For many gardeners, the process of choosing when and what to plant in ornamental flower beds can be a difficult one. While it is easy to purchase blooming plants from garden centers and nurseries, the cost of creating a beautiful landscape can add up quickly. Thankfully, many flowers can easily and quickly be grown from seed, thus, creating impressive flower beds and borders at only a fraction of the cost. Nemesia flowers are a great option for gardeners having mild winter or summer temperatures.
When to Sow Nemesia
Nemesia plants produce small, vibrant blooms that are very similar to that of snapdragon flowers. Native to South Africa and naturally more cold tolerant than many other flowers, these hardy annual plants prefer cool conditions, and come in a wide range of bright colors. With their easy-to-grow habit, these ornamental plants are an invaluable asset to the home garden.
Choosing when to plant Nemesia seeds will greatly depend on your climate zone. While those with cool summer temperatures will be able to plant Nemesia in the spring, gardeners with warm summers and cool winters may have better success by planting in the fall.
How to Plant Nemesia Seeds
Once timing has been established, planting Nemesia seeds is relatively simple. When growing Nemesia from seed, no special treatment is required. In fact, this plant can be germinated indoors in seed trays and/or may be directly sown into the garden once temperatures have started to warm in the spring.
In general, Nemesia seed germination should take place within one to two weeks of sowing. Nemesia flowers can be transplanted into the garden as soon as the last frost has passed, or as soon as the plants have developed at least two sets of true leaves. Hardening off transplants will help reduce the risk of transplant shock and ensure greater success in the garden.
Caring for Nemesia Flowers
Beyond planting, Nemesia plants require little care. Like many other flowers, deadheading (the removal of spent flowers) will help to prolong bloom time into the summer. When temperatures begin to rise, growers may naturally start to notice a decline in bloom. At this time, plants can be cut back and may resume growth when temperatures have cooled in the fall.
