Bulbs
February 11, 2010
Stargazer Lily Collection blooms and is fragrant all summer
Day lilies, as opposed to dahlias, are easy to grow and are hardy over most of the US, from zones 3-11. This jumbo pack has 12 lilies of three different varieties in pink and white. They grow quite tall so plant them in against the fence or in the back of the border as they get as tall as 24" to 40". They are perennials and can also be grown in containers and make great cut flowers. Plant them 4" to 6" and space them a foot apart, sprinkle fertilizer and you're good to go. Only $23 from Holland Bulb Farms.
At Holland Bulb Farm
February 10, 2010
Okay, I'm really going to do it with Dahlias---maybe!
So I bought the impulse buy at Costco and now have read up on how to grow dahlias and realize I have bought myself some work. First of all, they can't be planted until danger of frost is over. That's no problem. The problem is that they need sandy well drained soil and I have heavy not well drained clay. So I can add some sand to the hole and compost and mix it up for them. The next problem is the ph which they like to be 6.2 to 6.7 so maybe some peat moss will help also.
The worst problem is that they are hardy in zones 7-11 so that in most of the country they have to be cut back in the fall and then dug carefully with a pitchfork, washed off, dried and stored and replanted in the spring. This is more trouble than I usually take on. I might not do this as I am zone 7, kind of marginal since it is in the mountains and the winter weather is very variable. But I'll worry about that in the fall.
Right now all I want to think about is the glorious colors I can have this summer. In case you missed the costco sale:
At 5 Powder-Puff Dahlias Mixed Colors
February 8, 2010
Gurney's Catalogue has it all
Gurney's Seed and Nursery company is located right smack in the midwest and carries every aspect of seed and plant and supply that a gardener needs. They have no particular ideology other than supplying what they consider to be the most reliable and the best. They have both heirloom and hybrid varieties. They sell fruit and nut trees as well as vines and shrubs, hedges and grasses. They have house plants and windbreaks, just about anything you could possibly want.
They are promoting a sweet corn called "You gotta have it" which they claim is the sweetest and stays the sweetest longest of any corn you can grow. It is hybrid but not sugar enhanced. One feature I like about their online catalogue is that they include comments from growers who have tried the seed and the comments are negative as well as positive. For example, after reading the growers comments you have a good idea that you need to wait to plant it until the soil is really warmed up--trying to rush the season will most likely end in failure or at least poor germination. This is a very helpful section for anyone interested, like me, in giving this sweet corn a try.
At Gurney's Catalogue
January 25, 2010
White Flower Farm Garden Catalog - The Garden Catalog
The White Flower Farm catalog comes from Connecticut and is filled with the most lovely perennials you are likely to find anywhere. They ship both perennials and annuals all over the country, specializing in bulbs and plants, ignoring seeds altogether, which makes them unique. They have a great daffodil mix of 100 bulbs for $49 and promise that after the first great year of blooms the plants will self propagate year after year. There is a unique daylily collection of 50 in varied colors shipped bareroot for $99.
The catalog has a kichen section with a beginners garden of tomaotes, peppers, cucumers, and squash, nine plants for $59. The plants come to you when the temperature is right for you location. They offer herbs, mushrooms, fruits and berries,
There is a whole section on flowers just for planting in containers. There are gorgeous peonies and dahlias and page after page of annuals and perennials.
All together this is a fascinating catalog and well worth perusing. I'm thinking of the daffodil "The Works" for my home.
At White Flower Farm Garden Catalog
January 6, 2010
Narcissus Ziva Paperwhites planted now, bring spring blossoms or they can be forced indoors
If the ground thaws and you can get outside to plant, these narcissus will make you smile in the spring. Sometimes it's hard to get motivated in the winter when it's really cold out, but a little effort is worth the while. Don't forget you can also force the bulbs indoors. And these have a lovely fragrance that will fill the house.
The steps for forcing narcissus are very easy:
Get a shallow pan. One good size is 12 inches wide and 1 to 2 inches deep, but almost any size will do. Then fill the dish with small pebbles or gravel and cover the stones with water. You then put the bulbs in the pan, the pointed side up, and be sure the bottom of the bulbs is sitting right on the pebbles. Put the dish in a warm, well-lighted indoor location, such as a sunny window. Keep the stones constantly wet. Paper-whites will usually bloom in about six weeks. After blooming, if the soil is not frozen, plant the bulbs outdoors and keep them moist.
