Like it or not the fall planting season is upon us. A bit of preparation now will yield big results next year, so don’t be short-sighted and put off these recommended activities.
Gorgeous foxgloves (biennials) burst forth in spring
For fall color. Unfortunately, if you haven’t been nursing your annuals along they are likely past their glory. There are a few—notably chrysanthemums and pansies—that like cooler weather and reward the grower with abundant fall color. But the vast majority of summer annuals are pretty much played out by this time each year. (You may coax some additional blossoms from healthy plants by pruning them heavily now). Continue reading “Fall Gardening Advice”
One of my earliest memories involves my grandmother’s “zillion” zinnias. She had rows of zinnias in her vegetable garden, large zinnias overflowing an old tire near the back door, and zinnias around the mailbox–placed there to welcome the rural mail carrier each day.
Who can resist these beauties? The colorful masses, so easy to grow, have long been a favorite of mine.
Zinnias on the farm
Sitting by the window on a dreary gray winter’s day, the seed catalog and its colorful photos of zinnias makes one yearn for spring. After ordering the various vegetables I always included at least one pack of zinnias in my order. I usually ordered one of the large packs of seeds, promising giant zinnia blooms.
Fringed zinnia and bud
Zinnias prefer full sun, but can take a bit of shade. They would rather be dry than wet and are prone to mildew. For that reason I water them as I do roses, from the bottom. Don’t let water stand on their leaves overnight if you can help it. Early morning watering is best. They benefit from regular feeding, but will bloom freely without it. Any good soil will do, as they will tolerate a wide range.
The zinnias begin to bloom
As with many flowering annuals, deadheading (removing the first bud or bloom) will cause the plant to branch out. Though it will naturally do this on its own, you can hurry the process along and get a fuller plant if you deadhead early. A bit of sacrifice early on will reward you with many more blooming branches.
Zinnias under-planted with portulaca
Bouquets of these gorgeous zinnias last longer than many other plants. Change the water every couple of days and if your room isn’t too warm, you could get at least a week out of each bouquet, possibly longer.
Zinnia bouquet
Be sure to leave a few blooms to mature on your plant. Zinnias are prolific seed producers. Gather the dead heads in the fall and store them in a paper sack over the winter. Avoid plastic bags as they can retain moisture, which can rot the seeds. Enjoy!
