Space or transplant China Asters 30-45cm (12-18″) apart. This spacing is key to success later in the season, so please follow the guidance. Do not pinch back young plants. Water regularly during dry spells. This plant is particularly sensitive to over-watering, and will not thrive if over-crowded, poorly ventilated, or situated close to a heat-reflecting surface. Mulch around the plants in summer to help keep the roots cool.
Continue ReadingThese hardy, but short-lived perennial plants are usually grown as annuals. Grows to 5–60 in (13–152 cm) tall, with alternately branching, glaucous, blue-green foliage. The leaves are divided into round, lobed segments. Blooms are solitary on long stems which are silky-textured each with four petals. Flower colours range from yellow to orange, flowering from early spring through to fall. The petals close at night or in the cold, windy weather and open again the following morning. Flowers will remain closed in cloudy weather as well. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow California poppies from seed.
Continue ReadingThese easy-to-grow annual flowers are also known as English marigolds or pot marigolds. Calendula repels a number of bad nematodes in the soil, but may attract slugs. Plant with tomatoes and asparagus. Please continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Calendula from seed.
Continue ReadingHere we will examine how to grow Bellis perennis English Daisy from seeds. Bellis is a versatile, low-growing, carpet-forming perennial plant with appealing pom-pon like flowers. It looks spectacular once it has naturalized into lawns.
Continue ReadingThis evergreen perennial bears the slightly misleading common name Basket of Gold Alyssum. Remember that the common name Alyssum is a bit misleading. This Basket of Gold Alyssum is actually Aurinia saxatilis, and Snow Cloth Alyssum is actually Lobularia maritima. Alyssum describes the shape and size of the plants more than any true botanical details. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Aurinia from seed.
Continue ReadingDouglas Asters are somewhat inconspicuous plants until they burst into bloom at the end of summer. This perennial is an important food source for skipper butterflies and many other late season pollinators.
Continue ReadingWhen transplanted seedlings are 10-15cm (4-6″) tall, pinch back the growing tip to encourage multiple flowering points. Asclepias tuberosa prefers dry, sandy conditions or any average garden soil in full sun. Plants grown from seed bloom in the first year if given an early start. They can be pulled up in fall and treated like annuals to prevent spreading. Asclepias does not divide well, but it’s an outstanding choice for xeriscaping. Asclepias speciosa and some of the others do better in swampy soil, but they are not fussy plants. Continue reading below for some more specific advice on how to grow Asclepias from seed.
Continue ReadingFalse Queen Anne’s Lace or Bishop’s Weed are common names for this attractive, naturalistic looking annual flower. Ammi grows stiffly upright stems topped by umbelliferous flowers that are attractive to pollinators and predatory insects. The flower heads can reach 15cm (6″) across, and are lovely in flower arrangements. Continue reading below to find out how to grow Ammi from seed
Continue ReadingAlyssum is an easy-to-grow annual that is both decorative and useful. It plays a key role in companion planting and can be used as a cover crop to attract insects, smother weeds, and increase fruit set in vegetable beds. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Alyssum from seed.
Continue ReadingAgastache is very attractive to bees. Plant a row away from the garden to lure cabbage moths away from Brassica crops. Do not plant near radishes. Agastache is a hardy perennial also known as Giant Hyssop, Liquorice Mint, or Lavender Hyssop. Continue reading below for more tips on how to grow Agastache from seed.
Continue ReadingAfrican Violets have been much loved as houseplants since Victorian plant hunters first encountered them growing in Tanzania. They are incredibly diverse, but excellent for indoor growing. They are generally undemanding and thrive best in dappled light.
Continue ReadingGerman chamomile is also known as scented mayweed and wild chamomile. It’s a hardy annual with pleasantly scented flowers, and is primarily grown for medicinal use and teas. Learn how to grow organic chamomile in containers or in the herb garden. Continue reading for some tips on how to grow chamomile from seed.
Continue ReadingBlack Velvet Rose Geranium seeds should be started indoors in early spring. Once the weather warms up in late spring to early summer, and night time temperatures are steadily above 10°C (50°F), the curious little seedlings can be transplanted outdoors. Continue reading below for more tips on how to grow geraniums from seed.
Continue ReadingThese are massive plants are highly attractive to butterflies and other beneficial insects. Here's how to grow Eutrochium from seed. LatinEutrochium purpureumFamily: Asteracea DifficultyModerately challenging SeasonExposure: Full sun to partial shadeHardiness: Hardy to Zone 4. TimingStart seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the...
Continue ReadingWhere bees are scant, or in settings like balconies that cannot accommodate flowers to attract bees, hand pollination is another option. The principle is fairly straight forward: Pollen is transferred from the open male flower to the stigma of the open female flower. At this point, the male flower can even be removed and dissected, as it is not going to be feeding any bees or serving the plant.
Continue ReadingWith pollinator conservation in mind it’s a good idea to plant flower seeds for bees. But which are the best pollinator plants? Which bee flowers are the easiest to sow and grow? What flowers can be grown in containers or...
Continue ReadingPurple Tansy is the common name for one of the garden’s supreme workhorses, Phacelia tanacetifolia. Gardeners who have had trouble with fruit setting on squash, melons, or cucumbers need to learn how to improve pollination with Phacelia. Phacelia is a...
Continue ReadingGrazing deer can be a major nuisance for gardeners in Coastal BC, on the Gulf Islands, and in the interior portions of the province. Vegetable gardens, full of tender greens and food, should be protected with sturdy fences, tall enough so that deer cannot leap over.
Continue ReadingEdible flowers can be used to add a splash of colour to all kinds of foods, from salads to desserts to fancy cocktails. A single borage petal, carefully placed, can really enhance a slice of cake or an amuse bouche....
Continue ReadingSquirrel Tail Grass begins the season as a fairly unremarkable grassy plant, but once the warm weather and long days of summer arrive, it sends up remarkable, silky, silvery grey panicles on 60cm (24") stems. These bend with the wind and retain their ornamental value until frost.
Continue ReadingMonkshood is a very traditional perennial for the cottage garden. The plant is so well known for its toxicity that it plays a role in ancient Greek mythology, and folklore from Europe to India. So please don't eat it.
Continue ReadingWhat the heck is xeriscaping? Simply put, xeriscaping is a system of landscaping with water conservation as the priority. In areas that receive little rainfall in the summer, some thoughtful xeriscaping will allow flowering plants to thrive, adding visual appeal...
Continue ReadingThe component seeds in our wildflower mixes are carefully selected using a number of criteria. We select for variety of colour, for length of bloom time, for uniform height, and overall performance. We also consider longevity a key selling point...
Continue ReadingSpring is the time for planting wildflower seeds. These little seeds can be direct sown from late March to early May. If you’re aiming for an annual flower garden, planting early will give you a head start on flowering. Choose...
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