Archive for the ‘Annuals’ Category

Wave Good-bye to Petunias

July 4th, 2009

No petunias allowed!

No petunias allowed!

 

Warning: This article may be offensive to some gardeners. Reader discretion is advised!

 

For the life of me, I cannot believe that petunias are the annual of choice for so many gardeners! Every where I look I see petunias in gardens, hanging baskets and containers. There is no escaping them! Talk about cookie cutter landscaping! Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted in Annuals, Container Gardens, In Our Opinion | Comments (3)

Talinum paniculatum (Jewels of Opar)

August 16th, 2008

Here’s an annual that we grew for the first time this year. Based on its performance, it won’t be the last!

 

Perennial, grown as an annual in colder climates (hardy to 40F)

 

Light: full sun

 

Height:  28” – 34”

 

Width: 16” – 18”

 

Flowering: mid to late summer

 

Flowers: tiny pink singles, star shaped flowers maturing to bright red berries on tall, slender, multi branched stems

 

Leaves: chartreuse, mounding

 

Watering: keep on the dry side

 

Fertilize: once a month using 15-30-15

 

Other: drought tolerant, heat loving, very low maintenance

 

Pests: insect resistant

 

Diseases: disease resistant

 

Uses: containers, borders, naturalized areas, makes a great stand alone (accent) plant

 

All in all, I have to say that Talinum is one of the best container plants I have ever grown! I am very satisfied with it and can see it becoming a staple in our gardens.

 

I will be attempting to dry stems of Talinum seed heads to incorporate into indoor arrangements this winter. I’ll let you know how that works out!   

Posted in Annuals, Container Gardens, Low Maintenance Plants | Comments (0)

Climbing Annuals – Part III

April 4th, 2008

Continuing with the annual climbing plants theme, this week’s victim is Canary Vine (Tropaeolum peregrinum) a member of the Nasturtium family.

Canary Vine is supposed to be fairly easy to grow but in our gardens, we have had varying degrees of success with it. As a result, this year, it will not be included in our plantings. It probably will show up again in a year or two. I will not be defeated!

Tender perennial (zones 9 – 10) grown as an annual

Full sun

Height 6’ – 8’

Fast growing

Flowers are yellow, 3” long with long fringes on the edges

Leaves are lobed, gray-green in colour

Grows easily from seed or cuttings

Susceptible to powdery mildew so provide good air circulation

Susceptible to whitefly, flea beetle and aphids

Fertilize with 15-30-15, or top dress with composted manure

Flowers are edible

Posted in Annuals, Climbing Plants, Container Gardens, HOW TO GARDEN | Comments (0)

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