Fall is my favorite time for front porch container arrangements. It can be tough to keep things looking fresh over the summer, with the intense heat and humidity. Fall brings that perfect, temperate weather that I (and most of my plants) prefer. 

Swapping out those containers can get expensive if you’re buying new plants every season. But growing these plants from seeds has some great benefits. For one thing, it’s more cost-effective, as seeds tend to cost much less than live plants. 

There are other benefits to growing your container arrangements from seeds, as well. You’ll find a significantly wider selection of plant varieties when shopping for seeds. Your plants will be well-adapted to their environment from the start, making them stronger overall. 

There is also a certain satisfaction that comes from growing plants from seeds. It can be especially rewarding for kids to tend to and watch the entire growth process. If you want to grow your fall container arrangements from seeds, it’s time to get started. The summer is wearing on, but there are some great options that grow and bloom quickly. 

Cherry Rose Jewel Nasturtium

Cherry Rose Jewel Nasturtium Seeds

Pacific Beauty Blend Calendula

Pacific Beauty Blend Calendula Seeds

Favourite Blend French Marigold

Favourite Blend French Marigold Seeds

Multi-Colored Marigolds

Deadheading keeps these flowers happily blooming well into frost.

Marigolds are an excellent choice for your fall containers, and they are easy to grow from seeds. French marigolds, in particular, grow quickly and bloom in as few as 60 days after sowing. Within two to three weeks, you will have transplant-sized marigolds. 

Marigolds like warm weather, so the summer heat won’t bother them. You can start them any time. They also bloom right up until frost. Shades of yellow, orange, and red are a perfect match for the autumnal color palette. 

Marigolds like plenty of sun and well-draining soil. Don’t give them too much nitrogen, as it can reduce their flowering. Directly sow them in your container. Deadheading will keep your marigolds blooming bountifully. Cover them or bring them in during a frost to prolong their bloom time even more.

Cheerful Calendula

Easy seeds grow into cheerful blooms for cool weather.

Calendula is an ideal flower to grow in your fall containers, and growing them from seeds is a cinch! These flowers have all the charm of marigolds, with a bonus. They are moderately frost-tolerant. In fact, they prefer the cool fall weather.

Sow seeds directly in your containers in late summer. In warm climates, you can plant these right up into October. In frost-free zones, they will bloom through the winter. Bright orange, yellow, and bronze flowers evoke a warm, autumnal feel. 

Calendula seeds germinate easily and are large, making direct sowing ideal for vigorous plants. They tolerate poor soil, and as long as it’s well-draining, they will be happy. Deadhead them regularly for an abundance of blooms.

Quick and Lovely Cosmos

Dwarf varieties stay charming without needing extra staking.

Cosmos are wonderful container choices. Their soft, fernlike foliage and small, delicate flowers are perfect for up-close enjoyment. They germinate well in summer’s warm temperatures. While taller varieties may grow too tall and require staking, dwarf varieties are great for containers. 

Most cosmos will bloom in two to three months. They are frost-sensitive, but will bloom up to the first frost, and longer if you protect them. Plant these in a deep pot and avoid overly rich soil. Too much nitrogen produces a ton of foliage but fewer flowers.

Cosmos have a whimsical vibe, and they pair nicely with mums. Their feathery texture complements broad-leaved favorites. Choose shades of gold, orange, and white to go with your harvest color combination. ‘Rubenza’ is my personal favorite with its bold, crimson blooms. 

Nasturtiums and Kale

Frost-hardy greens keep the display going into winter.

If you want a combination of textures and colors in your fall containers from seed, growing kale and nasturtiums together is perfect. Both of these grow quickly from seeds, and the contrast is lovely. They are low-maintenance and work well in containers. 

Nasturtium’s delicate, trailing foliage softens up the bold, heavy leaves of many kale varieties. Pair ‘Dazzling Blue’ kale with ‘Cherry Rose Jewel’ nasturtiums for an extra showy display. The crisp blues and greens of the kale make the red nasturtiums pop.

Nasturtiums are frost-sensitive, but they grow and flower quickly. In about six weeks, you can expect to see buds. Kale is frost-tolerant and will continue to look lovely well into the winter months. Both like cool weather, and both are edible.

Angelic Alyssum

Sweet alyssum’s tiny, fragrant flowers form a soft carpet of white that attracts pollinators.

Alyssum is a delicate plant, but in large quantities it makes a gorgeous, minimalist statement. It has a lovely trailing habit, and sweet-smelling, delicate blooms. Their lacy, airy texture pairs well with bigger, bolder shapes and textures. 

Growing alyssum from seeds for your fall containers is a great idea. It prefers cooler temperatures, so it will thrive in the crisp autumn weather. It’s frost-tolerant, so it will look great even after the weather starts to get cold. 

Sow your seeds directly, or start them indoors if it’s still too hot in your region. They are fine with partial sun and prefer moist, well-draining soil. This simple yet endearing plant is beautiful on its own or in combination with other fast-bloomers. It flowers in as few as six weeks. 

Quick Coreopsis

These flowers are hardy enough to survive cold months with a little shelter.

Plains coreopsis is another pretty flower that you can grow from seeds in summer for fall containers. Some types of coreopsis take longer to bloom, but this one will begin to flower in two to three months. 

Because it is frost-tolerant, you’ll still have some green in your containers for part of the winter. Here in zone 9, it overwinters in containers and blooms again in early spring. The cheery yellow flowers with red centers are showy and autumnal. 

Plains coreopsis pairs nicely with ornamental grasses, mums, and black-eyed Susans. It also has excellent pollinator value in late summer and fall. Butterflies love it! North of zone 7, give it some shelter during the coldest months, and it will bounce back in spring. 

Perfect Pansies

Early sowing leads to cheerful colors as temperatures drop.

Pansies are ideal for growing from seeds in your fall containers. Their vibrant colors brighten up patios and entryways. They are one of the more cold-tolerant flowering plants that I know of. They overwinter in warmer climates, and even last well into winter in cooler ones. 

Their compact growth habit means that a pot full of pansies is always neat and tidy. They are easy to care for, and the flowers are edible. You can sugar them and use them to decorate holiday baked goods. 

Sow your pansy seeds as soon as the weather begins to cool off. They take about eight to ten weeks to start flowering in cool weather. Their frost tolerance makes them a great choice for fall containers in cooler climates.

Cool Cornflowers

Blooms linger beautifully through the first frost or two.

Cornflowers, or bachelor’s buttons, are a fantastic option for fall flowering container arrangements. They are frost-tolerant annuals and will hang on and look nice even after a frost or two. In warmer climates, they can bloom throughout the winter. 

This cool, blue cornflower is the classic. It’s tried and true, and will pop against the fading fall landscape. They come in other colors, as well, if you prefer a more traditional autumn color scheme. I love ‘The Bride’ for its sweetly scented, frilly, white blooms. 

Depending on the soil temperature, they can bloom as soon as eight to ten weeks after sowing. If it’s still warm, expect it to take a few additional weeks, as they like cool weather. They have a light and airy texture, and pollinators appreciate them, as well. 

Darling Dianthus

A frost blanket helps extend their fall flower show.

Dianthus is another great cool-weather, fall container plant to grow from seed. They thrive in cool temperatures and are fairly frost-tolerant as well. For hard freezes, cover them with a frost blanket, and you’ll get more mileage out of them.