Self Sowing Annuals

What every gardener needs is some self sowing annuals, plants that come back year after year to save you time and money.

Self Sowing Annuals - 7/14-7/20/2025

This is a cardoon. When you cook the leaves, they taste just like an artichoke.

Hey there, fellow gardener! Today, we're diving into the wonderful world of self-sowing annuals. Imagine planting something just once and having it come back every year without lifting a finger. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s not, and I’m here to show you how it works.

First, let’s talk about what self-sowing annuals are. These are those magical plants that do all the work for you. Once you've planted them, they'll drop seeds at the end of their growing season, and - voila! - they come back year after year without any replanting needed.

Not only do self-sowing annuals save you time, but they can also save you money. No more buying seeds or seedlings every planting season—set it and forget it, letting nature do the recycling.

Now, you might be wondering, "Where do I find these fantastic self-sowing seeds?" David's Garden Seeds® carries a wide variety of self-sowing annuals.

To make sure they keep coming back, you’ll want to leave some of their seed heads untouched during your regular garden cleanup. This gives them a chance to release seeds that will grow into new plants the following year.

Self Sowing Vegetable Annuals

These chile pequin plants are self sowing annuals. We sell the seeds.

Let's kick off with self-sowing vegetable annuals. If you love growing your own food, these are a godsend. Not only are they practical, but they also provide a delicious bounty with minimal effort.

Arugula is a self-sowing favorite. Its peppery leaves add a fresh zing to any salad, and it readily drops seeds that germinate the following year.

Next up is lettuce, another leafy green that not only grows quickly but also benefits from self-seeding. You could enjoy a variety of salads without having to replant. David's Garden Seeds has many varieties of lettuce seed to grow.

Some hot pepper seeds will grow into plants that will come back year after year until there is a cold weather event. Years ago, when we built our beautiful home in San Antonio, a bird dropped a chili pequin seed in our yard. That hot pepper bush grow huge. It dropped peppers on the ground with tiny seeds that came back year after year. Then one December, we had a snow/ice event and it killed that plant for good.

Rhubarb comes back year after year. Growing up, we had a big rhubarb patch in our yard in upstate New York planted by the previous owners. We moved there when I was a year old. My mother would make rhubarb pies in the summer. Me? I would pick a stalk, take off the leaf and snack on it while I played outside every year. I enjoyed the bitterness. I have no idea why but I really did. Amazingly, the snow and cold that was there all winter long never killed the rhubarb or any of our flowers that came back year after year either.

If a melon or a pumpkin are left to rot on the vine and the melon or pumpkin breaks, the seeds will grow new melon plants the next year.

Asparagus will come back year after year for up to 20 years if you take good care of it.

Artichokes can come back year after year. So do cardoons. David's Garden Seeds has the seeds for all of them.

Leafy greens like sorrel, kale, Swiss chard, and some spinach are also self sowing annuals.

This is rhubarb. Do not eat the leaves as they are toxic. The pink stalks make a great pie, especially when they are combined with strawberries.

Self Sowing Herb Annuals

Dill plants are self sowing annuals. Dill smells great and added in homemade dill pickles, egg salad, tuna salad, and deviled eggs.

Now onto self-sowing herb annuals. Herbs are perfect for adding flavor to meals or for their aromatic qualities, and having them self-sow just sweetens the deal.

Dill is a standout among self-sowing herbs. Its feathery leaves and yellow flowers are more than just attractive—they’re prolific seeders as well.

Don’t forget about cilantro. Many people love it in their dishes, and the best part? It loves to reseed itself if you let some of it go to flowering.

Basil can sometimes self-sow, especially in warmer climates. Letting a few plants go to seed might surprise you with a fresh basil crop next year.

Speaking of surprises, chamomile often reseeds itself with ease, returning to provide you with its gentle blooms and soothing properties annually.

Mint comes back year after year as long as you let it drop seeds to grow back. It also spreads.

Calendula is a bright and cheerful flowering herb that self-sows. Not only does it look stunning, but it can also deter pests with its presence.

Chives and sage are also self sowing annuals.

Do consider taking care of these self sowing herb annuals by ensuring they have a spot that receives ample sunlight and is shielded from harsh winds.

Self Sowing Flower Annuals

Zinnias come back year after year.

