Plant Something Blog

Preparing Your Garden for the Winter

Posted on by Susan Brown
by Cassie Steele, Freelance Writer As the days start getting colder, many Maine residents are thinking about winterizing their home in preparation of the coming months. Winterizing not only keeps your home safe from damage, but can also save you a countless amount of time, money, and frustration when it comes to repairs. While many Maine families are diligent about preparing their homes ...
Read More

Time To Finish Those Landscaping Projects

Posted on by Leah Twitchell
Photo by Terrapin Landscapes   The Time to Plant is Now It may seem that the planting and gardening seasons are quickly drawing to a close. But there is still time to both plan, plant and landscape your property and even enjoy its beauty before the snow flies! Landscaping projects can be put in now and your new plantings will be looking great come spring. Spreading mulch will help you ...
Read More

Doing Your Best For Maine’s Bees

Posted on by Susan Brown
by Cassie Steele, Freelance Writer   The hardworking bee is the lifeblood of countless ecosystems. Unfortunately, they are facing challenges across the world. The good news is that Maine is doing awesome work every day to try and preserve these important creatures - over 250 species of bee are native to Maine, according to researcher Emily du Houx, and scientists are undertaking...
Read More

It’s Harvest Season!

Posted on by Leah Twitchell
Celebrating Harvest Time After a long and fruitful summer with plenty of heat, sun and humidity, we're hoping you see a great harvest in your veggie gardens! Now is the time to can, preserve, and enjoy the rewards of all your hard work. Need some tips? Check out these Food Preservation Hands-On Workshops from the UMaine Cooperative Extension. You might also enjoy some of these recipes: Tom...
Read More

Grow As A Family With Fun Outdoor Activities In Maine

Posted on by Susan Brown
  by Cassie Steele, Freelance Writer The Maine Outdoor Coalition is dedicated to encouraging people to try new outdoor activities and explore their local environment and, through its Winter Kids project, the Coalition has already helped 100,000 Maine kids get active. Spending quality time out in the fresh air has many proven physical benefits and by getting outside as a family to explor...
Read More

Growing Indigenous Trees in Maine

Posted on by Susan Brown
by Cassie Steele, Freelance Writer Photo by Héctor Martínez Beginning in January 2018, Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry adopted a new set of rules prohibiting the sale of invasive plants in Maine. The legislation is especially important for conserving the growth of native trees, which are vital to insect populations and regional forestry. For gardeners looking...
Read More

Late Summer Planting and Harvesting

Posted on by Leah Twitchell
Keep On Planting! This is actually a great time of year to keep on planting. Many vegetables will give you another harvest if you plant the right things. In case you missed it, check out our blog post from last summer: Summertime is the Right Time to Keep Planting. Or just jump right to this guide from University of Minnesota Extension:  Planting Vegetables in Midsummer for Fall Harvest. But th...
Read More

Contribute To Climate Control With A Container Garden

Posted on by Susan Brown
Contribute To Climate Control With A Container Garden by Cassie Steele, Freelance Writer Recently, scientists have noticed warmer summers, rising seas and more powerful storms in the North Eastern climate. Maine is committed to maintaining forests in the area, working with the Nature Conservancy on carbon offset projects that will help fight against climate change. You too can help remove ca...
Read More

Summer Planting and Watering Tips

Posted on by Leah Twitchell
Tips for Efficient Watering We finally got some much-needed rain! Depending on the weather, your garden may need daily watering, and this can be quite a chore. If you'd like some great tips for conserving both time and water, check out these tips: 10 Smart Watering Tips. If you're wondering how often to water your containers, check out this video from our sponsors at Monrovia: If the onl...
Read More
Top

Lemon Queen Sunflowers - Helianthus annuus

Annual

 

Short Description

Beautiful butter yellow flowers blossom mid-summer to frost! Typically grow to more than 5 ft. tall. Expect 70 days to flower.

Growing Guidelines

  1. Around the last frost date, sow seeds directly into the soil.
  2. Plant seeds 1" deep and 6" apart.
  3. Water well after planting.
  4. Apply a 3"-4" layer of mulch to conserve water and keep down weeds.
  5. Thin seedlings to 1 ft. apart to allow 2 to 3 ft. between plants.

Care and Feeding
Plant in full sun. Sunflowers are drought-resistant, but they'll grow better if you water regularly from the time the flowers begin to develop until they're mature. Thriving in most soils, these flowers will become massive if given ample fertility, space and water. Harvest blossoms for continued flowering.

Need more information or gardening supplies? Contact your local independent garden center.

Calendula Mix-Calendula officinalis

 

Short Description

Fruition has hand-selected this variety to have a brilliant diversity of colors with dozens of gorgeous, petals on each blossom.

