In midsummer, cut the plants back by half their size to quickly gather up hornworms eating the leaves. Harvesting As flowers fade, snip them off the flowering spikes with scissors to keep the plants looking neat.
Spacing Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 7" (20cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant Sow tiny ageratum seeds atop moist seed starting mix and gently press them into the surface.
Allow 4in (10cm) between bulbs of miniature daffodils, and 6in (15cm) between taller varieties. Notes Daffodils are the best spring-flowering bulbs to grow as perennials. As the flowers fade in the garden, trim them off with scissors or pruning shears.
After two years, valerian will grow into a 18" (45 cm) wide clump. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Troubleshooting Control valerian's spread by cutting back flowering stems before...
Notes Wood anemones thrive when grown in soil rich with leaf mold. They naturalize beautifully in hospitable climates. Use large-flowered anemones as feature plants in the summer garden.
When the stems are dry, pop off the blossoms and store them in an airtight container. Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Fertile, well drained soil. Troubleshooting Rabbits enjoy nibbling chamomile foliage.
Some strains are grown for their pretty pink flowers. Position Full sun to partial afternoon shade. Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Any average, well drained soil in an easily accessible site.
In warm climates, gomphrena sometimes reseeds but it is never invasive. If you like dried flowers, harvest blossoms when they have good color, strip off the leaves, and hang them to dry in small bunches in a dry, well-ventilated place.
Notes Agastache tolerates summer drought better than many other flowers. Position Full sun. Small agastache plants grow slowly at first, and gain size and bloom in late summer. Companions Cabbage, Grape Vine, Mint and Echinacea.
You can also dry lavender branches for use in recipes, sachets or potpourri. Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Any average, well drained soil. Troubleshooting Wait until spring to prune back lavender plants, because the dead stems help shelter...
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. Tall varieties may need staking.
Colors include soft pink and white. Position Full sun. Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Well-drained soil of average fertility. Troubleshooting Expect some cosmetic damage from leaf-eating beetles.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Position Full sun. Annual coreopsis is an excellent flower to grow in wildflower meadows.
Feeding Topdress with rich compost in spring, when new growth appears. In less than full sun, tulip blossoms will twist toward the strongest directional light. Fertilize established clumps with a balanced organic fertilizer in the fall.
Several newer varieties will re-bloom in the fall with good care. Feeding Topdress with rich compost in mid spring, after new growth appears. Harvesting Cut irises for arrangements as soon as the buds show good color; they will continue to open indoors.
The buds of most old-fashioned daylilies are edible. Feeding Topdress established daylilies with rich compost in early spring, after new growth appears. Harvesting Even though the individual blossoms last only one day, daylilies make interesting cut flowers.
Notes Established clumps produce beautiful pink flowers in late spring. Position Full sun to partial afternoon shade. Frost tolerant Very cold hardy. Becomes dormant in winter. Crop Rotation Group Allium (Onion family) ● Soil Average, well drained.
Very tall cultivars may need staking to keep them upright. Feeding Topdress with rich compost in spring, when new growth appears. Lavender, purple, pink and white are the most common flower colors.
Grow the seedlings under bright lights until they are large enough to transplant outdoors. Most gardeners save time by buying snapdragons as bedding plants. Troubleshooting Especially in warm, wet weather, tired snapdragons may collapse from various root...
Notes Echinacea is grown for its beautiful flowers and for the medicinal properties of teas and tinctures made from roots, leaves and flowers. Frost tolerant Echinacea is a hardy perennial that survives very cold winters.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Notes Well-pleased plants can grow quite tall and may need staking. Larkspur is poisonous to pets and horses, but is seldom nibbled due to its bitter...
Sometimes they will settle into a fruit tree and remove thousands of leaves. Underground, the beetle larvae (curled white grubs) can be serious pests of germinating corn. Asiatic garden beetle [Credit: harum.koh ] Asiatic garden beetle [Credit: harum.koh...
Notes Borage seedlings are only edible when very young. Position A sunny spot where bumblebees and other large pollinators are desired. A fresh crop of plants can be planted in late summer for bloom in the fall.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Harvesting Snip off spent blossoms to keep plants looking neat, and to prolong flowering.
Spacing Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum) Rows: 11" (30cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum) Sow and Plant When starting gazania seeds indoors in early spring, cover them well with moist seed starting mix.
In most climates, gaillardia needs a head start indoors if the plants are to bloom well their first year. Position Full sun. Crop Rotation Group Miscellaneous ● Soil Well-drained soil of average fertility.
Cover the bulbs with 3in inches (8 cm) of soil. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. In late spring, allow the foliage to die back naturally.
