Troubleshooting Muscari have few pest problems and are seldom eaten by deer. They are best grown in sites where their tendency to multiply is welcome. Vibrant shades of blue are available in several cultivars.
Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Average garden soil with excellent drainage. Tulips bloom at the same time as dogwoods and other spring-flowering trees in most climates.
Troubleshooting Ornamental alliums have few pest problems and are seldom eaten by deer. Avoid very tall varieties in windy areas. Very tall cultivars may need staking to keep them upright.
Troubleshooting Hyacinths bloom well for only one or two seasons in warm climates with mild winters. When hyacinths are handled as perennials in cold climates, flower size tends to decrease over time.
Do not feed plants that are nearing maturity if you want very sweet onions. Grow short-day varieties in southern latitudes. Long-day varieties work best in northern areas. Try growing different varieties from seed to explore differences in bulb color,...
Troubleshooting Daylilies are often eaten by deer. Slugs can be a problem in spring in mulched plantings. The buds of most old-fashioned daylilies are edible. Companions Coreopsis.
Do not feed plants that are nearing maturity if you want very sweet onions. Grow short-day varieties in southern latitudes. Long-day varieties work best in northern areas. Try growing different varieties from seed to explore differences in bulb color,...
Use a spinosad-based biological insecticide to bring lily leaf beetle larvae under control. Frost tolerant Cold hardiness varies with type. Troubleshooting Invasive lily leaf beetles chew holes in lily leaves.
Frost tolerant Excellent. Spacing can be as close as 2in (5cm) between crocus bulbs, which look best when planted in groups of seven or more. Notes Crocuses are considered harbingers of spring.
Frost tolerant Yes. In clay soil, grow in raised beds or rows. Position Full sun. Troubleshooting Weed early and often to keep onions growing strong. Spacing Single Plants: 5" (15cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 5" (15cm) with 9" (25cm) row gap (minimum)...
Companions Daylily. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Notes Bluebells naturalize with a little encouragement. They are especially well suited to growing near beech trees.
Companions Crocus. Over time they will fill in with seedlings and offsets. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Notes Like crocuses, snowdrops are considered harbingers of spring, often...
Shake off soil, and cure whole plants dry in a warm, shady place for two weeks before trimming and storing the garlic bulbs. Companions Tomato, Apple, Apricot, Plum, Cherry, Pear, Peach, Raspberry, Red Currant and Gooseberry.
Companions Crocus. Spacing can be as close as 2in (5cm) between scilla bulbs, which look best when planted in groups of seven or more. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Upright nicotiana combines well with mound-forming flowers like portulaca or lobelia. Very tall varieties benefit from staking. Companions Lettuce, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Broccoli and Collards.
Ageratum cannot tolerate cold temperatures. Position Full sun to partial shade. Frost tolerant None. Tall varieties make great cut flowers. Dwarf types make good edging plants for beds and containers.
Plants die back to the ground in winter and re-emerge in spring. Position Full sun to partial afternoon shade. Frost tolerant Extremely cold hardy, even in harsh winter climates. They are also much loved by cats and dogs.
Troubleshooting Watch plants for problems with aphids or whiteflies, which can multiply rapidly. When caught early both pests can be controlled with insecticidal soap. Notes Wood anemones thrive when grown in soil rich with leaf mold.
When the bulbs reach 3 inches in diameter, pull them and store in the refrigerator. Feeding Feed every 3 weeks with a liquid organic fertilizer, and use a rich, biodegradable mulch such as grass clippings.
Chamomile tea is made from the blossoms only. Feeding Not usually required. Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Fertile, well drained soil. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Companions Tomato, Pepper and Broccoli. Notes Frequent pinching back helps to keep plants bushy and full, and it delays flowering. Some strains are grown for their pretty pink flowers.
Because of the unusual round shape of gomphrena flowers, they provide great contrast in form when combined with annuals that have upright spikes or flat, daisy-shaped blossoms. Colors include purple, white, and orange.
Some varieties bloom rose-red or orange. The tall, arching flower spikes of agastache contrast beautifully with shorter, mound-forming flowers like alyssum or petunias. Companions Cabbage, Grape Vine, Mint and Echinacea.
Harvesting Gather spikes of lavender flowers as soon as they open, and dry in small bundles before storing in an airtight container. Companions Rose, Rosemary, Sage, Mint, Agastache, Apple, Cherry, Peach, Pear and Plum.
Frost tolerant None. Allow 12 inches (30cm) between very tall varieties. Notes Despite the beauty of the blossoms, cleome is seldom used as a cut flower because of its acrid aroma.
Companions Rose, Catnip and Salvia. Notes Lavatera is an annual hibiscus that attracts hummingbirds, and the newly opened blossoms make good cut flowers. Colors include soft pink and white.
Harvesting Snip off spent blossoms to keep plants looking neat, and to prolong flowering. Annual coreopsis needs less fertilizer and water compared to other flowers. Feeding Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior...