Moving on to the more colorful side of self-sowing annuals—flowers! They’re perfect for adding aesthetics to your garden and are quite reliable in reseeding.

Nigella, also known as Love-in-a-Mist, isn’t just romantic in name. It drops its seeds conveniently, often leading to an attractive spread.

Poppies, in their delicate beauty, effortlessly self-seed. Once they start blooming, they throw seeds like nature’s confetti for next season’s show.

Snapdragons grow back in my garden bed in front of the store spring after spring.

Zinnias keep growing back every year and they love the heat.

Celosia is one of many self sowing annuals. I planted some last year and it popped back up this year.

To take care of self-sowing annuals, keep an eye on soil quality—ensure it's loose and rich in organic matter to support germination.

Caring for Self Sowing Annuals

You might be asking, "How can I take care of self-sowing annuals to keep them thriving?" Good question!

Start by minimizing soil disturbance. This helps the seeds stay where they land. When they don't get moved around, they're more likely to germinate right where they belong.

Leave a few plants untouched at the end of the season. This way, their seeds naturally disperse where they’re most likely to grow.

Water the garden uniformly, but be careful not to over water self sowing annuals. Seedlings from self-sown seeds can be sensitive to too much water.

Practical Tips for Maximizing Self-Sowing Annuals

You can maximize your yield by strategically choosing your self-sowing annuals based on your garden's ecology.

Companion planting is key. Pair self-sowing plants with other species that don’t compete for the same resources. This balance ensures everything has space to prosper.

Mulch wisely. While you want to retain moisture, too much mulch can suppress seed germination, so keep it light.

Make sure there's enough sunlight. Most self-seeding varieties thrive in bright conditions, so plan their placement accordingly.

Thin seedlings when necessary to prevent overcrowding, which can lead to weakened plants and fewer blooms or fruits.

Some More Examples of Self Sowing Annuals

Let me share a little story from my garden of wonders. A few years back, I planted a small patch of arugula. Not only did it spice up my salads, but the following year, it came back with friends. These self-sown sprouts were stronger and seemed to thrive in every nook of my garden.

One of my happiest gardening surprises came from chamomile. After letting it bloom freely, it returned the next year with a lovely spread. I didn’t have to lift a finger—or a trowel—and yet my garden felt fuller and even more fragrant.

Having a self-sowing garden over the years has been like watching an evolving story. Every season tells a new tale—with returning characters and even some unexpected guests.

It was a lazy spring morning when I first noticed rogue poppies in my garden—gifts from the previous year. They brought my garden alive with color, without any of my doing.

Knowing self-sowing annuals help my garden expand with little effort makes me feel like there’s a gift-giving party every spring.

I learned to embrace a bit of chaos and let nature disperse seeds, giving my garden a natural, untamed look that I now adore.

The Economical and Ecological Benefits of Self Sowing Annuals

Let’s not forget, from an economic standpoint, self-sowing annuals offer an unbeatable return on investment.

Imagine a garden that gets more beautiful each year without extra costs. This isn’t just economical—it’s sustainable.

You’re also contributing positively to the environment by minimizing waste. With no need to buy new seeds or seedlings, you’re reducing packaging waste, too.

If you’re concerned about biodiversity, self-sowing annuals often encourage pollinator activity and provide a welcoming habitat.

Your garden becomes part of a larger ecological cycle, supporting not only the plants but also the insects that depend on them.

As you grow your garden with self sowing annuals, you may find yourself connecting more deeply with nature's rhythms.

Encouraging self-sowing can lead you to a diverse and robust ecosystem right in your backyard.

Plus, sharing seeds with friends and neighbors can cultivate a community of gardeners who support each other.

Let's Wrap Up Self Sowing Annuals

At the end of the day, self-sowing annuals offer simplicity, savings, and sustainability. They're a gardener’s ally in creating a thriving plot with minimal effort.

By choosing the right self-sowing vegetable annuals, herbs, and flowers, you can enjoy a lush, lively garden that essentially takes care of itself.

Let nature give you savings in terms of money and time. Enjoy the lushness that comes back year after year.

The beauty of a self-sowing annual garden is in its evolution—watching it mature and adapt, yet always rewarding you with its bounty.

Embrace a bit of wildness and let your garden teach you about resilience and renewal.

Remember, these plants bring more than beauty and bounty—they bring the joy of gardening history unfolding before your very eyes.

