Horticulture Tips

Cutting Celery Seed Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”-1/4”
Row Spacing:24”-30”
Plant Spacing:6”-12”
Days to Germination:7-21 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

A bit finicky, Afina Cutting Celery is relatively easy to grow once the seedlings are established. Raise as transplants, sowing 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost. Soak the seed overnight and sow shallowly since light aids its germination. Provide 65°-75°F temperatures, strong light, good air circulation and moist soil until the seedlings emerge. Afina Cutting Celery is a heavy drinker and feeder: amend the bed as necessary with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure. After all danger of frost has passed, harden them off by gradually acclimating them to the outdoors over 7 to 10 days. Water regularly. Keep the plants carefully weeded but do not cultivate deeply because they have shallow root systems. Harvest the fine green

Brown Mustard Seed Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”-1/2”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:18”-30”
Days to Germination:6-14 days
Germination Temperature:45°-75°F

Mustard is easy to grow in cool weather. Direct-sow outdoors in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked and/or in late summer for fall harvest. Mustard is best planted in full sun in fertile, well-draining soil. Keep the seedbed moist and well-weeded until seedlings emerge. Once they are 3" to 4" tall, thin plants to 4" to 6" apart. Keep evenly moist. After blooming, watch for developing seedpods: begin harvesting the seedpods before they open and drop, as Mustard readily self-sows. Store the seedpods in paper bags and hang them to cure in a warm, dry place. When the pods turn into brown husks, thresh them (separate the seed from the pods). Rub the pods between your palms over a large container to release the seeds. Put the seeds

Ornamental Millet Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”-1”
Seed Spacing:1”
Plant Spacing:24”
Days to Germination:10-14 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Pennisetum glaucum. Use this bold ornamental grass to add serious oomph to your hot, sunny borders and containers. Seeds are best direct-sown in spring after the last frost date. Sow the seeds up to 1" deep and keep them moist until germination. Thin clumps to 24" apart. If starting indoors, sow clumps into individual pots 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. Harden off the seedlings by slowly introducing them to the outdoors over the span of a week, and then transplant them to at least 24" apart in full sun and well-draining soil after all danger of frost has passed. The deep burgundy to almost-black blades grow robustly, quickly forming a hefty mass of easy-care drama. In midsummer it shoots forth fat, fuzzy flower spikes in the same shad

Ornamental Grass Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:1”
Plant Spacing:12”
Days to Germination:14-21 days
Germination Temperature:55°-65°F

Seeds are best direct-sown in mid-spring and thinned to 12" apart. If starting indoors, sow into individual pots 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. Cover the seeds lightly 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 carefully transplant them, disturbing the roots as little as possible, to 12" apart in full sun and welldraining soil after all danger of frost has passed. Ornamental grass is relatively drought-tolerant once established. To dry the blooms, cut stems, tie them into bundles, and hang them upside down in a dry, dark spot for several weeks. Annual. Summer flowering.

Ornamental Corn Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1”-1 1/2”
Row Spacing:24”-30”
Seed Spacing:3”-4”
Days to Germination:4-14 days
Germination Temperature:60°-80°F

Zea mays. Direct-sow Corn when the soil is reliably warm, above 60°F, well after the last spring frost date. Prepare a well-draining area with rich soil in full sunlight. Amend the soil as necessary with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure. Corn is pollinated by the wind, so grow a minimum of 4 rows, even if they are short rows, to ensure good pollination. If the weather gets wet and cold, you might want to re-seed just to be safe since Corn has a long maturation cycle. After thinning to 10" to 12" between the plants, water regularly and mulch with hay or straw to deter weeds and retain ground moisture. Corn is particularly hungry for nitrogen: feed regularly as needed. Harvest after the husks have dried and the kernals are ha

Exotic Love Vine Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:12”
Days to Germination:16 days
Germination Temperature:70°F

Mina lobata. This classic vine’s long, upright flowering stems stand out proudly from the twining vines of 3-lobed, heart-shaped, dark green leaves and attract butterflies and hummingbirds in droves. Soak the seeds overnight or nick the hard seed coat, and then sow them directly in the garden after all danger of frost has passed, or start seeds in individual pots indoors, 5 to 6 weeks earlier. Keep the seeds evenly moist until germination, which can take up to 16 days. Once all danger of frost has passed, harden off the seedlings by slowly introducing them to the outdoors over the span of a week. Thin or transplant to 12" apart in full sun and moist, rich, well-drained soil. Provide the sturdy support of a trellis or tuteur. Over fertilizing will resul

