9/11

Snapdragons

Named for their dragonhead-shaped blooms, these add distinctive color and texture to any garden. Their seeds germinate in seven to ten days, and their tall spires will shoot up within eight weeks, according to Simple Garden Life. Once the blossoms are fully mature, they’ll attract many hummingbirds to your garden.

10/11

Sunflowers

The seeds of this cheery autumn plant can germinate in six to 12 days, according to Balcony Garden Web. However, because there are dozens of sunflower varieties, make sure the one you select has a short maturation time (50 to 60 days).

Dwarf varieties, like the Firecracker Sunflower, will bloom the fastest. But if you’re set on florist sunflowers, try the Ruby Eclipse, which Floret Farms calls one of the “fastest flowering varieties.” Here are a few tips for growing sunflowers from seeds.

11/11

Zinnias

Zinnias‘ preference for hot weather makes them a perfect match for last-minute gardeners. Their seeds can germinate in as little as five days, according to Southern Living, and will start blooming in eight weeks. Make sure to stay on top of your pruning and deadheading to get the most blooms possible from this happy plant!