Glossary

Definition and life cycle

Annual plants complete their entire life cycle – from germination to growth, flowering and setting seed, then dying – in a single gardening year. After sowing they develop quickly – often producing their first flowers or fruits within just a few weeks. When the seeds have ripened the plant dies away.

Benefits for gardens

Annuals are perfect for anyone who wants a quick show of flowers in beds and borders, luxuriant balcony containers or bumper harvests in the same year. Many traditional summer flowers and vegetables are annuals – enabling you to mix and match differently year after year.

Typical examples

• Flowers: marigold, nasturtium, cosmos, sunflower
• Vegetables: radishes, courgettes, beans, lettuce
• Herbs: dill, coriander, basil – generally an annual plant in our part of the world

✔️ Fast developers, early croppers
✔️ Huge range of varieties – for creative garden designs 
✔️ No need to overwinter

Tip: If you like propagating your own plants you can harvest the seeds of many annuals in late summer – and sow them again the following year.