 I've been dreaming of sunflowers lately. I think it's because they remind me that the summer sun will return someday - but it could be because they are so beautiful.
Several years ago, I grew the most gorgeous variegated sunflowers. I promise myself every year that I will grow them again - and don't. I don't know why I put them off. Maybe it's because I'm always looking for the "perfect" place for them or maybe I just run out of space. To motivate myself, and all of you who want to grow sunflowers this year, I created a page just for sunflowers. It includes some interesting tidbits about sunflowers, directions for planting and growing them and a few varieties to look for. Visit my Sunflowers page for more information on sunflowers. Until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!
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 You may be wondering why I have included a picture of aluminum foil today. Although it is wonderful for cooking - and making funny hats to keep the aliens away - it's also great when it comes to starting seeds.
I'd like to share two simple techniques today. You can choose the one that works best for you. Method One - Reflecting Sunlight for Seedlings with Aluminum Foil
Method Two - Aluminum Foil Light Box with Plant Light
* This project uses a plant grow light that screws into an ordinary socket. You can purchase one at Walmart for under $10. Until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  I woke up this morning with visions of moon gardens in my head. Although I've never grown one myself, the thought of fragrant flowers shimmering in the moonlight appeals to me.
My biggest stumbling block to creating a moon garden is that the area of my backyard where I enjoy sitting in the evening to stargaze doesn't get a lot of light from the moon - even when it's full - because it's path is blocked by my house. The front of my house is lighted by a streetlight, which leaves me with little room for a moon garden. However, I do have a small nook that receives the light of the moon as it rises in the night sky, which might make a delightful little moon garden. I'm thinking big pots of sweet alyssum, moon flowers, Shasta daises and maybe a potted night blooming jasmine or gardenia. If you'd like to try a moon garden, there are a few things to keep in mind.
For more detailed information about designing a moon garden see my article Moon Gardens: Designing and Planting. Until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  Petunia Last fall when I moved my plants inside for the winter, I discovered a itsy bitsy petunia seedling in one of my plant pots. I'm not sure what kind of petunia it is. I suspect its from a seed from my wave petunias, but being a gardener that often plants seeds and forgets them, its possible I planted some regular petunias and that is the only one that came up.
I brought it inside for the winter thinking it would blossom in the middle of winter. It is now happily at home in my greenhouse and suddenly growing like a weed. I've pinched it back a few times to "fill it out" and am quite pleased with how it has responded. Now, I'm waiting for those first blooms to appear. I'm thinking this snowy day is a good time to plant some coleus and herbs - and maybe a petunia or two - if I can find some seeds. For now, the old seeds I have from last year will have to do, as I haven't ordered this season's seeds quite yet. Until Next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  As gardeners, we tend to grow into the flowers we prefer. I don't know if its age or an increased appreciation of certain shapes and colors. I do know that I once thought of petunias as flowers for old women. I'm not sure why.
In recent years, I have developed a love for petunias. One could argue that I am an old woman - although I prefer to think I am in my gardening prime. Whatever the reason, my garden is not complete without at least one container of petunias. When I saw petunias grown in towers, I knew I had to have one. With a little exploring I found directions for making your own with wire fencing and landscape fabric. For step by step directions see Making plant towers with garden fence and landscape fabric. I can't wait to make a couple of these and try them out with a variety of flowers, including petunias. Until next time .... HAPPY GARDENING!  I don't know how I missed the introduction of the COOL WAVE Pansy. Maybe it's because I'm not overly fond of pansies - but these look amazing!
The same 'technology' used to create the WAVE petunia has been used to create pansies that trail to up to two feet. You can buy either plants or the seeds for this mix of COOL WAVE Pansies at Park Seed - but it looks like you had better hurry as many of their WAVE pansies have already sold out. You can also buy WAVE pansies in hanging baskets or containers at your local nursery (or so I'm told). What I really like about the thought of growing COOL WAVE Pansies is that pansies are biennials and will thrive in your garden for years. Although there is no note of whether the seeds from the COOL WAVE pansy will produce new plants identical to the parent plant (hybrids typically produce offspring that differs from the parent plant) the WAVE site says they will overwinter to Zone 5 and recommends mulching for winter protection in cold climates. Unless the COOL WAVE pansy is more sensitive to the cold than other pansies, I'm willing to guess they will survive winters in Maine (even in Zones 3 and 4) with a little protection. COOL WAVE pansies just made their way to my seed list for this year! Until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  I received a package of tulip bulbs for Christmas. The bulbs are big and plump, and beginning to sprout. I also discovered a package of 5 tulips bulbs that arrived too late last fall to get them into the ground. These aren't looking so good, and are a little soft, but one of them does have a sprout.
