8 Fast-Growing Plants to Grow From Seed for a Lush, Colorful Garden in Weeks

Arugula

Arugula (Eruca sativa) is a wonderful salad green that can be added to a range of recipes—and it's very fast to grow.

Niki Jabbour, founder of Savvy Gardening, loves it for its peppery zing and its ability to sprout baby leaves just a month after seeding. "It's a cool weather crop, and one of the earliest vegetables I plant in my garden," she says. "I sow more seeds throughout spring and then once again in late summer as the temperatures start to cool down."

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Care Requirements: Full sun to part shade; loamy, moist, well-drained soil
• Size: 2 feet tall to 3 feet tall (depending on the species) x 1.5 feet wide
• Time to Maturity: Four weeks

Marigolds

Marigolds (Tagetes) are a wonderful summer annual that brings a splash of warm color to the garden just in time for the hotter months.

"Make sure that you sow them after the threat of spring frost has passed," says Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at Louisiana State University.. "Consider selecting long-stemmed varieties, which are great for producing cut flowers." This approach will let you bring the orange blooms inside for the perfect summer bouquet.

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Care Requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil
• Size: 6 to 36 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
• Time to Maturity: 45 to 50 days

Sweet Alyssum

Looking for something sweet-smelling and fast-growing? Try sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima), a low-growing flower that beautifully complements just about any landscape with its pink, white, and purple blooms.

It's also a favorite of pollinators. "I like to scatter the tiny seeds along the edges of my vegetable beds to entice lacewings, ladybugs, syrphid flies, and bees to my crops," says Jabbour.

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Care Requirements: Full to partial sun; well-draining soil
• Size: 3 to 10 inches tall x 2 to 4 inches wide
• Time to Maturity: About two months

Bush Beans

Looking for a tasty vegetable that will grow from seed in no time? Try bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)—they're a garden staple for a reason.

"They don't require staking and can be grown in raised beds, in-ground gardens, or planters," says Jabbour. She recommends growing varieties like Provider, Goldilocks, and Amethyst for a "rainbow" of beans.

• Zones: 2 to 8
• Care Requirements: Full sun, well-drained soil
• Size: 18 to 24 inches tall
• Time to Maturity: 50 days

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are beloved not just for their vibrant, iconic colors, but also for their ability to grow very quickly from seed.

"This is a plant that provides relatively instant gratification for beginner gardeners, as they can see visible signs of growth each day," says Abdi. Some varieties grow to be a few feet tall, while others can be over 12 feet.

Abdi recommends growing a few varieties together for different heights and flower colors. The yellow hue is, of course, a favorite, but you can grow red, mahogany, and orange sunflowers too.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Care Requirements: Full sun; loam, clay, or sandy soil that is fertile and well-drained
• Size: 3 to 8 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
• Time to Maturity: 70 to 100 days

Morning Glory

Morning glory (Ipomoea) is a fast-growing ground cover that will quickly fill your garden with lush purple and blue blooms and vines.

"However, a little bit of prep work may be necessary to ensure success," adds Abdi. "These seeds benefit from being lightly scarified and soaked in water overnight to enhance seed germination."

Once the plant starts to grow, give it some supports so it flourishes in the direction you want—rather than horning in on space that's meant for other plants.

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Care Requirements: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil
• Size: 6 to 10 feet tall x 3 to 10 feet wide
• Time to Maturity: 60 to 90 days

Zinnia

Few flowers put on as beautiful a show as zinnia, which produces lovely pink, orange, and yellow blooms in just two to three months. They make for excellent cut flowers, too.

"Cutting blooms off for bouquets and vase arrangements can support a fresh flush of flowers throughout the season, extending the window of interest for this plant in the landscape," says Abdi.

Abdi also recommends planting a range of zinnia colors and broadcasting them over an area for a layered, bright landscape.

• Zones: 3 to 10
• Care Requirements: 12 to 36 inches tall x 8 to 10 inches wide
• Size: Full sun; well-draining soil
  
• Time to Maturity: 60 to 90 days

Nasturtiums

"Reliable, easy, and fast, nasturtiums (Tropaeolum) are one of the best annuals for new gardeners and children to grow," says Jabbour.

She recommends planting them after the last frost, in a spot with plenty of sun. Not only do their yellow, red, and orange blooms look beautiful, but they're edible too, adding a peppery flavor to salads, wraps, and more.

"The flowers also attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds," she adds. "I plant far too many nasturtiums in my garden, as I can’t resist all the wonderful varieties."

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Care Requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil
• Size: 6 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
• Time to Maturity: 60 to 90 days