IF you want to get a head start, sow annuals and perennials now. Many flowers benefit from being started in autumn. It gives them a chance to grow stronger roots and shoots so they can storm ahead in spring. Plants that are a little more mature in the weeks of early summer can, in turn, better fend off pests and bugs and, ultimately, will produce flowers earlier in the season, which is the main goal of early sowings.
Despite this evidence, there is often debate about whether it’s a good idea to sow seeds early. After all, why not wait until the sun and soil are warm again in spring and there’s less risk of frost damage? But in wild settings, seedheads will naturally dry, burst open and fall to the ground at the end of summer, ready either to germinate or lie dormant until the conditions are right again. Some seeds will only germinate after a cold snap.