Black-Eyed Susan Vine Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:12”-18”
Days to Germination:10-15 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Thunbergia alata, Black-Eyed Susan Vine. Easily and rapidly grown in full sunlight, Black-Eyed Susan Vine should be direct-sown outdoors after all danger of frost has passed or started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting out into the garden. Provide even moisture and strong light during germination. Transplant out into the garden after hardening off the plants by gradually acclimating them to the outdoors over 7 to 10 days. It prefers full sunlight but can tolerate part-day, full sunlight. Plant in rich, moist, well-draining soil with structural support (fence, trellis, lattice or netting) for its vigorously growing vines. It is also wonderful in hanging baskets. Black-Eyed Susan Vine will quickly grow into a living screen loaded with

Heliotrope Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:4”-5”
Plant Spacing:8”-12”
Days to Germination:7-30 days
Germination Temperature:70°-80°F

Heliotropium arborescens. Germinating Heliotrope may take several weeks. It is best to sow it indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost date. Sow seeds lightly in seed starting mix, barely cover and provide consistent heat, strong light and moisture. Transplant to larger pots once the seedlings are large enough to handle. When they are 4" tall, harden the seedlings off by gradually acclimating them to the outdoors over 7 to 10 days. Transplant out in rich, well-draining soil and full sunlight. Water regularly and mulch to deter weeds and retain ground moisture. Feed regularly and pinch back to make them bushy. Another heirloom, Heliotrope has clustered, tiny, trumpet-shaped flowers and a heady perfume. They may be dug out and potted up before the

Mignonette Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/16”
Seed Spacing:2”-4”
Plant Spacing:12”
Days to Germination:5-10 days
Germination Temperature:70°-75°F

Reseda odorata. A traditional Victorian cottage garden plant, Mignonette’s medium green foliage yields plump, dense spires of chartreuse and white flowers that fade to cream. While the plant is not overly showy, the flowers are intensely fragrant, with a sweet and spicy scent that makes a wonderful addition to floral arrangements. Even dried, the flowers retain their fragrance for several months, and can be added to homemade potpourri. Seedlings do not transplant well. Sow seeds directly into the garden after all danger of frost has passed, pressing them lightly into the soil. Provide full sun and consistent moisture, and thin the seedlings to 12" apart. Pinching young plants encourages branching and even more flowers. Deadhead spent blooms and sow mor

Stocks Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:0”
Seed Spacing:8”-10”
Plant Spacing:12”-18”
Days to Germination:7-14 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Matthiola incana. Stock, an old-fashioned cottage flower, can be sown outdoors after the danger of frost has passed, yet it is best started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting out after all danger of frost has passed. Sow seeds on top of soil mix, leaving the seeds uncovered but pressed firmly onto the soil surface, as light aids germination. Provide even moisture, strong light and luke warm water. Prepare a garden bed in full to partial sunlight with rich, well-draining soil. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them outside over 1 to 2 weeks. Carefully transplant them 12" to 18" apart. Prized for their spicy clove scent, Stock has stalks studded with small, semi-double flowers ranging from white to pale pink to deep burgundy. It makes a

Night Phlox Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:6”-12”
Days to Germination:7-14 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Zaluzianskya capensis. Night Phlox is what dreams are made of. As the sun goes down, its tiny burgundy buds begin to open until they reveal masses of starry white blooms that glow in the moonlight. But it’s their fragrance that really rules the night. Sweet and intoxicating, it floats on the breeze, making one think of honey and freshly baked vanilla cake. The scent intensifies with the darkness until, near midnight, you’ll be swooning. Seeds can be sown directly into the garden after the last frost date, or indoors 3 to 4 weeks earlier. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and keep them moist until germination. Once all danger of frost has passed, harden off the seedlings by slowly introducing them to the outdoors over the span of a week, and

Johnny Jump-Ups Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:1”
Plant Spacing:5”-8”
Days to Germination:10-20 days
Germination Temperature:70°F

Viola tricolor. This heirloom favorite prefers to be started indoors and transplanted out. Ten to 12 weeks prior to the last hard frost, plant them in a good seed-starting medium at about 70°F. Cover the seeds well and firm them down, since they require darkness for optimal germination. Provide even moisture, strong light and good ventilation. Once established, thin plants to 2" to 3" apart and grow on at about 55°F. Prior to transplanting when 3" tall, acclimate the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outside conditions for 1 to 2 weeks. After the threat of a hard frost has passed, transplant out into fertile, evenly moist but well-draining soil in full to filtered sunlight. Space plants 5" to 8" apart in the garden. Their flowers are prized as candied