How To Grow — category: How to Grow Flowers
How to Grow Meconopsis
This is a challenging plant to grow, even for experienced and professional gardeners. With other kinds of poppies, one can just sprinkle the seeds and a few weeks later, like magic, the flowers appear. This is not the case with Meconopsis, which is considered difficult to germinate and grow. The plant is native to shady, humid forests in the Himalayas. Please follow our How to Grow Meconopsis instructions closely for the best results. Latin Meconopsis baileyi Family: Papaveraceae Season & Zone Exposure: Dappled shade Zone: 5-7 Timing Start in pots in a cold frame or indoors in March or April....
How to Grow Nepeta Catmint
A relative of catnip in the mint family, catmint does not trigger the kitten-like behaviour in cats the same way catnip does. Although cats might graze on Nepeta leaves and flowers, it tends to not make them go crazy afterward. Latin Nepeta subsessilis Family: Lamiaceae Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Season: Warm season Exposure: Full sun Zone: 3-9 Timing Sow seeds indoors in February and March, and transplant or direct sow in April and May. Can also be direct sown where it is to grow in September. Bottom heat will speed germination. Ideal temperature for germination: 21-27°C (70-80°F). Seeds should...
How to Grow Helenium
General This dependable perennial blooms from late summer into fall with numerous bright yellow pin-cushion flowers atop tall stems. It looks superb in mass plantings, or planted between clumps of Crocosmia. Latin Helenium autumnale Family: Asteraceae Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun Zone: 3-9 Timing Sow in doors 8-10 weeks before planting out in early spring when the soil is cool and light frost is still possible. Or direct sow in early spring or early autumn. The ideal temperature for germination is 21°C (70°F). Seeds will sprout in 7-10 days. Starting Barely cover the seeds with soil. Transplant...
How to Grow Ratibida
General Perennial Ratibida is also known as Prairie Coneflower and Mexican hat. It is native over a wide range in North America, from the Canadian south to the north of Mexico. It is closely related to Rudbeckia. Latin Ratibida columnifera Family: Asteraceae Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun Zone: 3-10 Timing Start transplants in a cold frame in early spring, or direct sow in May to June. Starting indoors requires vernalization – wrap planted pots in plastic and store in the refrigerator for one week, and then provide 20°-24°C (68°-75°F). Do this step 4-6 weeks before planting out....
How to Grow Oenothera
Pale Evening Primrose is an important BC wildflower that provides food for our native pollinators. Learn how to grow Oenothera in your garden to feed the bees and bring back this beautiful flower from endangered status. This flower is also known as Suncups and Sundrops. Latin Oenothera pallida Difficulty Easy Season & Zone Exposure: Full sun Zone: 4-9 Timing O. pallida is a short lived perennial plant that self sows, but is in no way invasive. In the right setting it may naturalize. Sow indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost in peat pots to prevent root disturbance. That’s the third...