Whether you're an expert or just beginning your garden journey, there’s something magical about self-sowing annuals.

Delve into the world of self-sowing annuals and watch as your garden begins to grow all on its own, year after year.

Be prepared for some surprises along the way—and welcome each new plant as part of your garden’s evolving story.

Celebrate the seasons with a garden that’s more self-sufficient and rich in diversity.

Keep an open heart and an open space for these little wonders that are sure to enhance your gardening experience.

Discover how a self-sowing annual can transform not just your garden, but also how you view and engage with your outdoor space.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab some self-sowing seeds, and let the journey begin—one that replenishes itself year after year.

Your garden can be filled with abundance without the overwhelming work—thanks to the brilliance of self-sowing annuals. Happy gardening!

Monday, July 14, 2025

Good Monday morning. I woke up late which was nice because I never seem to get enough sleep. I made breakfast for David and myself. It is time to get ready and go to work.

Oh. Good news. I started a new loaf of sourdough yesterday afternoon. It rose like it was supposed to and then I overnighted it in the fridge. I took it out this morning and it looks beautiful. It is now in the dutch oven rising some more. This is it, folks! That first one from the new batch just would not rise. The chickens fought over it yesterday evening when I took the pieces out to them.

I will get photos of the bread and of my new office for you to see.

I found the kitten this morning on the store porch and then when it saw me, it ran. I put out milk and food for it. The food is all gone. I have not been able to snap a photo today as I had my hands full.

I am in my new office working now. I still had to move in my calendar, my Alexa, and some boxes for mailing.

This is my new office. I got batteries for the DVD remote and it works. (It's all about priorities, folks!)

Orders and mailing supplies at this table.

It is hot and humid out and I do not believe we will get any rain over the next two weeks from the weather reports. I hope I am wrong.

It's been a while since I have graced you all with a selfie so here I am in the new office. A refrigerator is just steps away so I don't have to go all the way to the house for a cold drink.

The kitten was around all day. I saw her three times but each time I was carrying things so did not get a photo.

Well, it is now 7:15pm and I am still out in the office working. I guess I will head in and bake the bread and make some dinner. I also need to feed the dogs.

The sourdough turned out good although I let it rise for too long. I should have baked it at noon but I was busy working.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

This morning, we are going into the Atascosa tax office to protest our property tax that has gone sky high on a piece of vacant land that we bought last year. That was a big mistake.

We got there and they had us meet with an appraiser. It turns out they already lowered the land value so we did not have to have a formal hearing. We left there and had several other errands to run. We got it all done and then came home.

I picked up a bag of kitten food because the kitten keeps coming up by the Kitchen building and eating. She makes a lot of noise while she is hiding under the ramp.

Right now it is lunchtime, 89°, and ridiculously hot and humid. I hate the extra steps I now have to take to reach my office but I just hate the heat anyway.

She? is still so thin and scrawny but is eating well.

Well, the kitten made several appearances and ate a lot of kitty food. She still runs as soon as anyone steps out of one of the buildings.

The dark clouds this afternoon finally brought a bit of rain this evening along with lots of thunder.

It was a long afternoon. I pulled and closed a lot of orders. At 6:30pm I made dinner for David and took it over to him. I wanted to work longer but David gets upset when his dinner isn't ready...

It is now 8pm, and the rain is coming down again. The dogs and I are in the house waiting for Daddy to come home. The three of them love him like crazy. The thunder is getting pretty loud now. Sue Ellen is at my feet. The other two are in the den.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Good morning. David and I have doctor appointments again today. So much fun! Last night's rainfall was about 1/8 of an inch. I saw on Facebook that a few ladies I know got one inch and two inches in various parts of Devine and Lytle. They always get more than we do. It rained pretty hard but that is all we got.

It did not rain at all today. Nacho came out to do various tasks for David. I did orders. We left for the appointments at 1pm and did not get back until 3pm. We did not go anywhere else. Then I worked until 6pm, came in, and made crispy salmon with corn on the cob, scrambled eggs with salsa (requested by Matt), and broccoli. It was delicious and the two fun hours of Gordon were fun and flew by. Then it was time to deal with the dishes.

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Good morning. I got up, got dressed, took the kitchen trash out to an overflowing dumpster, started the coffee, started some laundry, printed out the new orders, and fed the dogs. Now I am tired and I want to go back to bed but I need to make breakfast.

