Their life is short, but intensive in colours, fragrances and shapes. Annual plant life cycle is completed within one season, from a seed placed in the soil in the spring to fully blooming plant in the summer, followed later by seed cups full of seeds. Their life in the summer can be extended by removal of early seed cups, what results in more intensive blooming. If you wish to collect some seeds and have them for next seasons, leave few seed cups anyway!

Absolutely my favourite - calendula. No summer without them in the garden. They light up the garden, flower very long, until late autum (here September). Are reach in colours available in light yellow, deep orange, even pink... I collect the flowers during sunny summer days and dry them for my tea for winter. This has two effects: extends calendula's flowering and gives me flowers for further use. I also prepare fresh tea, good for the stomach.

I mix calendulas with vegetables, plant them on the edges of flower beds (in large amounts...)

Eschscholzia sp. (Californian poppy) - another of my favourites. Available in orange, pink, white. Self seeding and drought resistant. By removing seed cups which forms very quickly, flowering can be extended until late summer.

Papaver sp. (Poppy) - remainds me of wild poppies growing in the fields in my homeland, Poland. This is also a "must" in my garden every summer. Even though they flower so rapidly and do not last really long (removal of seed cups will not help in this case). Seed cups are very decorative in the garden and also I use them in flower arrangements.

Sweet peas - Planted in different parts of the garden, for the scent and colour. For bouquets and decorations. I take away most of seed pods which are formed to stimulate their flowering. I grow most simple of them, since when trying varieties like Lazure Blue, the result was not so good.

Sunflowers - yes, they are possible to grow up in the northern Sweden if starting rather early by growing them at home (risk that stems became way too long) or in the green house. Otherwise our vegetation season is too short. Also, I have tried different varieties, but the most simple one grows the best. More luck with sunflowers in the sunny and dry summer and on the well fertilized spot.

How do I grow annuals in northern Sweden? Small guide For flowers a bit ealier in the season, I grow many at home, starting in the middle of April. Even though snow is often still outside, and the temperatures during days are not higher than 2-5°C. Obtain soil suitable for seed germination (sandy and containing not too much of nutrition) Place carefulluy seeds in plant boxes or small pots. Bigger the seed, more ground is needed to cover it. I place all the pots and boxes in the darkness (in our storage place), where temperature is around 20°C (this will not work for seeds which require light to initiate germination, but these are exceptions). I check boxes every day, and when first seedlings are showing up, I transfer them during day to our outdoor balcony, where the temperature is between 2-5°C during days. Since there is frost during nights, I am taking all the boxes and pots indoors again, where the temperature is around 20°C. Such a treatment allows germination and initiate growing, without the risk for long stems and small leafs (too warm but too little light). My seedings will be already prepared for low night temperatures (1-2°C) when planting them in the garden in middle/late May.

Photos & text by Joanna