“Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine to the soul.” Luther Burbank, botanist
Spring does not officially start until March 20th, but Plant a Flower Day is the perfect day to start your flower garden. The Royal Botanic Gardens estimates that there are over 400,000 different flowering plants with many flowering plant groups that have yet to be discovered. Most flowers can be classified under annuals, perennials, and biennials. Annuals complete their life cycle in one growing season, biennials complete their life cycle in two growing seasons, and perennials live for many years, varying in how long it takes to produce their first flowers or seeds.
You can stop by your local Buchheit store to pick up flowers, seeds, and supplies for your garden. When looking for a plant you should choose one that meets the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone for your location. This is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature and helps determine which plants are most likely to thrive in your area. In addition to Hardiness Zone, maintenance and sunlight are other factors to consider when picking out a plant.
For a mess-free way to start your flowers and seeds, try greenhouse kits. These come with a reusable tray, peat pellets, and dome made from recyclable plastic. The dome helps maintain greenhouse humidity and temperature for healthier seedlings. These starter pots contain sphagnum peat moss, providing a rich and high-quality growing environment and can be directly transplanted into a larger container or in the ground. You can also make your own pot out of a yogurt cup or milk container and drill holes in the bottom for water flow. When watering your plant, make sure that the soil is moist, but not wet and remove any standing water from the bottom of your tray or saucer.
Cool-season annuals can be planted outside a few weeks before the last frost date, while tropical plants and other annuals should be planted outside after the frost-free date. Review the seed package or care tag to see what kind of sunlight your flower needs. Before planting outside, place plants on top of the ground so you can space them evenly. Water the plants while they are still in their pots and use your fingers to loosen the roots so they will spread into the soil. When planting seeds, dig a hole 2-3 inches wide and deep. Transplanted flowers need to be buried to the top of the root ball and avoid covering the flowers or stems in dirt. For an additional boost, try putting slow-release flower food in the bottom of the hole to help your flowers grow quickly. Make sure to water and weed your flowers regularly. If blooms of your flowers become old or die, cut them off to stimulate new growth and if your flowers are too heavy to stand on their own, consider adding a stake or trellis for support.
You can help make the world a more beautiful place by participating in Plant a Flower Day. Happy Gardening!