Growing Guidelines

Direct sow (recommended)

  1. After the last frost, sow directly outside in the garden.
  2. Plant seed 24 to 36 inches apart in all directions.

Transplant method

  1. A cool-season plant, calendula can be started indoors in flats, under grow lights 6-8 weeks before the last frost for early season flowering.
  2. Seeds germinate in 5-15 days.

Care and Feeding
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Easy to grow and remarkably drought tolerant, calendula also thrives in containers and will readily naturalize when let go to seed.

Transplanting Tips

  1. Purchase a good seed starting soil like Espoma Organic seed starting mix or Coast of Maine.
  2. Use a small greenhouse tray(tray with a clear plastic dome) to germinate your seeds.
  3. When it's time to transplant into the garden, use a fertilizer like Espoma Flower-tone or Espoma Plant-tone.

Need more information or gardening supplies? Contact your local independent garden center.

Purple Queen Anne's Lace

"Dara" Daucus carota

 

Short Description

Gorgeously laced 3-5" umbels in shades of burgundy, lilac, mauve & white on long, strong stems perfect for cutting, adored by pollinators. Related to our native carrot, Queen Anne's Lace.

Growing Guidelines

Direct sow (recommended)

  1. In early spring, after late frost, sow seeds directly in soil.
  2. Plant 1 seed 1/8" deep and 2" apart.
  3. Expect 2 weeks for germination.
  4. When seedlings are 2-3" tall, thin to 1 plant every 9-12".
  5. Support may be needed if fertility is high or if your garden is windy.

Transplant method

  1. Chill seed at 40 F 1-2 weeks prior to sowing 1/8" deep, 2 seeds per cell 4-5 weeks before planting out.
  2. Expect germination in 1-2 weeks.
  3. When first leaves appear, transplant into larger containers.
  4. Harden off & transplant with 9-12" between plants after last frost.

Care and Feeding
Plant in full sun. Expect 65-75 days to maturity. Dara has an exceptionally long vase life; harvest when 80% of an umbel's flowers are open & no pollen has shed. Enjoy 7-15 heads per plant on swaying 35-50" stalks.

Transplanting Tips

  1. Purchase a good seed starting soil like Espoma Organic seed starting mix or Coast of Maine.
  2. Use a small greenhouse tray(tray with a clear plastic dome) to germinate your seeds.
  3. When it's time to transplant into the garden, use a fertilizer like Espoma Flower-tone or Espoma Plant-tone.
Need more information or gardening supplies? Contact your local independent garden center.

Marigolds

Annual

Care and Feeding

Transplant Only: Sow 4 weeks before last frost shallowly, 2 seeds per cell and thin to 1, keeping soil surface moist until emergence. Transplant to larger containers when true leaves appear. Harden off and transplant outside when the danger of frost has passed with 12" between plants. Deadhead for blossoms all season.

  • Sowing Date: Indoors before last frost
  • Seed Depth: 1/4 inch
  • Days to Germination: 4-7 days at 75-80°F
  • Days to Maturity: 60
  • Plant spacing after thinning: 12 inches
  • Height: 12 inches

Need more information or gardening supplies? Contact your local independent garden center.

Organic Mexican Sunflower (Torch Tithonia)

Annual

Care and Feeding
Direct Seed (recommended): After final frost, sow every 8" and thin to one every ~2'. Light required to germ, so barely cover seed. Full sun is best. Any (even poor) soil is suitable. Harvest flowers when 90% open for bouquets.

Transplant: Sow indoors 2-3 weeks before last frost, transplanting after frost with spacing below.
 
  • Sowing Date: After frost; Late May- early June
  • Seed Depth: 1/2 inch
  • Days to Germination: 7-14 days
  • Days to Maturity: 85
  • Plant spacing after thinning: 2 feet
  • Height: 5-7 feet

Need more information or gardening supplies? Contact your local independent garden center.

Cosmos

Annual

Care and Feeding

Direct Seed (recommended): After last frost, shallowly sow 4 seeds/foot & thin to 1/foot when first true leaves appear. Wider spacing = thicker stronger stems.

Bouquets: harvest when petals first open. Deadhead for blooms all season.

Transplant: Shallowly sow 4 weeks before transplanting after last frost at below spacing. Transplant your cosmos for earlier blooms and more full-size plants per pack; direct sow for blooms throughout the season and simplicity of sowing.

  • Sowing Date: After frost, late May to early June 
  • Seed Depth: 1/4 inch
  • Days to Germination: 7-10
  • Days to Maturity: 65-70
  • Plant spacing after thinning: 18-24 inches
  • Height: 3-4 feet

Need more information or gardening supplies? Contact your local independent garden center.