Horticulture Tips

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

Tassel Flower Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:6”-10”
Days to Germination: 8-15 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Emilia javanica. Tassel Flower is prized for its wiry stems of scarlet or orange blooms. Its tousled, pompon flowers are quite small, so its hot hues won’t overpower your plantings. Rather, it weaves in and out of other plants in a densely planted bed, adding a dash of spice. It attracts bees and butterflies and is an excellent cut flower, too. Sow directly into the garden after all danger of frost has passed, in full sun and well-draining soil. Keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings are established. Or sow seeds indoors in a warm spot several weeks before transplanting out. 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 the

Immortelle Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:10”
Days to Germination: 10-15 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Xeranthemum annuum. Sow Immortelle seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed, covering the seeds with 1⁄4" of soil, or sow indoors in individual pots, 6-8 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 10" apart in full sun and rich, well-draining soil. Immortelle seedlings resent transplanting. Handle the seedlings gently, disturbing the roots as little as possible. A dream in dried flower arrangements, Immortelle is an excellent everlasting. To dry flowers, harvest them just as they begin to open to retain their colors and hang them upside down in a dry, shady area

Money Plant Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:12”
Days to Germination: 10-14 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Lunaria annua. When Money Plant’s pink flowers go to seed, the seed pods are flattened and the size and shape of a silver dollar, and are wonderful in dried flower arrangements. Sow seeds outdoors in full sun or partial shade, in either fall or early spring. Cover them lightly with soil and keep them evenly moist until germination. Thin seedlings to 12" apart. Provide even moisture throughout the season. The plants prefer full sun in cooler climates, while they benefit from afternoon shade in warmer climates. They will produce only foliage the first year and flowers and seeds the second year before dying. The plants, if left uncut, will usually self-seed. To dry for arrangements, cut entire stems just as the seed pods lose their color, and hang upside

Chinese Lantern Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:24”
Days to Germination: 20-25 days
Germination Temperature:70°-75°F

Physalis alkekengi var. franchetti. Direct-sow outside after the last spring frost date. Prepare a bed in full to partial sunlight with well-draining soil. Sow seeds on top of soil, leaving the seeds uncovered but pressed firmly onto the soil surface, as light aids germination. Chinese Lanterns may also be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting out after the threat of frost has passed. Provide even moisture, strong light and air circulation. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them outside for a week to 10 days before transplanting out. Hardy to zone 3, this perennial can be invasive: plant it in a dedicated spot or grow it in containers. This Tomatillo relative is prized for its bright orange pods that are wonderful in fall b

Lace Flower Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/16”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:12”
Days to Germination: 7-15 days
Germination Temperature:55°-65°F

Ammi majus. If you love wild Queen Anne’s Lace as it waves its flowers alongside country roads in late summer, you'll adore Lace Flower. It’s a distant cousin that is more suited to the garden, with stout stems of lacy, feathery foliage topped with large, dense domes of tiny white flowers that are an exceptional filler in summertime bouquets. Sow seeds outdoors after all threat of frost has passed in spring, in full sun to partial shade. Barely cover the seeds with fine soil and tamp down firmly. Keep the soil consistently moist for best germination as the seeds are quite small. Thin seedlings to 12" apart. The sap of this plant can cause skin irritation, so take care when handling. At taller heights the plants may need staking to prevent flopping. Ann