The annual flowers in this group have been called many colourful names, including Bitter Indian, Canary-bird vine, Canary-flower, Indian cress, Monk’s cress, Flame flower, and plain old Garden nasturtium. Nasturtiums thrive in poor to average, slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Grown in...
Continue ReadingMarigolds are annual flowers that are easy to grow from seed and resilient. They can be grown in the garden, in containers, and they play a role in Companion Planting. Some even have edible flowers! Learn how to grow Marigolds...
Continue ReadingThis short lived perennial flower (often treated as an annual) originated in China, but was imported to English gardens around the 15th century. Latin Alcea rosea Family: Malvaceae Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Zone:...
Continue ReadingMajestic yet unpretentious biennial plants for shady spots and cottage gardens. Latin Digitalis purpurea Family: Plantaginaceae Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun to shade Zone: 3-9 Timing Direct sow outdoors after last frost for flowers the following year....
Continue ReadingGeneral Celosia 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. You...
Continue ReadingNemophila menziesii is an annual that is known as Baby Blue Eyes. Cool, moist, light, well-drained soil is best. Grow in partial shade where summer soils get hot. Plants can die from excessive heat. Nemophila may self sow if conditions are...
Continue ReadingGaura is native to the southern United States, so it thrives in hot, dry environments, and is useful for xeriscaping. Latin Gaura lindheimeri Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun Zone: 6-9 Timing Start this perennial Gaura indoors 8-10...
Continue ReadingLemon balm’s Latin name is taken from the Greek word for bee (Melissa), and from the ancient belief that a swarm of honeybees could be attracted to an empty hive simply by placing sprigs of the plant inside. Grow in...
Continue ReadingHere are some notes on how to grow Echinacea. Hardy perennial plants broadly referred to as Coneflowers. Latin Echinacea purpurea Family: Asteraceae Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun Zone: 3-9 Timing Sow indoors 8-10 weeks before planting out....
Continue ReadingIberis umbellata is an annual plant originating in Spain. It is a distant relative of the cabbage. Latin Iberis umbellata Family: Brassicaceae Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun – some afternoon shade is appreciated Zone: 1-10 Timing Start...
Continue ReadingA fresh, home-grown crown of cauliflower is a thing of beauty – crisp, nutritious, and intensely flavourful. Follow along with this handy How to Grow Cauliflower from seed guide and grow food. Latin Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Family: Brassicaceae Difficulty Moderately difficult...
Continue ReadingCheck out the blooms on these plants! If planted in a well-drained site, with protection for the roots from frost over the winter, runner beans can be grown as a perennial. Runner beans are botanically different than regular pole beans....
Continue ReadingCosmidium is a superb annual for bedding or baskets. Philippine stays nice and compact and flowers until frost. Latin Cosmidium burridgeanum Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun Zone: 2-10 Timing Like Cosmos, Cosmidium can be started indoors, but...
Continue ReadingBeautiful big plants for a decorative container in the sunshine, eggplants are as diverse as the cultures that cook with them – and quite easy to grow. Eggplants are a good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme....
Continue ReadingCleome is very easy to grow once established, and may work best from direct-sown seeds. Any ordinary garden soil will work, including dry areas once plants are established. Cleome self-sows with gusto, so if you want to avoid this, remove...
Continue ReadingThese big plants will grow in almost any soil, but getting the cob to mature is another matter. The maturity of the ears (cobs) is not controlled by the size of the plant, nor by day-length, but by the accumulated...
Continue ReadingMelon plants have sparse leaves and need a lot of sunshine and heat to mature their fruit. Their roots are delicate and require high nutrition and lots of water. For all that effort, you’ll be rewarded by the ripest, sweetest...
Continue ReadingHardy, but short-lived perennial. Usually grown as an annual. Follow along with this handy How to Grow California Poppies Guide and grow some history.! Grows to 5–60 in (13–152 cm) tall, with alternately branching glaucous blue-green foliage. The leaves are divided into round, lobed...
Continue ReadingSalad greens are usually picked at an immature size and coaxed into regrowing several times. They are a perfect choice for container gardening, as long as a good soil mixture is in place. Follow along with this handy How to Grow Mescluns...
Continue ReadingA delicate, parsley-like plant with a hint of licorice, chervil is one of the traditional fines herbes. Chervil is an excellent companion for Brassicas, lettuce, and radishes, but does best in part shade. Try growing some between rows of tall...
Continue ReadingFamiliar annuals with intensely coloured flowers. Sometimes listed as Edging Lobelia. When I Get My Seedling HomeKeep seedlings under very bright light to prevent legginess. Artificial lights are ideal, but a bright (ideally, south-facing) room will work for the...
Continue ReadingUse this page to learn How to Grow Garlic. Garlic is a very economical crop to grow because it takes up very little space. Once it is harvested it keeps for months. And then some of the harvest can be...
Continue ReadingNicotiana flowering tobacco looks timeless in the garden, adding height and airy lightness to any sunny spot. Water during hot, dry spells. Deadhead frequently to keep plants looking neat and to prolong flowering. Stake in windy exposures. Aphids can be blasted...
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 families, and its flowers are strongly attractive to wild and domesticated bees. Even hummingbirds will stop for...
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