At Narcissus Ziva Paperwhites, 10 bulbs - 17+cm
January 4, 2010
OXO Good Grips Quick Release Gardening Bulb Planter both punches the hole and covers the bulb
For those of us with weather suitable for bulb planting, this tool will help make the job easy. You push and twist the Bulb Planter into soil then pull it back out, leaving the perfect hole for planting. After the bulb is in place, use the Planter's Quick Release lever to replace the soil back into the hole. The planter is constructed of heavy gauge, chrome plated carbon steel, and it features an extended handle that is wide enough to fit two hands for added strength when plunging into soil. The Planter's gripping areas are soft, comfortable and non-slip even when hands are wet. The Bulb Planter also features a tooth pattern specially designed for easily penetrating and twisting through soil. Use the stamped in, easy-to-read standard and metric measurement markings on both sides of the Bulb Planter to plant at precise depths.
At OXO Good Grips Quick Release Gardening Bulb Planter #1068280
December 29, 2009
10" Copper Plant Markers will mark where the bulbs are planted
This is a good time to get the tulip and daffodil bulbs planted and these copper plant markers will let you know where you put them. Here in New England our neighbor was planting tulips remarking that the squirrels would probably dig them up and eat them which in Boston is probably true. I have the problem of planting bulbs and then when planting something else, discovering I have sliced the bulbs in half, ruining them. Sad to say, I"m too lazy to make my own plant markers, and so must buy them ready made. These are made of plastic and have a space at the top to label the variety.
At 10" Copper Plant Markers - 5 pack
November 19, 2009
Amaryllis Growing Kit makes a great gift for the holidays
Amaryllis grows well indoors in the winter and this kit provides everything you will need to produce huge, brilliant colored flowers to brighten your home. The flowers can be 8" across and you have your choice of red, white, or appleblossom. Complete instructions are included. You can get successive year's blooms. I've grown these many times and never been disappointed. They make a great gift and are lovely at Christmas.
At Amaryllis Growing Kit - Great Gift - CHOOSE COLOR!
November 5, 2009
Mixed Darwin Hybrid Tulip 100 Bulbs
Here's a dazzling mix of colorful tulips you could get in the ground right now for showy spring blooms. They will grow 18" to 24" tall and bloom in mid to late spring. The price is right and you get 100 bulbs!
At Mixed Darwin Hybrid Tulip 100 Bulbs - Great Colors-EASY
November 2, 2009
Peony Sarah Bernhardt is a beautiful classic flower for the garden
It's not too late here in warmer climates to plant some peonies. I love them. They remind me of my grandmother's flower garden and the bright June sun and the huge blooms. I was always fascinated by the ants which crawled over the buds. This Sarah Bernhart Peony is a classic. It is tall when mature and a late season bloomer which will produce tons of flowers.
At Peony Sarah Bernhardt - One 3/5 Eye Rhizome
October 14, 2009
Plant this Deer Resistant Collection Now for Spring Blooms
The deer around my house are beautiful but terrible pest as they have a taste for flowers. Here is a deer resistant collection of tulip, narcissus, and anemone bulbs that will work well in partial shade to full sun. Their sizes vary and so do the blooming times so that you have color from early spring to late spring. These flowers are easy to grow and you get 35 of them in this boxed collection.
At NEW! Deer Resistant Collection -35 Bulbs- Spring Blooms
October 2, 2009
Spanish Roja Garlic is an heirloom variety carried by Territorial Seed
Now is the time to put in some garlic which will over winter and be harvested in the summer. Growing great garlic is quite easy. Few pests bother garlic and it can be planted now and in October and in the south as late as November or even mid winter. When spring growth begins, fertilize and water as needed. If your soil is fertile, keeping the row weed free is about the only chore connected with harvesting some tasty bulbs to dry and flavor your favorite dishes.
At Spanish Roja Garlic
September 23, 2009
Garden Auger Bulb Planter makes bulb planting easy
If you are ready to put in bare rooted plants or fall bulbs to over winter and bloom in the spring, this auger can make holes fast. The auger fits 3/8th " drills which you can use on your own household drill, and is sturdy steel construction. The auger is 24" long so you don't have to bend over so far and can move easily on to the next hole to be dug. A real time and back saver.
At Garden Auger Bulb Planter 2.75" x 24"
September 18, 2009
De Caen Anemone Windflowers 25 Bulbs
Now is the time to order and plant anemones. Anemones have the advantage of overwintering nicely in zones 5-11 and the tubers propagate and can be divided in the summer when the plant is dormant. These De Caen Anemones flower in early spring and will take partial shade. They come in a wide array of colors from white to blue to red and violet and brighten the border of a flower bed.
At De Caen Anemone Windflowers 25 Bulbs
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