Karen Burch

Saving seeds can be a fun way to find variations in your blooming garden plants, allowing you to discover new colors and shapes. So far, I have daylilies, Rose of Sharon, Japanese Morning Glories, Sunflowers, dahlias, Louisiana Iris, hardy hibiscus, and Amaryllis seedlings on the way. Some plants, such as the Louisiana Iris and Amaryllis, require some patience and care since it may take up to 3 years to see a bloom, but the anticipation makes the eventual rewards even sweeter. However, dahlias, daylilies, and Japanese Morning Glories have the results coming in much sooner, often providing beautiful flowers within just a few months of planting. Additionally, Pansies are always a joy to save seeds from since the germination rate is great, allowing for a delightful display of vibrant colors in the garden while saving money at the same time.

Building on Tradition Seedling not opening

4/27/2026 This week, we managed to mow and weed the garden, making substantial progress, but there is still more to get done before the season fully sets in. I carefully picked a giant watermelon plant to grow in the ground, imagining the day when maybe I could enter a contest. LOL! When selecting my giant watermelon seedling, I look for one with a strong stem and good growth. If I see discoloration or cracks in any of the stems I cull those out.

I also took the time to weed my onion bed and applied some organic fertilizer to ensure they thrive, as healthy onions are a staple in my kitchen. I added some bone meal and experimented with a little epsom salt. I sure hope they grow since they do look small at the moment. Maybe my supplements will help get the results I am looking for.

Meanwhile, the dahlia grow-out is underway, with their vibrant colors soon to add touches of color to my garden. Additionally, I have 35 additional seedlings from a flower farm that are still quite small, but I am eagerly anticipating their growth and will share the results with everyone once they start to bloom. The giant watermelon in the greenhouse container garden has escaped its confines and grown more than I had anticipated; now I’m left imagining how I will creatively rearrange the space to accommodate it without disrupting the other plants, all while hoping for some whoppers! I do have smaller snacking watermelons on the way as well.