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Advice & More February 2016

The Midnight Gardener

Seed Catalog Time: Gorgeous Flowers from Seeds

By Lori Pelkowski

Zinnias may be inexpensive to purchase, but the different heights, flower sizes and colors available are so mind-boggling you'll want to grow them all. Zinnias are probably the most perfect bouquet flower. They have tall stems, colorful flowers, and will last for a long time in the vase.

It's seed catalog time again. If you've never grown flowering plants from seed, give it a try this year. If you've grown plants from seed, then you already know what a joy it is.

Let the garden centers grow the inexpensive petunias and impatiens. Use seeds to grow unique varieties that you won't find at the warehouse stores, or even at roadside plant stands. Choose what to grow based on how much sun your garden gets. For instance:

Sun (eight hours of sun per day): Sunflowers are a must for the novice (and experienced) seed starter. They grow so easily, and the heights and colors assure that there's a sunflower for everyone. Italian White has brown centers with creamy petals, and Teddy Bear is a big orange fluff ball. Just watch out for birds that will dig up and eat the seeds.

Zinnias may be inexpensive to purchase, but the different heights, flower sizes and colors available are so mind-boggling you'll want to grow them all. Zinnias are probably the most perfect bouquet flower. They have tall stems, colorful flowers, and will last for a long time in the vase.

Part Sun (six hours of sun): Do you like tall, stately flowers? Foxgloves are just that. Flower spikes up to three-feet-tall grace the garden. The name comes from the tubular flowers that could glove the paw of a fox. They grow up the spike in shades from white to purple. Foxgloves are biennial. Biennials do not flower the first year, but will flower and set seed the second year. Foxgloves are very showy, so let some flowers go to seed for a lovely display each spring.

Nasturtium is a vine that works equally well hanging out of a basket or trailing along the ground. Nasturtium leaves make a perfect disguise to cover fading tulip or daffodil leaves in spring. In the shade of sunflowers, nasturtium will flourish to cover the ground with big leaves and bright flowers. Plant the big seeds with children, either in the garden or in a container. They will marvel at how quickly they go from seed to seedling to plant to flower. The lily pad leaves and colorful flowers are both edible, and are lovely (and tangy) in salads or sandwiches.

Part Shade (four hours of sun): Although it will flower better in a sunnier spot, the perennial Shasta daisy will grow and flower nicely in part shade. Hardy and beautiful, Shasta daisies can be tall or short, with single or double, large or small flowers. Some have short, rounded petals, some have long frilly petals; some have tiny eyes, some have eyes as big as egg yolks. This is an all-around fabulous perennial. Plant it with the equally fabulous perennial rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan). It has yellow petals and dark brown eyes.

Check the catalogs or backs of seed packets for the ideal planting time and place for each variety. For instance, some can be started indoors and transplanted into the garden as seedlings. Some plants resent having their roots disturbed, so plant these seeds right where you want them to grow.

Successful outdoor seed starting requires good soil, the proper amount of sunlight, and consistent moisture.

Garden soil will benefit from the addition of compost. For containers, use good-quality potting soil formulated for outdoor use.

Whether in containers or in a garden, be sure that the location you choose to start seeds outdoors gets the right amount sunlight each day based on the flower variety you choose. Put plants that like similar amounts of sun together – don't try to grow a sun lover with a shade lover, one plant will be unhappy.

Keep seeds, seedlings and plants evenly moist. A good rule for gardens is to water deeply every other day, via either rain or hose. Containers will need more attention to make sure they don't dry out completely. During the hottest days of the summer, be sure to check your potted plants morning and night.

While away a gray day with seed catalogs. Then go ahead and order some seeds to plant this spring. It's easy, it's inexpensive, and best of all, it's fun.

 

Lori Pelkowski, The Midnight Gardener, May all your weeds be dandelions from a child.

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