Monthly Archives: August 2020

Hibiscus Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:12”-15”
Plant Spacing:24”-30”
Days to Germination:15-30 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Hibiscus mosheutus. Hibiscus can be direct-sown outdoors in warm areas or started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting outside after the threat of frost has passed. Soak seeds in water: once they sink, they are ready to plant. Sow seeds in good seed-starting medium at 70°F with even moisture, strong light and good ventilation. For consistent moisture during germination, cover the flats or pots with plastic wrap until seedlings emerge: then discard plastic. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them to outside conditions for 1 to 2 weeks before transplanting outside. Hibiscus are moisture-loving plants. Mulch to conserve moisture, water consistently and fertilize as necessary. Intolerant of night chills, bring potted plants indoo

Hollyhock Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:6”-8”
Plant Spacing:18”-24”
Days to Germination:10-14 days
Germination Temperature:70°F

Alcea rosea. Sow these tall, stately flowers outdoors after the last frost. Sow in a nice spot with full sun and protection from the wind in fertile, well-draining, loamy soil just 1⁄4" deep (they need some light for optimal germination). Keep well-watered until the seedlings emerge, about 10 days after sowing. Or, start indoors 8 to 12 weeks prior to transplanting out after the last frost. Provide even moisture, strong light and good ventilation until the seedlings are ready to transplant out. Acclimate the plants by gradually exposing them to outside conditions for 1 to 2 weeks. Thin or transplant the seedlings 18" to 24" apart when they are about 4" tall. Plants may need to be staked, as the flower spikes are quite tall. A biennial, Hollyhocks may not bloo

Red Hot Poker Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:18”-24”
Days to Germination:10-20 days
Germination Temperature:70°-75°F

Kniphofia uvaria. A.K.A. Tritoma or Torch Lilies, Red Hot Pokers love sun and heat, and are perfect for that baking area beyond the reach of your water hose. Moisten seeds and then store them, wrapped in plastic, in a cold place for 4 weeks before sowing them indoors, 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. Keep the seeds moist until germination. Harden off the seedlings by slowly introducing them to the outdoors over the span of a week, and then transplant them after the last frost date to 12” apart in full sun and well-draining soil. If the hummingbird-beloved flowers are allowed to mature, the songbirds will make a meal of the seeds, though the seeds that elude them may sprout where they fall next spring. The tough, grassy foliage is evergreen

Maltese Cross Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/16”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:12”-15”
Days to Germination:21-25 days
Germination Temperature:70°-75°F

Lychnis chalcedonica. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and gardeners all love this old-fashioned, easy-to grow, deer-resistant perennial. Its bright scarlet orange flowers, borne in dense clusters atop tall stems, positively glow in full-sun plantings. Sow seeds indoors in spring, 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Barely cover the seeds with soil, since they require light to germinate, and then keep them moist until germination. Harden off the seedlings by slowly introducing them to the outdoors over the span of a week, and then transplant up to 15" apart after all danger of frost has passed. Maltese Cross prefers consistently moist soil once transplanted outdoors. It’s an excellent cut flower, and cutting and deadheading will prolong its bloom pe

Marigold Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:8”-12”
Days to Germination:5-7 days
Germination Temperature:70°-80°F

Tagetes. Easy to grow in full sunlight, Marigolds can be direct-sown into the garden in well-draining, loamy soil after the last frost date. Plant 1⁄4" deep and keep well-watered until the seedlings emerge, about 7 days after sowing. Or, start indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date by sowing the seeds in a good seedstarting medium. Provide even moisture, strong light and good ventilation until the plants are large enough to handle. Prior to transplanting, acclimate the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outside conditions over 1 to 2 weeks. Thin or transplant seedlings 8" to 12" apart in the garden. Water moderately. A good cutting and edible flower, Marigolds are also good in containers or window boxes. Summer/fall flowering.

