What Seeds Can I Plant Now for Spring? Your Complete Fall Planting Guide
From our nursery at Garden Starts Nursery, we grow thousands of cool-season plants from seed every fall — and we know firsthand that September is one of the most exciting planting months of the year. If you're wondering what seeds you can plant now for spring, the answer is: more than you think.
Fall planting unlocks a whole category of flowers and vegetables that actually prefer the cool temperatures ahead. Many of these seeds need a cold period to germinate or bloom at their best — meaning planting now sets them up for the most spectacular spring display possible.
Whether you're in Zone 5 bracing for frost or Zone 9 enjoying mild winters, this guide covers the best seeds to direct sow or start indoors right now for gorgeous spring color and harvests.
Why Fall Is the Secret Window for Spring Seeds
Most gardeners think of spring as seed-starting season. But at our nursery, we start planning spring in September. Here's why fall planting works so well:
- Cool-season flowers thrive in cold soil. Seeds like sweet peas, pansies, violas, and stock actually germinate better in cooler temperatures (45–65°F) than in summer heat.
- Some seeds need stratification. A period of cold exposure breaks dormancy and triggers spring germination — nature's own alarm clock.
- Fall-started transplants are stronger. Pansies and violas started indoors in fall develop robust root systems before being set out in early spring, giving you earlier, bigger blooms.
- You get a head start on spring. Fall-sown sweet peas bloom weeks earlier than spring-sown ones.
Best Seeds to Plant Now for Spring Blooms
1. Sweet Pea Seeds — Start Indoors or Direct Sow
Sweet peas are the ultimate fall-to-spring seed. In Zones 7–10, direct sow sweet pea seeds in fall for blooms from late winter through spring. In Zones 5–6, start them indoors in October or November for early spring transplanting. From our nursery, sweet peas started in fall consistently outbloom spring-sown plants by weeks.
Key tip: Nick or soak seeds for 24 hours before planting to improve germination.
👉 Sweet Pea Royal Family Mix — 50 Seeds — A classic mix of tall, fragrant sweet peas perfect for cutting gardens and spring trellises.
👉 Sweet Pea Mammoth Mix — 50 Seeds — Long-stemmed, heat-tolerant sweet peas that perform beautifully when fall-started.
👉 Sweet Pea Royal Rose Pink — 25 Seeds — Gorgeous cut-flower sweet peas with a delicate pink bloom and incredible fragrance.
2. Pansy Seeds — The Ultimate Fall-to-Spring Flower
Pansies are hands-down the best flower to start from seed in fall. Started indoors in September–October, pansy seedlings overwinter beautifully and explode into bloom the moment temperatures warm in spring. At our nursery, we start pansies in late summer every single year — it's one of our most reliable spring crops.
Zones 6–10: Start indoors in September, transplant outdoors in October–November for winter color that peaks in spring.
Zones 4–5: Start indoors in September–October, overwinter under grow lights, transplant out in early spring.
👉 Cool Wave® Berries 'N' Cream Mix Pansy — 15 Seeds — Trailing pansies that cascade beautifully from spring hanging baskets and containers.
👉 Matrix Coastal Sunrise Mix Pansy — 25 Seeds — Extra-large blooms in warm sunrise tones, perfect for spring beds and borders.
👉 Joker Mix Pansy — 50 Seeds — Bold bicolor blooms that overwinter like champs and put on a show all spring.
🌸 Browse All Pansy & Flower Seeds →
3. Viola Seeds — Hardy, Long-Blooming, and Incredibly Easy
Violas are even hardier than pansies and often survive winter temperatures that kill pansies outright. Start them indoors in September alongside pansies for spring transplants that bloom for months.
👉 Viola Sorbet XP Midnight Glow — 50 Seeds — Deep purple-black blooms with a golden eye — a striking spring accent plant.
👉 Viola Angel Blueberry Glow — 50 Seeds — Compact, free-flowering violas that bloom from late winter through spring in cooler climates.
4. Flowering Kale & Ornamental Cabbage Seeds — Fall & Winter Color
Flowering kale isn't just a spring plant — it's a late-fall to winter workhorse that peaks in color when temperatures drop. Start seeds in late summer for transplants that put on a show from October through spring in mild climates.
👉 Flowering Kale Yokohama Mix — 50 Seeds — Dramatic rosette-forming kale in red, white, and pink; colors intensify with frost.
👉 Red Flowering Cabbage — 50 Seeds — Bold red ornamental kale for fall containers, borders, and winter displays.
👉 Pigeon Purple Ornamental Kale — 50 Seeds — Deep purple coloring that brightens through winter and into early spring.
5. Lettuce Seeds — Quick Fall Harvest, Then Spring Regrowth
Lettuce is one of the fastest seeds to germinate in fall (5–10 days in cool soil). Plant now for a fall harvest, then let it overwinter as a cut-and-come-again crop in mild climates for early spring greens before heat sets in.
👉 Pint Size Lettuce — 500 Seeds — Mini iceberg heads perfect for fall/spring containers, raised beds, and quick harvests.
