Easy Flowers to Start Indoors: Colorful, Some Edible, and Pollinators Love Them

 Easy Flowers to Start Indoors: Colorful, Some Edible, and Pollinators Love Them

If you’re looking for a simple way to jumpstart your spring flower garden, a few easy to grow flowers can bring color to your home now, fill your yard, garden and support pollinators this spring.

Sunflowers, marigolds, morning glories, and nasturtiums are fast growers that thrive when they start indoors and each one brings something valuable to a food focused yard. They are not perennials but annuals so they complete their lifecycle in one season. Some may self‑seed, but in our climate in Connecticut they can’t survive freezing winter temperatures.

Sunflowers: Bold, Bright, Edible and Adored by Pollinators

Bold yellows, burgundies, and bi‑colors brighten any space. Classic golden yellow is just the beginning.

Sunflowers germinate quickly and transplant well. Starting them inside gives you sturdier stems and earlier blooms.

Bees adore them. Once planted outside, sunflowers become a buzzing hub of activity, supporting native pollinators all season long.

Yes, sunflower seeds and petals are edible, and the petals can be used as a colorful garnish too.

Marigolds: Bright Blooms, Edible, and Pollinators Love Them

Marigolds come in sunny yellows, fiery oranges, deep reds, and warm copper tones. Their cheerful color palette makes them a favorite for indoor seed trays.

They sprout easily and grow quickly, giving you early colors for borders, veggie beds, and containers.

Marigolds attract bees and butterflies, and their strong scent can help deter certain pests in the garden making them a great companion plant for tomatoes, peppers, and herbs.

Yes, marigold petals (especially from calendula varieties) are edible and add a peppery, saffron like flavor to salads and tea.

MorningGlory: Stunning Color and Hummingbirds Love Them

Morning glories offer some of the most striking hues in the garden deep purples, sky blues, pinks, whites, and variegated blends that look hand‑painted.

These vigorous climbers germinate quickly and love to get a head start. Indoors, they’ll develop strong roots and be ready to climb trellises, fences, or arbors as soon as spring arrives.

Bees and hummingbirds are drawn to their trumpet-shaped blooms, especially early in the morning when the flowers first open.

Morning glory seeds are not edible.

Nasturtium: Beautiful, Edible, and Pollinators Love Them

Nasturtiums bring warm, sunset shades gold, tangerine, scarlet, and peach along with lush, round leaves that look beautiful in any pot.

They sprout quickly and grow vigorously. Starting them inside gives you earlier blooms and a jump on their edible leaves and flowers.

Bees love them, and their open-faced blooms make nectar easy to access. They also attract beneficial insects that help keep pests away. Nasturtium also deters certain pests, so they are great companion plants for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, cabbage family, beans and even potatoes.

Absolutely edible, nasturtium leaves, flowers, and even seed pods are edible. They have a peppery, watercress-like flavor that’s perfect for salads, sandwiches, and homemade “capers.”

Purposeful Flowers: Transforming Lawns into Vibrant Gardens

A simple tray of seeds today becomes a flourishing, pollinator‑friendly space by spring.
These four flowers aren’t just pretty, they’re purposeful. They support pollinators, boost your vegetable garden, and even add fresh flavor to your meals. Starting them indoors now gives you a strong head start, helping you transform unused lawn space into a vibrant, productive garden filled with color, life, and food.

Let’s grow together one seed tray at a time.  I’m rooting for you, LeeAnn            

If I have encouraged you to grow food not lawn invite others and join me on Facebook at @GrowFoodNotLawnCT and some of my other pages:  @LeeAnnDeLeo @EmptyNestersLifestyleCT   @LeeAnnDeLeoRealEstate