I have nothing on the agenda today except to pull and close orders. We haven't had an in person customer in so long that I don't remember how to use the cash register!

We had a visitor this morning, a lady who placed an order for pickup.

Matt mowed some of the mess out near the animal pens early this morning.

There was a whole team of workers putting in fence posts today. They have been digging up grass and things for a week and also took out part of our back fence.

The new neighbors are putting up an eight foot fence between them and our new lot.

Our moringa tree in the foreground. Where digging starts, our property ends.

By the way, we are putting our new lot up for sale. Land has gone up quite a bit since we bought it so if we can sell it for what the county says we should be selling it for, we will get a good return on our money.

Also, most of the buildings on our property are now for sale but they will have to be professionally moved and that cost will be handled by the buyer. We have small sheds as well as buildings big enough for a nice cabin.

The kitten comes around when I am inside only.

The kitty has been eating throughout the morning and then hides in the zinnias as well as under the little ramp. When I call her, she meows but won't come out until I go into the office.

Friday, July 18, 2025

It is morning once again and I have been putting up more social media posts for next week. I will be making more sourdough bread today.

Matt is supposed to mow the orchard this morning. I hope he fixes the broken fence in the goat pen as well. I need to go out there and see it. I just have not found the time.

David ordered ribs, potato salad, and corn from his friend in Devine who smokes a lot of meat. Matt picked it up and we ate it for lunch. It was all delicious but there was enough for an army. We had it again for dinner. We will eat it tomorrow as well.

We had several customers today for the first time in about two weeks.

I put together another loaf of sourdough bread. It did very well and rose. I baked it this evening and we had it with dinner. It is delicious.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Good morning. I had a rough night and woke up once with neuropathy. Fun times.

The chickens and goats are doing fine and were happy to see me early this morning.

It is now 2:20pm. I pulled a bunch of orders and sent them out. A few customers came by. Apparently, we have a new Amazon driver. He pulled in and then started backing out but never brought us a package so I went out there and shrugged. He stopped, rolled down the window, and said he put the package right where the sign says "Deliveries" on the ramp to blow away in the crazy wind we have here.

The Amazon driver put the envelope on the railing right above the Deliveries sign here. I never would have thought to look there and it was a windy day. Education is important, people!

I told him the sign was there so he would know to deliver to the store instead of the Production building. He said it would be fine to put packages on the ramp and that they were heavy enough not to blow away. Not true; it was just an envelope. I hope he does not have this job for long or we may never get our packages. Every other delivery person has brought the packages in the store or at the very least, placed them on the store porch.

The mailman made it before the gate closed today!

The kitten is still around. Today, she looked at me for a while before she ran off but the food is getting eaten.

It is 95° and the high will be 99°. Fortunately, we do have a breeze so you don't feel the humidity as badly.

Kitten is enjoying her cold water.

I went out at 6pm to feed the fish and the kitten. The kitten was drinking her water and you know it was super hot. It was 99° this afternoon. I went in and grabbed some kitten food and some ice. She ran off when I came back out. I dumped the ice into her water and put food in her dish. Then I went back inside. She came back and attacked the food. She is finally getting a bit of meat on her bones.

She is beginning to fill out after a solid week of food.

We had pizza and watched one of the newer Jurassic Park movies again.

Sunday, July 20, 2025

A look at the orchard from the chicken area.

Good morning. When I went into the Kitchen building this morning, the kitten was waiting for me at the side door and she started meowing loudly. I got the food and ice water and she ran. I filled the bowls and she came back, but not until I stepped away.

Everyone is doing well this morning. I came back in after feeding everybody on this farm and made myself some breakfast.

We went to church and then came home. It turns out that two different families made appointments to come see the sheds we have for sale but I knew nothing about it. For the first showing, I was in the backyard in a bathing suit, cleaning the pool.

I was dressed for the second showing. Neither family made an offer. They have to pay to have the sheds moved in addition to the purchase price.

Turns out we have to pay for a new fence in the back on our newer property. Seems someone took it down and the guy behind us is not happy. We did not take it down...

I hope you have enjoyed learning about Self Sowing Annuals this week. If you want to order some seeds, we are having a huge seed sale right now with some prices up to 50% off. Here is the link to the sale.

Return from Self Sowing Annuals to Our Sixth Year

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