just beautiful — its petals are edible, and it’s known for skin-soothing properties. These sunny blooms bring warmth to any space.
Grow Tips
Prefers part sun in the height of summer.
Pinch back early to encourage bushiness.
Keep spent blooms trimmed to encourage more flowers.
Use Them: In a vase, scattered over a salad, or dried for teas or salves.
Calendula
🌿 A Little Garden, A Lot of Joy
You don’t need a big garden — or a perfect plan — to grow something beautiful. With just a few seeds, a sunny spot, and a bit of water and care, you can still grow a mini cut flower patch and enjoy your own fresh blooms well into fall.
So if you’ve been waiting for a sign… this is it.
Go ahead — plant something.
You’ve got time.