Cerinthe (AKA Honeywort) is an elegant looking plant that stands out for its unusual habit. Each stem arches upward out forward with a seemingly endless series of purple-blue bell shaped flowers. This plant works very well in larger containers or flower borders. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow Cerinthe from seeds.
Continue ReadingLearn how to grow Chrysanthemums from seed. These perennial plants regularly undergo name changes, and may be listed as Chrysanthemum, Leucanthemum, Pyrethrum, or Tanacetum.
Continue ReadingCelosia is a relative of Amaranth, and native to the highlands of East Africa where it is known in Swahili as mfungu. Today’s cultivated Celosias have been selected for the brightness of their colours and compactness of growth. Celosia is sometimes listed by the common names Cockscomb or Woolflower. Continue reading below for our best tips on how to grow Celosia from seed.
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Barely cover the tiny seeds. Use fresh seed starting mix and keep it moist until germination. Harden seedlings off over the course of at least one week. Transplant out after last frost at 25-30cm (10-12″) apart.
Continue ReadingSpace 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 ReadingHow to grow Shiso from seed. Shiso is a strongly flavoured member of the mint family. Its leaves have a tangy flavour of cumin, mint, nutmeg, and anise combined. In stature it resembles a large basil plant, and the cultivation is very similar to growing basil.
Continue ReadingThyme, like other woody-stemmed herbs, tends to grow very slowly, and benefits from an early start if grown from seed. Unlike basil and other annual herbs, you shouldn’t count on harvesting thyme in the first (or even the second) year, except for very light picking of leaves. What follows are some tips on how to grow thyme from seed.
Continue ReadingStevia is native to South America. The greatest challenge with Stevia is germination. Sweetleaf is famously difficult crop from seed. Once plants are established, they will grow well in hot weather, and are good candidates for summer containers. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Stevia from seed.
Continue ReadingSummer savory is a half hardy annual. Winter savory is perennial. Both are well suited to container growing. All savories prefer full sun and well-drained, rather poor soil. Summer savory wants a warm, protected spot in the herb garden, while winter savory is less fussy. Do not feed with liquid fertilizer. Pick leaves as needed, and cut back if the plants begin to appear leggy. Continue reading below for more details on how to grow savory from seed.
Continue ReadingIt’s nice to have one big, reliable sage bush at the corner of the garden. One plant usually provides enough herb for most households, and its flowers are strongly attractive to wild and domesticated bees. Even hummingbirds will stop for a sip of the generous nectar. Propagating by cuttings is easier with sage than growing from seed, but both can be achieved with a little care. Continue reading below for some top tips on how to grow sage from seed.
Continue ReadingRosemary is not quite as simple from seed as many other herbs, but it can be achieved by novice gardeners if they take certain precautions. It is a woody perennial that grows slowly, and won’t be ready for harvesting during the first year of growth. If growing rosemary in containers, provide monthly feedings of liquid fertilizer. Keep watered in hot weather. Continue reading below for some great tips on how to grow rosemary from seed.
Continue ReadingNo organic kitchen garden is complete without parsley. Both curly and flat-leaf parsley are loaded with flavour and productive over a long period in the garden. Parsley is cold hardy and can even be harvested for much of the winter. Grow parsley in a deeply dug bed. Add a generous amount of rotted manure or finished compost to the bed several weeks in advance, or the previous fall. For summer crops, aim to grow plants in a place where they will receive some shade during the day. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow parsley from seed.
Continue ReadingGreek oregano is one of the most desirable of the many varieties of oregano for cooking. This herb dries well, and retains its strong flavour and aroma if stored in an airtight container. It thrives in patio containers, raised beds, and other well-drained sites. The instructions on how to grow oregano from seed that follow provide some useful tips and tricks.
Continue ReadingThis fast-growing member of the marigold family can be started indoors or by direct sowing in the garden. Continue reading below for more tips on how to grow Mexican tarragon from seed.
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