Flower Farming

Succession Planting • Interval Charts for Flowers

Follow these general guidelines for succession-planting flower crops at 7-day and 14-day intervals.

  • Take note that the timing intervals listed here are based on standard growing practices.
  • Modifications such as season-extension practices can allow growers to plant and harvest earlier and later than the standard date windows suggested below.
  • Intervals between plantings can also be modified under certain conditions.

Recommended Flower Crops For 7-Day Intervals

CROP PLANTING RECOMMENDATIONS NOTES
Larkspur Sow in early spring or in fall for bloom the following year. Requires long cool period for flowering.
Sunflowers Transplant a first crop for early blooms, followed by later-blooming, direct-sown plantings. Choose single-stemmed varieties with staggered maturity dates, and sow multiple times for continuous harvest of high-quality blooms.

For 3 options, see Johnny's Sunflower Succession-Planting Programs.

Recommended Flower Crops For 14-Day Intervals

CROP PLANTING RECOMMENDATIONS NOTES
Ageratum Sow 2 plantings for continuous, high-quality blooms. Transplanting recommended.
Agrostemma Sow early spring through mid summer. Prefers cool weather. Direct sowing recommended.
Ammi / False Queen Anne's Lace Sow early spring through mid summer. Prefers cool weather. Direct sowing recommended.
Ornamental Basil Succession-plant to fill the harvest gap between first harvest and subsequent regrowth. Direct-seed or transplant. Protect later plantings with row cover for extended harvest.
Bupleurum Begin sowing in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Direct sowing recommended.
Calendula Sow up to 6 weeks before first frost date. Direct sowing recommended.
Centaurea / Bachelor's Button Begin sowing in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Direct sowing recommended.
Cosmos Requires short daylength for optimum flower production. Production peaks in late summer. Direct sowing recommended.
Cynoglossum / Chinese Forget-Me-Not Sow early spring through mid summer. Direct-seed or transplant.
Euphorbia / Snow-on-the-Mountain Begin sowing after last frost date. Direct sowing recommended.
Gomphrena / Globe Amaranth Sow 2–3 plantings for continuous, high-quality blooms. Transplanting recommended.
Gypsophila / Baby's Breath Sow early spring through mid summer. Direct sowing recommended.
Ornamental Grasses Sow early spring through mid summer. Direct sowing recommended for most varieties.
Nigella Sow early spring through mid summer. Direct sowing recommended.
Phlox Sow early spring through mid summer. Prefers cool weather. Direct-seed or transplant.
Scabiosa Sow early spring through mid summer. Direct-seed or transplant.
Zinnias Sow 2–3 plantings for continuous, high-quality blooms. Transplanting recommended.