vuotuiskasvi

Vuotuiskasvi is a plant that completes its life cycle within one growing season: germination, flowering, seed production, and death all occur within a single year. In temperate climates these species are usually frost-sensitive and must be reestablished from seed each year. They are contrasted with biennials, which take two years to complete their life cycle, and perennials, which live for several years and may flower repeatedly.

Many vuotuiskasvi are grown as garden ornamentals or crops. They tend to grow quickly, bloom, and provide a harvest within one season. Common garden annuals include cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, petunias, and sunflowers. Edible annuals such as lettuce, spinach, beans, and corn are also grown where climate allows. Most can be propagated from seed each year, though some hybrids may not pass on traits to the next generation.

Cultivation notes: they usually require full sun, well-drained soil, and regular moisture. They are typically frost-sensitive and benefit from warm soil to germinate. In regions with short summers, careful timing of sowing and planting is crucial to complete the life cycle in one season.

In Finnish horticulture, vuotuiskasvi serves as a practical category for planning gardens and crops, distinguishing plants that must be replanted annually from longer-lived species.