Annuals

AnnualsVegetable

How to Grow: Edible Flowers

Learn about edible flowers, including how to plant and grow them. Listen to podcast: On this week's Vermont Garden Journal on Vermont Public Radio, Charlie profiles edible flowers. There are many varieties to choose from that are good for salads, drinks, stir fries, soups and desserts. Charlie delves into the history of edible blossoms and discusses the best methods for preparing floral foods. Tune in Friday evening and Saturday morning for more about edible flowers on the Vermont Garden Journal on Vermont Public Radio. When someone sees a...

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AnnualsPerennials

How to Grow: Attracting Bees to Your Garden

Learn about attracting bees to your garden, including the best plants to grow. Listen to podcast: You can design flower gardens to attract, butterflies, hummingbirds, and even bats, but what about the bees? Honey bees, bumblebees and native bees are essential to our food supply. It's estimated 1/3rd of every bite of food we take can be attributed to bees. But bees have been having a rough time of late with mites and diseases destroying their hives. So let's help bees out by growing some plants just for them. In a flower, bees are looking...

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AnnualsPerennialsVegetable

How to Grow: Seed Starting

Learn about ways to start your flower and vegetable seed indoors successfully Listen to Podcast: I tend to get a little seedy this time of year. I'm itching to get into the garden, but snow, cold and mud stops me in my tracks. So, I turn my attention to seed starting and get seed crazy. I want to grow everything too soon. We all know what happens if we start out tomatoes now. It's a tomato jungle by mid-April, a good month before we can put them outdoors. So, here are some seed starting tips for you and me to remember to help contain...

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AnnualsPodcast

How to Grow: Sunflowers

Learn how to select, plant and grow sunflowers Listen to Podcast: podcast transcript How to Grow: Sunflowers  Helianthus annuus   Other Name common sunflower   Sun Requirements full sun, part sun   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Mid summer to fall in colors such as yellow, red, white and burgundy   Mature Height x Spread 1 to 15 feet x 2 feet   Added Benefits attracts beneficials, drought tolerant, native, edible   This native North American flower is a dramatic eye-catcher in any garden. The original species features the...

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AnnualsPerennialsPodcast

How to Grow: Poppies

Learn how to select, plant and grow poppies in your garden. Listen to Podcast:   podcast transcript Papaver spp   Other Name Many different types   Sun Requirements full sun   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Summer and periodically again to fall in colors such as red, orange, white, yellow, purple, and pink.   Mature Height x Spread 8 inches to 3 feet inches x 1 foot   Added Benefits attracts beneficials, drought tolerant, edible, deer resistant   Poppies are like splashes of delight across a meadow, garden or field. There are...

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AnnualsDiseasesPodcast

How to Grow: Impatiens

 Learn how to grow impatiens including disease resistant varieties of this flower. Listen to Podcast podcast transcript How to Grow: Impatiens Impatiens walleriana   Other Name busy lizzy   Sun Requirements part sun, part shade   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color spring until frost in colors such as white, pink, red, orange, purple and bi color   Mature Height x Spread 6 to 24 inches x 6 to 24 inches   Added Benefits attracts beneficials   Impatiens is the classic shade-loving annual flower that brightens up dark areas with its...

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Annuals

How to Grow: Alyssum

Lobularia maritima Other Name sweet alyssum Sun Requirements Full sun, part sun Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Blooms all summer in colors of white, lavender or pink Mature Height x Spread 4 to 6 inches x  6 to 12 inches Added Benefits attracts butterflies, attracts beneficials, deer resistant   Alyssum is a low growing annual that is known for its carpet of sweet smelling white, violet or purple colored flowers. It grows and flowers best during the coolest parts of the summer in New England, but in northern and coastal areas can be...

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Annuals

How to Grow: Begonia

Learn how to grow wax begonias including information on the different varieties. Listen to podcast: podcast transcript Begonia spp   Other Name wax begonia   Sun Requirements part sun, part shade   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Begonias bloom summer until frost in colors such as white, pink, coral, salmon, and red   Mature Height x Spread 6 to 24 inches x 12 to 18 inches   Added Benefits attracts beneficial insects   Begonias are a broad group of shade-loving flowers. The wax-leafed begonia is probably the most popular annual...

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Annuals

How to Grow: Zinnia

Learn how to grow zinnias including different varieties. Listen to podcast: podcast transcript How to Grow: Zinnias Zinnia elegans   Other Name Common zinnia   Sun Requirements Full sun, part sun   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Mid summer until fall in colors such as red, pink, orange, yellow, white and bi-colors   Mature Height x Spread 6 inches to 3 feet x 1 to 2 feet   Added Benefits attracts beneficials, attracts hummingbirds, deer resistant   Zinnias are old-fashioned garden favorites that I in abundance in my garden....

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Annuals

How to Grow: Verbena

Verbena hybrids   Other Name vervain   Sun Requirements Full sun   Bloom Period and Seasonal Color Early summer to fall in colors ranging from white, pink, yellow, orange, red, purple, and bicolors   Mature Height x Spread 1 to 5 feet x 6 inches to 3 feet   Added Benefits attracts beneficials, drought tolerant, deer resistant   Verbena is a full sun loving, colorful annual plant that can fool you since some versions self sow readily and seem like a perennial. They seem to pop up everywhere in my garden. The trailing forms of...

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