Category: General gardening

Starting Giant Sunflower Seeds and What’s Blooming?

Amaryllis, Dahlias, General gardening

I planted sunflower seeds in Burpee’s organic potting mix on March the 4th. Just about any potting mix will work. This video is part one of a series where I am growing giant sunflowers. I also have planted my own saved seeds from the ornamental sunflowers I grew last year.

What’s Blooming this week?

Dahlia Tray of Seedlings
Ferns and Crinum lilies emerging after the frost
H.F.Young Clematis
Alaska White Amaryllis
Delphinium Blue Mirror
Amaryllis blooming outdoors in Spring,Alaska, Pink Surprise
Amaryllis blooming outdoors in Spring, Alaska Amaryllis

This year I am especially pleased to see my crinums and ferns have survived the terrible frosty weather we had in February. The Amaryllis Alaska, Pink Surprise, and also some 3 year old seedlings are blooming. H.F. Young is so pretty that I had to share another picture. Blue Mirror Delphinium is a new perennial for me this year. I will let you know if it does well here in my Louisiana zone 8b garden. Last but not least I have a lot of dahlias growing from seeds this year. Stay tuned for the updates!

Planting Delays Selecting Giant Watermelon Seedlings

General gardening, Vegetable gardening, watermelon

We had a planting delay last week into the weekend with cold weather. I had to put all my tender plants into the greenhouse. I also put my blooming Amaryllis Pink Surprise and Alaska inside so the blooms would stay pretty.

In this video, I am selecting which giant watermelon seedlings I’m going to plant as soon as it gets warm again. In the meantime, I have been amending the soil and preparing the planting holes.

We have a new Ohuhu 7x7x12 greenhouse and plan to customize it with a workbench and raised beds. Since it is so hot here during summer, I will have to apply a shade cloth and use a fan to keep the temperature regulated. I can’t wait to grow cucumbers and squash without the cucumber beetles destroying my vines!

Clematis H.F. Young
Clematis H.F. Young
Amaryllis Pink Surprise
Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias incarnata

I finally got my first clematis bloom from H.F. Young and like it very much! It had a slow start growing very little during the first year. I planted the spindly-looking vine on the back trellis last fall. This year it climbed a few feet on the trellis and bloomed. I was stunned by Pink Surprise Amaryllis. The blossom is big and tall, commanding attention. It also has a monstrous bulb making this Amaryllis remarkable.

This year I am trying Swamp Milkweed or Butterfly Milkweed. The scientific name is Asclepias incarnata. They are small seedlings right now but I will update those later. Hopefully, it will be covered in clusters of pink flowers this summer. This one is supposed to be less invasive than the Showy Milkweed. I am hoping to help out some butterflies this year.