Sowing in the Sunshine: Seeds to Sow Now for a Bloom-Filled 2026
- Jane Westoby
- 20 hours ago
- 3 min read
Summer can feel like the finish line. You’re hot, harvesting, and half-dreaming of winter sun — or maybe just a cold drink and five minutes of peace. But while your annuals are out there strutting their stuff, your 2026 flowers are quietly tapping you on the shoulder like, “Hey… got a minute?”
So let me say it clearly: summer is sowing season for next spring’s show-stoppers. And it’s not about doing more for the sake of it. It’s about working smart, getting ahead of the curve, and setting your future self up for a plot that practically pays for itself.
Here’s everything I’m sowing now — and why you should be too.
Why Sow in Summer?
Too many growers wait until autumn (or worse, next spring) to think about biennials and perennials. But by then, you’ve missed the boat — or at least delayed the voyage. And while some perennials like Verbascum can flower the same year from an early sowing, some won’t.
If you want robust foxgloves, hefty Hesperis, or luscious lupins blooming their heads off next May and June, that work starts now — in seed trays, under shade, before the heat gets silly.
This is your quiet power move. No stress. No heat mats. Just a bit of planning, some label sticks, and a garden that’ll thank you next spring.
What I’m Sowing Now (June & July)
From biennials that bridge the May Gap to perennials that keep on giving, here’s what I’ve got on the go:
Biennials
These are your flowering freeloaders: sown now, flower next spring, then peace out.
Digitalis purpurea 'Apricot' (Foxglove) – Timeless. Elegant. Always a bestseller.
Lunaria annua (Honesty) – Those shimmering disc pods are absolute magic in dried arrangements.
Hesperis matronalis – White or lilac, doesn’t matter — it’s what May dreams are made of.
Perennials
The long game. You sow once, and they keep coming back.
Lupinus polyphyllus ‘Gallery Red’ – Honestly, lupins have stolen my heart. I didn’t even realise they were cut-and-come-again until I grew them seriously.
Echinacea purpurea 'Paradiso' (Mixed & Super Duper) – Pollinator heaven.
Centranthus ruber – A bit wild, a bit weedy for some, but pair it with soft pink snaps and it sings.
Achillea, Rudbeckia, Feverfew – All staples in my cutting patch — and yours, if you like money.
Perovskia (Russian Sage) – That breezy, lavender-toned wafting drama in the border.
And because I’m me, there’s a bit of lettuce and parsley in there too. Garden snacks.
Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' – With those purple pinstripes? Yes please.
How I Sow in Summer (Without the Stress)
You don’t need a heated propagator. You do need to keep things cool, moist, and out of the midday scorch.
Modules or pots over direct sowing – I’ll be honest: I forget to water seedbeds. Trays and pots are just easier to manage. The exception? Foxgloves and Lepidium and poppies, do great in a seed bed.
Keep them in light shade or under cover – Full sun will bake your trays. No one likes crispy seedlings.
Use a lid — but remove it fast – I cover mine while they germinate, then whip it off the moment they sprout and ensure they are in eth shade wile the lid is on!
Pot on once they’re big enough – Then you can prick them out, and tuck them into a cold frame until spring or plant then staright out.
Picture This Next Spring...
Your tulips are fading. Your cosmos are still sulking. But your plot is dripping in foxgloves, Hesperis, Stocks, and lupins. You’ve fed the bees, your soul and your bottom line — and all because you sowed when others slacked.
This isn’t flashy. It’s not Insta-bait. It’s just quietly effective flower farming. And I’ll take that any day.
Seeds to Sow Now - Want the Full List?
You can shop my “Sow Now” seed collection right here. I’ve bundled everything I’m sowing into one page to make it easy.
Got questions about seed choices or want to know which ones are best for your growing zone?
And if you missed the podcast episode that inspired this blog, you can listen to it here — or just know that you’re now totally in the loop.
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