Calamint Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/16”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:10”-12”
Days to Germination:14-21 days
Germination Temperature:70°-75°F

Calamintha nepeta. Bees and butterflies adore this aromatic, sun-loving, deer-resistant perennial. Broad spikes of tiny tubular flowers smother the trouble-free, gray-green, minty foliage from mid summer to fall. Sow seeds indoors, 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting out into the garden. Press the seeds into the soil surface and keep them moist until germination. Harden off the seedlings by slowly introducing them to the outdoors over the span of a week, and then plant them out into the garden, 10" to 12" apart, after all danger of frost has passed, in full sun to partial shade and well draining soil. Calamint is quite drought-tolerant and makes a wonderful edging and rock garden plant. It also blooms the first year from seed! Perennial. Summer to f

Nicotiana Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”-1/4”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:12”-24”
Days to Germination:7-21 days
Germination Temperature:70°-80°F

Nicotiana. This old-fashioned favorite is best started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date in the spring. Sow shallowly since light aids germination. Pamper with 70°-80°F temperatures, strong light, good air circulation and moist soil by covering flats or pots with plastic wrap. Remove plastic wrap once the sprouts emerge. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant to larger, deeper pots for full root system development. After all danger of frost has passed, harden them off by gradually acclimating them to the outdoors over 7 to 10 days. Transplant out in rich, well-draining soil and full to partial sunlight. Water regularly and mulch to deter weeds and retain ground moisture. An heirloom favorite, Nicotiana is a tall, eleg

Soapwort Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/16”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:18”
Days to Germination:14-18 days
Germination Temperature:65°-70°F

Saponaria vaccaria. Sow Soapwort seeds outdoors in spring after the last frost date, barely covering them with soil. Keep the seed bed moist. To sow indoors, wrap the seeds in a moist paper towel and a plastic bag and chill them for 4 weeks before sowing them on the surface of a fine seed starting mix, firmly pressing them into the soil. The seeds need light to germinate. Harden off the seedlings by slowly introducing them to the outdoors over the span of a week, and then thin or transplant trios of seedlings to 18" apart in full sun and moist, fertile, well-drained soil after all danger of frost has passed. Water Soapwort regularly. The plant readily self-seeds if happy, and will pop up here and there next season, creating wonderfully unexpected vignette

Love Lies Bleeding Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:3/8”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:6”-18”
Days to Germination: 3-10 days
Germination Temperature:60°-80°F

Amaranthus caudatus. Heat-loving, it can be direct-sown outdoors after all danger of frost has passed in warmer areas. In colder areas, it may be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting out after the threat of frost has passed. Sow seeds in good seed-starting medium with even moisture, strong light and good ventilation. Prepare bed in full sunlight with rich, well-draining soil. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them to outside conditions for 1 to 2 weeks before transplanting out. When plants are 4" to 8" tall, thin or transplant 6" to 18" apart. Love Lies Bleeding has verdant green foliage and luminous fuchsia-garnet flowers composed on long rope-like stems that appear like thick, cascading dreadlocks. Prized in V

Joseph’s Coat Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:3/8”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:6”-18”
Days to Germination: 3-10 days
Germination Temperature:60°-80°F

Amaranthus tricolor. Joseph’s Coat’s bushy, whorled stalks of green foliage are topped with hot yellows, reds and cream, looking like nothing short of an exuberant fireworks explosion. And it’s edible! Eat the young leaves raw in salads or steamed or stir-fried. Heat-loving, it can be direct sown outdoors after all danger of frost has passed in warmer areas. In colder areas, it may be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting out after the threat of frost has passed. Sow seeds in seed starting medium with even moisture, strong light and good ventilation. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them to outside conditions for 1 to 2 weeks before transplanting out. When plants are 4" to 8" tall, thin or transplant 6" to 18" apart. G

Hyssop Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:18”
Days to Germination: 5-20 days
Germination Temperature:70°-75°F

Agastache rupestris. Hyssop should be direct-sown after the threat of frost has passed. Sow seeds on top of the soil, leaving the seeds uncovered but pressed firmly onto the soil surface, as light aids germination. It may also be raised as transplants 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost date, with even moisture, strong light and air circulation. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them to the outdoors for a week to 10 days. Prepare a bed in full sunlight with rich, well-draining soil. Thin or transplant to 18" apart. Transplants should be watered regularly to help establish a mature root system for first-year blooms. Once established, it is drought tolerant. Its compact plants have dozens of sturdy spikes studded with tubular flowers.

Browallia Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:8”
Days to Germination: 14-21 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Browallia americana. Browallia is summer’s version of Forget-Me-Nots: masses of clean, deep green foliage topped with oodles of amethystblue flowers. It blooms from June through September and even self-sows! Seeds are most successfully started outdoors, directly in the garden after all danger of frost has passed in spring, in full sun to partial shade. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and keep them moist until germination. Thin seedlings to 8" apart. Browallia makes a wonderful filler for summer borders, and never seems to stop blooming. It prefers a bit of afternoon shade in warmer climates, and does not require dead heading. While it is technically a perennial in warmer climates, it is generally grown as an annual in North American gardens. An