I know as well as you do that all those bulbs should have gone into the soil weeks before the ground froze - but they didn't and my garden is covered with mounds of snow. So what is a gardener to do? Well, plant them, of course. I don't know if they have been prechilled, but I'm guessing if sprouts are appearing they are ready to grow and bloom. I've decided this is time when the gardeners motto "When in doubt, try it out," is the best solution to my problem. I'm going to pot up the small package and do the same with some of larger package. The experts tell me to place the pots in a cool, dark location for several weeks and then move them into the light. They even tell me that by moving them to the light every two weeks, I can have fresh blooms for weeks to come - that is, if the bulbs have been sufficiently chilled to promote blooming. I know from experience that plants don't always react as expected and that some mistakes turn out to be blessings in disguise. As a perennial optimist, I'm believing that my home will be filled with bright tulips for Valentine's Day and Easter. Of course, I could be wrong - but then I have nothing to lose. If you have old bulbs lying around that somehow didn't make it into the soil, won't you join me in planting them now to see what happens? Who knows what beauty may be lurking inside those bulbs just waiting to be released.  Many gardeners hesitate to pinch and prune their houseplants for fear they will do something wrong or that it will stop the growth of their houseplants. In reality, pinching and pruning is one of the best things you can do for your houseplants. Here's why.
Deciding when to pinch or prune you plants really isn't that difficult. Houseplants that becomes leggy or produce vines with long stretches between the leaves need pinching or pruning. (And more light, if you can provide it.) Typically, if the plant has become unsightly - you know the one you hide behind the others so no one will notice it - cutting it back to within 2 to 3 inches of the soil is often the best bet. I often find this necessary with my begonia and impatiens if I overwinter them inside. New growth begins almost immediately, if you provide them with bright, indirect light. Within a few weeks, these plants produce a flush of new foliage that you can display with pride. Due to the lack of light, and the low intensity of that light, during the winter in Maine, many houseplants suffer from lack of adequate light and benefit from some pinching and pruning to keep them looking good. To prune dead leaves or weak foliage from your houseplants simply trim away the dead or weak foliage with a knife or pair of scissors. To pinch out the growing tips, gently pinch the new leaves between your thumb and fingernail to remove them. This can be repeated on all new growth in a few weeks to continue to force new growth and create a full, healthy plant. The same holds true of garden plants, of course, but we'll save that for another day. Until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  photo by nociveglia via Flickr One of the most common questions I receive about starting seeds is "When do I start giving seedlings fertilizer?"
Although some claim to begin feeding their seedlings with water-soluble fertilizer as soon as they emerge, most University Extensions, including the University of Maine Extension, recommend fertilizing seedlings with 1/2 strength fertilizer once a week after they get their first set of true leaves. Others mix a weak solution of fertilizer, typically 1/8 to 1/4 strength, and use the solution every time they water the seedlings. This method is convenient, as you can mix the solution and keep it nearby in a container for watering your seedlings. I'm partial to Miracle Gro, but Bonnie Plants sells a liquid fertilizer that mixes quickly in water. You can also use organic fertilizers, such as fish emulsion, if you prefer. As long as the formula is balanced and contains Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium you will be fine. The key, of course, is to provide your seedlings with the nutrients they need to thrive. Until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  Although it's a little early to begin starting plants from seeds here in Maine , many gardeners are getting a little antsy and dreaming of spring. As the sun's rays get stronger and the days begin to lengthen, early March typically offers the best opportunity for starting seeds.
Before we go on, let's talk about what the experts say, shall we? The experts from the University of Maine Extension will tell you that you shouldn't start your tomato plants until April. Perhaps this works for large greenhouses, but as a home gardener I can tell you this simply isn't so. Tomato plants started from seed in April in the home will not be ready for transplanting to the garden when warm weather arrives. You, of course, are free to follow their advice if you wish - but I'm warning you,. You will be disappointed by the tiny seedlings when planting time arrives. Following the lead of successful gardeners in your local area is always a good practice. They are the people who are out there everyday working in the garden and have insight into the unique gardening conditions in your area. Tips for Seed Starting
Until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING! |
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