Some years ago, my niece visited us in midsummer. When she got home, she expressed disappointment to her grandmother, “I thought Aunt Olga would have lots of flowers. She had hardly any. You have a lot more.”
I was puzzled. My borders were full of plants, including rare and unusual ones. Seedframes contained more not set out because of lack of space.
Grandmother’s garden had only a few kinds—good, old-fashioned, dependable annuals that self-sowed and bloomed in profusion, like velvety purple and starred petunias.
A brilliant bed of verbenas greeted one at the drive. Violas smiled from the most unexpected places.
‘Heavenly Blue’ Morning Glories
‘Heavenly Blue’ morning glories bloomed from great heights. Cup-flowers lined the walks with lavender lace.
There was the answer! To the child, flowers meant colorful blossoms—not plants with green leaves, however rare they were.
“Out of the mouth of babes.” Her comments made me realize how valuable annuals are and to appreciate and use them as I never had before.
Growing Annuals
Annuals complete a life cycle in one season. Starting from seeds, the plants grow and bloom and usually produce a seed crop. Then they die.
Plants that bloom the first season from seeds and are perennial in warm climates but die in cold areas are often listed among annuals.
Gardeners who appreciate annuals and use them will never lack for blossoms and color. There is one for every need—dwarf, medium, tall, trailing, shade tolerant, sun-loving.
Good Rose Bush
For the price of a good rose bush, you can buy enough seeds of annuals to plant an entire garden.
Study the directions on the packets and plant them at the right time.
Larkspur, poppies, and annual phlox must be planted early (March or April) when they bloom.
It is not too late to start petunias and ageratums in a flat or flower pot. Set the flats in a very bright window to prevent weak, leggy growth.
Damping Off
Watch for “damping off,” fungus trouble that lays the tiny plants flat in a short time. Water in the morning so the dampness can evaporate before night.
Stir the soil around plants frequently. Have a sheltered place outside where flats can be taken on warm, sunny days.
An airy box with a slatted cover circulates air and gives filtered sunshine. Bring plants in before the chill of night arrives.
Wait For Warmth
Prepare a frame to plant salvias, snapdragons, asters, and many others. Then, wait until warm weather to plant zinnias and marigolds.
Plants started in flats or seed frames can be transferred to peat pots. When this is done, roots are not disturbed (pot and all is planted), and shading is unnecessary.
Final Resetting
Before final resetting, tear the tops of peat pots down in several places.
This does not disturb the roots, but when the soil is tucked firmly around and over the jagged top, it is held in place more firmly and is not so easily pushed up out of the soil.
Plants set directly into the borders from flats or seed frames must be shaded for a few days unless the weather is cloudy. Water plants well to get them off to a good start.
Greenhouses and nurseries carry an excellent assortment of started annuals for those who do not want to plant seeds.
Uses For Annuals
A spring-blooming bulb bed can be kept colorful with pansies, petunias, or other shallow-rooted annuals.
Annuals planted in front and among shrubs will continue the flowering season there. Tall annuals screen out objectionable views or form backgrounds for borders.
A cutting garden of annuals is almost priceless. Include varieties that provide material for winter bouquets.
Candytuft And Calliopsis
Some annuals like candytuft and calliopsis go to seed quickly and stop blooming if faded blossoms are not removed promptly.
A busy gardener is wise to select annuals that continue blooming without this attention, such as petunias, portulaca, cupflower, celosia, marigolds, verbenas, and ageratum.
44659 by Olga Rolf Tiemann