If you’re looking to add some vibrant color to your garden beds and containers fast, annuals are the way to go. Unlike perennials which can take a season or two to establish and reach their full size, fast-growing annuals transform bare patches of earth into a rioting rainbow within weeks of planting.
With the right choices, you can fill empty spots in the garden, enjoy color before your perennials fill in, and create floral displays for special events all season long. Here are some tips for getting the most out of quick-blooming annuals, along with 7 top picks for fast color.
Why Choose Fast-Growing Annuals?
Annuals complete their entire life cycle in one season. They sprout, grow, flower, set seed, and die all within a single growing period. This rapid development makes them perfect for situations when you need quick color. Here are some reasons fast-growing annuals can be useful:
- Fill blank spots in the garden instantly while waiting for perennials to establish over several seasons. Annuals provide big impact the first year.
- Add bright blooms for special events and holidays like July 4th or Labor Day parties when you want the garden to look its best for guests.
- Provide season-long color in containers that would otherwise look empty until slower perennials filled in.
- Create flower beds from scratch each year for fresh, new looks that change with the seasons.
- Add bold accents and pops of color to balance and highlight slower-growing plants with their rapid growth.
- Don’t have time for extensive garden care? Fast growers add color without much fuss.
So if you want an infusion of fast color in beds, borders, and containers, annuals are the way to go. Now let’s look at how to maximize their performance.
Related: Growing Black and White Flowers
How to Get the Most out of Fast-Growing Annuals
Follow these tips to fuel rapid growth and get the most blooms out of fast-growing annuals:
- Prepare soil properly. Annuals need nutrient-rich soil to support their speedy lifecycle. Work compost and a complete organic fertilizer into beds and containers before planting.
- Water thoroughly. Annuals grow rapidly, so they require consistent moisture. Water at soil level to encourage deep roots. Avoid overhead watering which can encourage disease.
- Remove spent blooms. Deadheading faded flowers tells the plant to keep blooming. Snip off old blooms to prolong flowering.
- Plant in full sun. Most fast-growing annuals thrive with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Site them in an unshaded spot.
Giving annuals what they need upfront by enriching soil, maintaining even moisture, and positioning in full sun ensures they grow vigorously and reward you with loads of flowers.
7 Recommended Fast-Growing Annuals
Here are some of the best choices for fast-growing annuals that fill gardens and containers with blossoms quickly:
1. Petunias
Petunias are a warm weather loving annual that take off once temperatures heat up. Their trumpet-shaped blooms come in every color of the rainbow, with ruffled, double, and trailing types to choose from. Grow petunias in well-drained soil and resist the urge to overwater once established. Removing spent blooms regularly keeps plants looking fresh and encourages new flowers.
2. Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the easiest annuals you can grow. Their cheery blossoms come in vivid yellow, gold, orange and combinations. Compact French marigold varieties work beautifully in containers. African marigolds produce huge flowers on tall, sturdy plants great for garden beds. Marigolds tolerate heat extremely well and deer rarely bother them.
3. Zinnias
Known for their dazzling diversity of flower forms and colors, zinnias thrive in the heat once their root systems establish. The profuse blooms make excellent cut flowers. Butterflies and hummingbirds flock to the nectar-rich blossoms. Zinnias resent transplanting, so sow them directly in the garden for best results. Choose dwarf varieties for containers.
4. Cosmos
With feathery foliage and colorful flowers, cosmos give a soft, romantic vibe. Sow the large seeds directly in the garden after the soil warms up. The tall, willowy plants may need staking as they can grow 4-6 feet high. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers. Cosmos make gorgeous cut flowers.
5. Nasturtiums
No cottage garden would be complete without cheerful nasturtiums trailing from baskets or tumbling over walls. These edible flowers bring a riot of color with little care. They thrive in poor soil and can tolerate heat and drought once established. Plant nasturtiums in containers, beds, or any bare spot for quick color.
6. Sunflowers
Sunflowers make a bold statement in any garden with their towering stems and showy flower heads. Sow seeds directly in the garden in a sunny spot with fertile soil. Keep soil consistently moist for non-stop growth. Stems may need staking support. Sunflowers grow rapidly, blooming in about 60-90 days.
7. Geraniums
Popular for containers and bedding displays, geraniums pump out color all season long in shades of red, pink, white, purple and bicolors. Remove spent blooms promptly to encourage more flowering. Give them full sun, well-drained soil, and avoid overwatering established plants.
With the right growing conditions and care, these fast growers will quickly reward you with blossoms to brighten your garden or containers.
Tips for Success with Fast-Growing Annuals
Here are some top tips for getting the most out of quick-blooming annuals:
- Give plants adequate space to accommodate rapid growth and spread. Check mature plant size when planning.
- Prepare soil by mixing in several inches of compost or organic planting mix. Top dress with organic fertilizer.
- Water new plantings daily until established. Then water deeply only when soil dries out.
- Insert stakes or wire cages for taller varieties like sunflowers before they get too large and floppy.
- Deadhead spent flowers at least weekly to promote continuous blooming.
- Scout for common pests like aphids and diseases. Treat problems ASAP to avoid slowing growth.
- Site plants in an area receiving full sun for at least 6 hours daily. Morning sun is ideal.
By incorporating these simple practices, your fast-growing annuals will thrive and add waves of color to your garden quickly and beautifully. Time to go plant shopping!
Conclusion
Fast-growing annuals are the busy gardener’s best friend. In no time at all, they can fill empty spaces with vibrant color to elevate your beds, borders, and containers. Give them sun, enriched soil, consistent water, and regular deadheading, and they’ll reward you with flowers galore.
Try planting some of the recommended beauties like petunias, zinnias, and cosmos this season to see just how quickly blank patches of earth transform into a colorful bouquet. With a little TLC, annuals will keep the garden looking bright and beautiful all season long.
