Central Ohio Annuals to Plant Now

Spring is here in central Ohio, and that means flower-planting time! So, what flowers should you plant in your garden?

While perennials get a lot of praise, annual flowers are beneficial for central Ohio gardens too. Here is why you should plant annuals in your Ohio garden and some annual plants that will make your garden unique and vibrant with color.

Why Plant Annuals in Central Ohio

Annuals can get a bad reputation because they have to be replanted each year. Yet, there are several reasons why you should plant annuals in your central Ohio garden, including:

1. Pollinators love many annuals.

2. Annuals add vibrant color to gardens.

3. Many annuals make for great cut or dried flowers.

4. Annuals are good for filling in bare areas in a garden.

5. You can change the look of your garden each year with annuals.

6. Annuals allow you to bring your unique, creative flair to your garden.

Here are some annuals that you can plant now in your central Ohio garden.

Celosia

Celosias (otherwise known as cockscomb and woolflowers) are some of the brightest, most colorful, and most unique flowers you can plant. They can grow to 36 inches tall and 24 inches wide, and they look like flames of color. Celosia flowers bloom for about three months, so these plants will give you flowers all summer long. If you want to add color to your Ohio garden or have a showstopper flower, then you should plant celosias.

Celosias are low-maintenance flowers, but they need full sun and well-draining soil. They are also flowers that tolerate Ohio’s hot summers well. Fertilize celosias with a high-nitrogen, water-soluble fertilizer, and add a fish emulsion if the blooms start looking a little sad.

Coleus

Coleus is the perfect plant for adding colorful foliage and eye-catching plants to your Ohio garden. They mature to be about 6-26 inches in height and width. Coleus plants are also great for shady spots as they only need partial sun (or even less!) to thrive.

Coleus are low-maintenance plants, but they need rich, well-draining soil. They can be container plants or bedding plants, but they need to be kept moist. Coleus plants do not do well in dry spells. Other than that, they are easy-to-grow annual plants.

These plants are easy when it comes to fertilizers. You can, but don’t have to, add a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to the soil when you plant a coleus. Then, fertilize your coleus plants once a month with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.

You should check out the Black Dragon and the Wizard Sunset coleus varieties. They’re wild-looking plants!

Dahlias

Dahlias are gorgeous, big balls of color with unique petals. These showy flowers grow to be about 1-6 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide. As your dahlias grow taller and taller, you may need to stake them to give them support. They primarily bloom during the summer and fall, and they come in a variety of colors, including red, pink, purple, orange, yellow, and white. If you want a showstopper flower for your Ohio garden, then dahlias are the way to go.

Dahlias are best grown in containers or raised beds in Ohio because the flowers cannot tolerate frost and they are prone to root rot. Make sure that they have rich soil that is loamy (a mixture of clay, sand, and silt). Also, the more fertilizer you give dahlias, the bigger they will grow. So, fertilize dahlias with a high-phosphorous (10-30-20) fertilizer.

Bonus! Pollinators love dahlias, partly because of the flowers' vibrant colors. So, planting dahlias can help feed Ohio’s bees and butterflies.

We highly recommend that you check out our hot pink, pumpkin spice, red, and silver falls dahlias.

Osteospermum

Osteospermum flowers look like daisies. While they can be grown as perennials, they are primarily grown as annual flowers because they don’t survive Ohio’s cold temperatures well. They bloom during the spring and fall and make for great hanging basket and container flowers. These flowers also attract pollinators, and Ohio butterflies love osteospermum flowers.

Osteospermum plants grow to about 1-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. They also come in a variety of colors including shades of purple, yellow, orange, white, and pink. We highly suggest that you check out our patio containers of pink flare and cool purple osteospermum flowers.

Overall, osteospermum flowers are low maintenance. They thrive in full sun and need well-drained soil that is kept moist. Use a balanced fertilizer in the spring before you plant osteospermum flowers, and then apply a liquid fertilizer every two weeks.

Need Help, Gardening Supplies, or Plants?

If you’re unsure about what annual flowers and plants you should plant in your Ohio garden this spring and summer or would just like some help, then feel free to stop by Timbuk Farm’s Garden Center or send us a message. We’re a family-owned business and we grow everything locally right here in Ohio. We know Ohio gardening, and our garden experts are happy to answer any questions about how to make the most out of your central Ohio garden.