Summer Color

Some seeds like ageratum, coleus, lobelia, morning glory and scarlet salvia have special planting requirements. Read the packages carefully. Choose and plant some of the following warm-season flowers.

Tuberoses are fragrant and a wonderful addition in a warm spot in full sun on the coast or with reflected heat in a shaded spot inland. Tubers should have a green growth tip. Place them six inches apart in acid well-drained soil with the tip parallel to the surface of the soil. Keep them watered and once a sprout appears, feed them monthly with Bandini Super Bloom.

Tuberous begonias can be brought out if you put them up last year, or purchase them now. Check to be sure there is a sprout or two on the tuber. They like an east-facing wall or semi-shade and require rich acid soil. They are a very rewarding plant, but are not easy to grow. Check with a nursery for specific details on growing begonias from tubers. 

If you find bare root lilies, keep the tubers or rhizomes moist until ready to plant. To plant, trim off any brown or limp roots leaving the healthy white and crisp roots intact. Any plastic container for planting will work, but keep in mind the more room the roots have the better they will grow (wide and shallow containers are best for hardy lilies). You'll also need a drainage hole to allow any gasses that may build up in the pot to escape. If necessary, you may need to put a couple of inches of polyester quilt batting in the bottom of the pot to keep the soil from running out. 

Fill the basket half way with a good aquatic potting soil then add fertilizer specifically for water lilies.* Add soil to about two-thirds full and place the rhizome of a hardy lily toward the side of the container roots down with the bud at a 45° angle. For a tropical water lily, the white line on the tuber indicates where the soil level should be when the pot is filled. Place the tuber in the center of the pot. With both types, spread the roots out. Continue to add soil up to 2 inches below the top. Soak the pot and place about 1 inch of washed gravel on top leaving the growth point exposed. Slowly submerge the the container to a water depth of 4 to 6 inches using bricks to maintain proper depth. When the plant begins to grow and covers about 8 inches, lower it to 8 to 12 inches deep. (*See the Fertilize and Disease control section for more information.)

Chrysanthemums, Euryops, Gamolepis and  Marguerites

Bring them out of hiding and keep them facing in the same direction as they are used to and you'll be able to enjoy them for a long time. Keep faded blooms cut off so they don't drain the plant. Mist them often when it is dry. They use little water but don't neglect watering all together. (See Fertilize and Disease Control section for more care information.)

Sprouts from staghorn ferns can be separated from the main plant and transplanted now. Attach a hook or wire to a flat piece of wood or plywood while soaking some green sphagnum moss in water. Cover and secure the wood with a layer of moss one to two inches deep, holding it in place with wire, netting or fishing line. Once prepared, carefully pull off 1–4 shoots from the mother plant and tie the root ball tightly to the bark with cotton string. It is necessary to have at least one sterile and one fertile frond which will eventually grip the bark and support the plant. Protect the plant from bright light and keep it moist until it has rooted. Once established, feed with Western States Fish emulsion every two weeks. Misting a couple of times a week with diluted fish emulsion will speed up growth.

Warm- and Cool-Season Grasses

Determine what type of lawn will be best suited for your needs. Warm-season grasses go dormant in the winter and are invasive. Cool-season lawns stay green but require much more water. Also consider, traffic, maintenance and water requirements before deciding.

Before planting any seed or sod, prepare the ground by deeply tilling the soil and adding soil amendment as needed. Level the area and lightly roll the ground. Install edging if necessary to keep warm-season lawns from invading borders. Lightly and evenly sprinkle seed over the area and cover with Whitney Farms Garden Mulch as a top dressing. Sprinkle 2-3 times early each day to keep damp until established (avoid watering late in the day). If you prefer the quick approach, plant sod. Keep it very moist until it is firmly established. 

Hint: Herbs planted with your vegetables have a good effect on them. Consult books on herbs for how these plants can help ward off pests when grown with your vegetables. 

Vegetable gardens need full sun, so arrange your garden from north to south to make the best use of light. Plant tall crops to the north and short crops to the south. If you have clay or sandy soil add plenty of organic soil amendment. Plant raised beds if the soil is hard or has poor drainage. Most vegetables need an inch or more water a week. Installing a drip system is the best way to ensure proper watering in our area. By putting the water where the roots are you will use about 50 percent less water.

 In a few months, you'll have grapefruit-size pumpkins. If you want a very large Halloween pumpkin, you can keep the one with the thickest stem, closest to the roots and cut off the rest. Feed a high nitrogen fertilizer monthly and keep the filling the water basin to about an inch a day. Keep the bottom of the pumpkin dry and protected from rotting by placing on a piece of wood.