When I discovered how easy it is to grow beautiful zonal geraniums (Pelargonium hybrids) from seed, a world of possibilities opened up to me. I was no longer limited to what the garden centers decided to carry. I could start my geraniums from seed much earlier in the year and have them ready to go outside after our last frost date. AND, by planting from seed, I gained access to a multitude of different flower colors (and some unique leaf colors too!). Keep reading to find out how easy it is to grow beautiful zonal geraniums from seed.
Did you know that you can grow strawberries from seed? I didn’t until a few years ago when I noticed seed packets for sale online. I was blown away, but thought it would be difficult. Turns out, growing strawberries from seed is super easy and you can grow some delicious varieties that aren’t commonly found for sale as transplants. Growing strawberries from seed is also inexpensive and super fun!
If you aren’t already growing sunflowers in pots you will want to be after reading this article because it is SO EASY! If you have 60 days left before your first frost you can even plant some ProCut sunflowers TODAY and see blooms this year! There is nothing like a cheery pot or two of blooming sunflowers to enjoy on summer days when it seems like everything else is suffering from the heat. Keep reading to find out all my tips and tricks to growing sunflowers in pots.
If you are looking to grow stunning zinnias from seed, AND in pots, you have come to the right place! Zinnias are one of my favorite cut flowers of summer and out of necessity I cracked the code to growing them in pots! So if you have been dreaming of growing potted zinnias keep reading, because all you need are some seeds, potting soil, and a 3 gallon pot!
Planting sweet peas in autumn may seem counterintuitive, but it is the best way to get a head start and ensure success if you live in an area that experiences hot summers. Sweet peas hate the heat and quickly peter out when temperatures are in the 90’s and above. Growing sweet peas in autumn gets your plants way ahead of the game and blooming in early spring before that darned heat arrives! Please remember, all parts of the sweet pea plant are toxic.
Winter sowing is not a new idea in the world of gardening, but a couple of years ago I tried it out for the first time and had great success! Winter sowing is a seed starting method where you plant your seeds in semi-transparent containers such as milk or water jugs and leave them outside all winter to sprout on their own when the time is right. I got a lot of my inspiration and instruction from Kevin Lee Jacobs. Check out his websites to see how amazing this method is!
I don’t know why, but I have always been hesitant to grow carrots in containers even though I have been a container gardener for years. I thought that a container would just not give them enough space to grow properly. I also thought they would be difficult to grow. Well it turns out that none of these things is true with ‘Tonda di Parigi’ carrots! They are SO easy to grow and SUPER delicious!!
I LOVE sweet peas! The flowers are so gorgeous, and that fragrance!!! Incomparable! Where I live it is impossible to find sweet pea seedlings available for purchase, so I have no choice but to start my own. I met with lots of failure until I finally figured out the secret. If your sweet pea seeds won’t germinate, try what worked for me….