Gardener's Group discussion

Use this thread to discuss what annuals you're growing and how this year.

It's hard to find Zinnias at the nurseries around here. I believe they think they are too old fashioned, while I consider them to be a mainstay in the garden.

Last year I finally got some (after the nursery people treating me like they were selling me gold and over-charged for them) and had a disaster of a time with them. They kept shriveling up with brown leaves. Despite that, they tried to flower, but had less than I've had with Zinnias in years previous. They just looked pathetic all summer, but did get very tall.
This year I am definately holding out for a disease resistant variety.

We don't have much of a problem finding Zinnia's here but keeping them from getting covered in powdery mildew & turning brown is another story!

I've had a lot of luck growing them from seed, maybe that's an alternative for you?

The brown crinkling leaves were different from the powdery mildew I'd experienced with Zinnia plants in the past.
I don't have the place to grow them from seeds. Actually, I do, BUT my cats won't let me grow from seed.

I always direct sow my Zinnia seeds. I've never been successful with starting seeds ahead of time indoors, but I usually have good results with direct sowing. Depending on our coastal weather in early Spring which can cause things to get a late start, the zinnias bloom later through first frost of Autumn. I love the pops of color at that time of year!

If you live in a cold area of the country zinnia seeds start beautifully in milk jugs. Plant them according to the recommended planting date on the back of the package and set the jugs outside in the snow or on the bare ground if your snow is gone.

Planting lots of zinnias again this year. Also starting morning glories, salvia, and black eyed susan vine in milk jugs.

I'm growing sweet peas for the first time this year. Any advice or hints?

Thanks! :)

Eve wrote: "I'm growing sweet peas for the first time this year. Any advice or hints?

Thanks! :)"

I've had the best luck when I've either nicked the seeds or soaked them overnight before planting. They also seem to do best when I got them in the ground as soon as the soil could be worked. Good luck!! I love them for their incredible fragrance almost more than the pretty blooms.

Thanks Cheryl. :)

I planted the seeds outside a few weeks ago and they have germinated thankfully. I've put them at base of wigwam of sticks for support. I'm hopeful :) Should I feed them, if so when is best?

Eve wrote: "Thanks Cheryl. :)

I planted the seeds outside a few weeks ago and they have germinated thankfully. I've put them at base of wigwam of sticks for support. I'm hopeful :) Should I feed them, if so ..."

If your soil is good I would just leave them alone. I know they don't like their soil to dry out but just stay evenly damp.

Great, Thank you!

Fingers crossed

I have to laugh at the results of the zinnias I started in milk jugs this spring. I carefully planned for what colors and heights I wanted where and marked my jugs accordingly.

They're all growing great. It's just a shame some of them will hardly be seen and others have become bullies. I'm a little suspicious some of the seeds did not become the plant pictured on the outside of the packet. The ones advertized as growing from 10-14 inches which I planted in the front of a bed are now way past my knees and others marked for 36 inches are being hidden as they are only about 20 inches tall.

I haven't had Zinnia's in a few years. Not sure why I keep forgetting to plant seeds for them! Love them.

Jo wrote: "I haven't had Zinnia's in a few years. Not sure why I keep forgetting to plant seeds for them! Love them."

Mine are just getting going and I hope I can keep them producing till frost. I love having their color in the yard when most other things are done for the year.

Yes, they were usually the last bloomers through Halloween in my garden (along with a few rose blooms & morning glories).

Jo wrote: "Yes, they were usually the last bloomers through Halloween in my garden (along with a few rose blooms & morning glories)."

Oh yes, the morning glories. I have deep purple ones that come back volunteer and I always plant the blue ones. They're a mess to clean up but I'm willing to do that to have the color.

My morning glories are in containers to that helps to curb the spread!

I picked up 2 pots of Zinnias today at the supermarket! So bright!

For the most part, if and when I do any planting of annuals I only use organic, heirloom, and/or both seeds, but for garlic and potatoes I will use cloves and seed potatoes respectively.

This year I planted a wide variety of seeds but not as much as I would normally would nor as close as I hadn't really grown anything in 2013 so I was a little rusty.

I planted Cosmic Purple Carrots, Black Turtle Dry Bush Beans, Kentucky Wonder Snap Pole Beans, Red Romain Lettuce, Basil (Lettuce, Cinnamon, Lemon), Mammoth Melting Snow Peas, English Thyme, Summer Savory, Slow Bolt Cilantro, Black Zucchini, Bouquet Dill, and more in a 200 square foot or less garden space.

Obiora wrote: "For the most part, if and when I do any planting of annuals I only use organic, heirloom, and/or both seeds, but for garlic and potatoes I will use cloves and seed potatoes respectively.

This year..."

I live in Minnesota and I grow Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans as well and have always had good luck with them.

Cheryl thank you for letting me know as that is good to know as I do have some friends that live further North. About how tall are they getting?

Obiora wrote: "Cheryl thank you for letting me know as that is good to know as I do have some friends that live further North. About how tall are they getting?"

I grow them on a 6 foot tower and they always overgrow and I snip them back to 6 feet to keep them from flopping over. Also I think snipping promotes more bloom on the remaining vines.

I use a TP (Cone like) type trellis to grow Kentucky Wonders. When I used a straight fence tower for growing the beans birds tended to poop all over them. With a TP type trellis the birds would be on the top and the poop would fall in the middle and not on the beans.

I know, I know too much information... Way too much information :)

Mickey wrote: "I use a TP (Cone like) type trellis to grow Kentucky Wonders. When I used a straight fence tower for growing the beans birds tended to poop all over them. With a TP type trellis the birds would be ..."

LOL! I've never had a problem with that but I understand why you use the method you use.

Mickey thank you for the information. I never had the problem but it could be useful for others.

Cheryl they can grow to between 12 and 15 feet tall if I am not mistaken.

Obiora wrote: "Mickey thank you for the information. I never had the problem but it could be useful for others.

Cheryl they can grow to between 12 and 15 feet tall if I am not mistaken."

An angled net / fence would work also depending on ones space. I do use an angled net for my cucumbers, it makes easier to pick them as they hang down from the net.

Mickey wrote: "Obiora wrote: "Mickey thank you for the information. I never had the problem but it could be useful for others.

Cheryl they can grow to between 12 and 15 feet tall if I am not mistaken."

An angl..."

I don't have the space so I use towers for both lima and green beans. I don't preserve either one, just grow enough to eat fresh so the towers work okay for me.