Culture-Almost all flower seed can be directly sown outside when the soil temperatures reach 55-60°F. Work the flower bed into a fine loose soil condition. Work in some balanced organic fertilizer either in a furrow or broadcasted in the planting area. A good rule of thumb to follow when planting flower seeds is to plant the seed at a depth that equals two times the seeds' narrowest dimension. Cover the seed with fine, loose soil. Keep the seed moist until germination. Be patient, as some flower seed varieties take up to a month to germinate.
Germination Code-For more detailed information on seed germination requirements, refer to the following codes.
(1) For these varieties, germination occurs between 5-15 days when the soil temperatures are between 70-85°F. Sow indoors, cover with a light sprinkling of vermiculite, and keep moist.
(2) These seeds need pre-chilling to germinate well. Use moistened coco peat or sphagnum peat to mix with seeds, and seal in a plastic bag. Place bag in an area where the temperatures are at about 55-60°F and keep there for 2-3 days. Then place in your refrigerator for 30-90 days. Now your seeds are pre-chilled and can be planted, preferably in a sterile planting mix. Seed then can take up to 30 days to germinate.
(3) Needs darkness to germinate. Cover with cardboard, plastic or the like. Remove cover just as soon as seeds germinate.
(4) Best directly sown in the garden as soon as the soil temperatures reach 55-60°F.
(5) These seeds need a fluctuating temperature for good strong germination. Maintain 75°F during the day, and 50°F at night.
(6) Some flower seeds need light to germinate. For best results, press these seeds into the planting medium, but do not cover. Keep the seed moist, and provide at least 12 hours of light per day. If you use vermiculite, a very light “dusting” over the seed will still allow enough light through, and will help in keeping the seed moist.

See individual varieties for seed counts.
A - Annual
P - Perennial