Annuals are a natural for winter color in the Southland. They grow faster than any other kind of plant. This is especially important during the winter season as cooler temperatures usually cause plant growth to slow down. Annuals are distinct from perennials in that they complete their entire life cycle in one growing season. Comparatively speaking, they are the "hot rodders" of the plant kingdom.

Nurseries are now pushing the sale of bedding plants, among which you will find dozens of annuals. But there is still time to sow seed of many of these varieties. Growing plants from seed is still one of the most satisfying experiences in gardening. There is really no thrill quite like that felt when the tiny seedlings burst through the surface of the soil, in addition, the price of packet seeds is just about the only item that has not skyrocketed during the past few years. Ten cents will buy you just about any variety of flowering plants commonly sown.

Starting the seed indoors will aid in forcing the plants. The temperature is usually higher even if the plants are kept in your garage. For this purpose use a nursery flat. This is a shallow wooden container, measuring roughly about 18 inches by 18 inches. It is advisable to sift the soil thoroughly. Most nurseries now stock potting soil and other soil components that will prove ideal for starting purposes.

Tamp the soil after placing it in the flat. This motion settles the soil, a procedure that will indicate the height of the surface. The soil should never be filled to a point level with the top of the flat. Leave a space of about one-fourth of an inch. Otherwise, when watering the water, will flow over the sides of the flat, rather than sink into the soil.

Tiny ridges can be erected in the soil surface for seed sowing. With tiny seeds, the seed should merely be pressed into the soil. You can make several ridges to hold different varieties, all in the same flat.

The small plants should be pricked out of the seed flat before growing too large. They can then be shifted to the same size flat but more- space should be allowed. Ordinarily set just about 100 plants in a flat. Then, as they develop, the plants should be hardened off.

Hardening off is a process that consists simply of toughening up the plants before transplanting them to the outdoor garden. This is accomplished by cutting down on water and gradually exposing them to outside growing conditions. Otherwise, the shock of being moved from a sheltered location to a more rigorous one may produce a setback.

Annuals are best transplanted on a cloudy day when evaporation is at a I minimum. In removing the plants from the flat make sure that plenty of soil adheres to the roots. The danger results from exposing the feeding roots to the air. That dries them out, causing the plant to wither. Apply sufficient water after transplanting to the entire soil area in which the plants are set.

African daisies are among the most popular annuals for winter growing in the Long Beach area. They are very much at home in this area during the next few months. Also, they flower abundantly when many other varieties are without blooms. In addition, the African daisies serve a dual purpose: They are splendid in the outdoor garden and as cut flowers indoors will last for days. The colors, in contrast, to the gray skies usually prevailing in winter, are bright and gay.

Arctotis may be used for bedding purposes, in the border or raised solely for cut flowers. The* new hybrids contain an abundance of lively shades, including: Orange, yellow, terra cotta, salmon and carmine. The plants attain a height of about one foot, the individual flowers measuring up to three inches across.

Variety grandis produces a profusion of daisy-like flowers which are white with a steel blue reverse. The plants are quite bushy and grow to about two and one-half feet.

Another splendid African daisy is dimorphotheca. The hybrids run through shades of white, salmon and orange. They should not be confused with dimorphotheca elkonis which is a perennial and looks something like arctotis grandis.