Fall Seed Planting by Zone — Quick Reference
| Zone | Sweet Peas | Pansies/Violas | Lettuce/Greens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5–6 | Start indoors Oct–Nov | Start indoors Sep–Oct; overwinter under lights | Direct sow now through Oct; cold frame extends harvest |
| Zone 7 | Direct sow Oct–Nov | Start indoors Sep; transplant Oct for winter color | Direct sow Sep–Oct; harvest fall and spring |
| Zone 8 | Direct sow Oct–Nov | Transplant Oct–Nov; blooms winter through spring | Direct sow Sep–Nov; nearly year-round harvest |
| Zone 9–10 | Direct sow Oct–Dec | Prime season — plant Oct–Jan for blooms all winter/spring | Direct sow Oct–Feb; peak cool-season growing season |
🛒 Shop Now — Seeds to Plant This Fall for Spring
🌿 Browse All Seeds at Garden Starts Nursery →
Indoor vs. Direct Sow: Which Seeds Need Which Method?
| Seed | Method | Weeks Before Last Frost / Transplant |
|---|---|---|
| Pansies | Start indoors | 14–16 weeks before spring transplant |
| Violas | Start indoors | 12–14 weeks before spring transplant |
| Sweet Peas | Direct sow (Z7–10) or start indoors | Direct sow Oct–Nov; or start 8–10 wks before last frost |
| Ornamental Kale/Cabbage | Start indoors (already past prime for most zones) | 6–8 weeks before first frost |
| Lettuce | Direct sow | Plant now through October depending on zone |
5 Tips From Our Nursery for Fall Seed Success
- Don't let soil dry out during germination. Fall air can still be dry. Keep seed trays consistently moist but not waterlogged until sprouts emerge.
- Use a heat mat for pansies and violas. Even though they're cool-season plants, germination improves at 65–70°F soil temperature. Move seedlings to cooler conditions once sprouted.
- Label everything. Fall seedlings look similar as tiny sprouts. Label immediately at sowing — you'll thank yourself in March.
- Start more than you think you need. Fall germination can be uneven. Sow 20–30% extra seeds to account for variability.
- Harden off before transplanting outdoors. Even cold-tolerant seedlings need 7–10 days of gradual outdoor exposure before planting out.
Related Posts You'll Love
- 📅 What to Plant in September by Zone: 12 Best Flowers & Seeds to Grow Now
- 🌿 Is It Too Late to Plant Seeds? What You Can Still Plant in Late August and September
- 🌸 Best Fall Flowers to Grow from Seed: Pansies, Snapdragons, Cyclamen, Foxglove & Violas
- 📆 Fall Seed Starting Schedule by Zone: When to Start Cool-Season Flowers for Fall Blooms
- 🥦 Vegetables to Plant in Fall for a Winter Harvest
Frequently Asked Questions
What seeds can I plant now for spring blooms?
The best seeds to plant now (in fall) for spring include sweet peas, pansies, violas, ornamental kale, larkspur, stock, and hardy annuals like snapdragons. Many of these need cool conditions to germinate or develop strong roots before blooming in spring.
Can I really plant seeds in September for spring?
Yes — September is actually one of the best months to start spring-blooming seeds. Cool-season flowers like pansies and violas started in September will be large, robust transplants ready for early spring planting, giving you blooms weeks ahead of spring-sown seeds.
Do I start fall seeds indoors or direct sow?
It depends on the seed. Sweet peas and lettuce can be direct sown in fall (especially in Zones 7–10). Pansies and violas are best started indoors in fall so you can control conditions and produce strong transplants for spring.
What zone do I need to be in to plant seeds now for spring?
Every zone can benefit from fall planting, but the approach differs. Zones 5–6 start seeds indoors and overwinter them under lights. Zones 7–8 can direct sow some seeds outdoors. Zones 9–10 enjoy a long fall planting window where cool-season crops thrive all winter.
How long do pansies take from seed to bloom when started in fall?
Pansies started from seed in September–October typically begin blooming 14–18 weeks later, placing peak bloom in late winter to early spring — often January through April depending on your zone.
What are the easiest seeds to plant in fall for spring?
Sweet peas are among the easiest — direct sow them in fall in warmer zones and they handle cold on their own. Violas are also extremely easy and cold-hardy. Lettuce germinates quickly and reliably in cool fall soil with very little fuss.
Can I plant flower seeds outside in September?
In Zones 7–10, yes — sweet peas, larkspur, and some hardy annuals can be direct sown outdoors in September–October. In colder zones, it's better to start tender flowers indoors and direct sow only the most cold-hardy options like larkspur.
What happens if I plant sweet peas too late in fall?
If planted too late, sweet peas won't establish enough roots before hard freezes and may fail to overwinter in cold zones. Aim to sow sweet peas outdoors by mid-October in Zones 7–8, and by November in Zones 9–10.
Are pelleted pansy seeds better for fall planting?
Pelleted pansy seeds are easier to handle and space precisely, which is especially helpful when starting trays in fall. The pellet coating is designed to dissolve quickly with moisture, so make sure seed trays stay consistently moist. From our nursery, we use pelleted seeds for the vast majority of our professional pansy production.
How many pansies should I start from seed for a spring garden?
A good rule of thumb: start 20–30% more seeds than your target plant count. Germination rates and seedling survival vary, and having extras gives you flexibility to select the strongest plants for transplanting.
Can I overwinter pansy seedlings in a cold frame?
Yes — a cold frame is a great tool for overwintering pansy and viola seedlings in Zones 5–7. It protects plants from the worst freezes while allowing the cold exposure that makes them bloom harder in spring.
About Garden Starts Nursery
Garden Starts Nursery is a real, working nursery that grows plants from seed — and has for years. We specialize in premium flower and vegetable seeds with a focus on varieties that perform beautifully for home gardeners and professional growers alike. From sweet peas to trailing petunias, every seed we sell is one we grow and trust ourselves.
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