image from thewowstyle.com. I will only say it is Feb 2, Groundhog Day and he did see his shadow, so you are seeing lots of posts on an early spring. All I am going to say is we all are wishing for an early spring. It would be a good time to get the gardens ready to plant. 2 things we need to remember. We still need to get through March and Early April. We could get lots of cold and snow, but it will not last long. In all my 35 years of doing the greenhouse, we have had that killing frost around and on May 15th more times than we haven’t. For planting early, you must remember if you plant early have the plants ready to move in. I have found out that covering doesn’t start the frost from getting the plants when it is a killing frost which is at 32 or lower. The plants are also very tender, so they need to have some attention taken for that.
You can start plants from seeds which is very fun and rewarding to do. Again, the first rule of thumb is when is the last frost and count back from that. You don’t want to start them too soon. Enjoy and stay safe. A Guide to Planting Annuals, and Bulbs by Robin Sweetser When do you plant flowers in the garden? It depends! Is it a perennial flower, annual flower, or bulb? Is it frost-sensitive or not? As with vegetables, there’s a right and a wrong time to plant your beloved blooms. Here’s when to start seeds and when to transplant young plants outdoors. Different plants need a different amount of lead time before they are ready to transplant into the garden. Starting too soon can result in a weak, lanky plant while starting too late can give you one that is just not ready for the outside world—both will struggle to survive! Here’s what you should take into consideration before planting. Know Your Frost Date Before you even think of starting seeds, you must know your area’s spring (and fall) frost dates. Planting schedules like the one below or our Vegetable Planting Calendar rely on frost dates to determine when it’s safest to ultimately plant outdoors since young plants are more susceptible to freezing. Start Seeds in the Spring Annual Flowers Annuals are plants that sprout, grow, bloom, and go to seed all in one season and only for one season. When winter comes, the plant dies, relying on its many seeds to germinate in the following spring. Because of this, most annual flowers are easy to grow from seed, taking about 6 to 8 weeks to grow to a transplantable size, though there are always exceptions to the rule. Some seeds may just take longer to germinate, and slower-growing annuals will need to be started earlier. (Be sure to read the backs of your seed packets for plant- and variety-specific recommendations!) Since most annuals are frost tender, you’ll need to wait until after the last spring frost date to transplant them into your garden. Below, you’ll find a table listing common annuals, as well as when to start their seeds and when to plant them outdoors. Remember to harden plants off before setting them outside! When to Start Annual Flower Seeds Flower Start Seeds Indoors (Weeks Before Last SPRING Frost Date) Plant Outdoors Allium 6-8 weeks On last frost date Ageratum 6-8 weeks On last frost date Alyssum 6-8 weeks 1-2 weeks before last frost Aster 6-8 weeks On last frost date Bachelor Button 6-8 weeks On last frost date Calendula 6-8 weeks 1-2 weeks before last frost Celosia 6-8 weeks On last frost date Coleus 8-10 weeks 1-2 weeks after last frost Cosmos 6-8 weeks On last frost date Delphinium (annual) 6-8 weeks 1-2 weeks before last frost Gomphrena 6-8 weeks On last frost date Impatiens 8-10 weeks 1-2 weeks after last frost Marigolds 6-8 weeks On last frost date Morning Glory* 3-4 weeks After last frost Nicotiana 6-8 weeks On last frost date Petunia 8-10 weeks On last frost date Phlox (annual) 8-10 weeks On last frost date Salvia 6-8 weeks On last frost date Scabiosa 6-8 weeks On last frost date Snapdragon 8-10 weeks On last frost date Statice 6-8 weeks On last frost date Stock 8-10 weeks On last frost date Strawflower 6-8 weeks On last frost date Sunflower* 3-4 weeks 1-2 weeks after last frost Verbena 8-10 weeks On last frost date Zinnia* 4-6 weeks 1-2 weeks after last frost *These fast-growing annuals are often started outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. How Long Do Annuals Take to Grow? 3-6 Weeks Speedy annuals such as morning glories and sunflowers may take only 3-4 weeks to reach a transplantable size. Zinnias only need a 4- to 6-week head start and can be transplanted outdoors after your last spring frost date. Alternatively, these fast-growing annuals can be directly sown in the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Annuals that take 6-8 weeks to grow and can go out when the frost-free date arrives include: Ageratum, asters, bachelor buttons, celosia, cosmos, gomphrena, marigolds, nicotiana, salvia, scabiosa, statice, and strawflowers. Alyssum, calendula, and delphiniums also take about 6-8 weeks to grow, but these can go outside a little earlier: 1-2 weeks before the last frost. These annuals are slower to germinate and take 8-10 weeks to reach a good size for the garden. They can go out on the frost-free date: Petunias, phlox, snapdragons, stock, and verbena. Coleus and impatiens also take 8-10 weeks but are a little more tender and need to be transplanted a week or two after the last frost date. Spring and Summer Bulbs Planting bulbs is another lovely way to add seasonal pops of color to your garden. We divide bulbs into two main categories: spring-flowering bulbs and summer-flowering bulbs. Spring-flowering bulbs are those that bloom from early spring to early summer. Included in this category are flowers like tulips, crocuses, and daffodils. Summer-flowering bulbs are those that bloom from early summer to early fall. Included in this category are flowers like gladiolus, dahlias, and cannas. Generally speaking, spring-flowering bulbs should be planted in the fall (a few weeks before first frost), while summer-flowering bulbs should be planted in the spring (a few weeks after last frost). Why? In many cases, summer flowering bulbs are not hardy enough to survive winter outdoors, while spring flowering bulbs may actually need a period of colder weather to trigger their spring blooms. There are exceptions, of course! Hardy perennials that flower in the summer, like daylilies, can be planted in the spring or fall. What Makes a Bulb a Bulb? Not all “bulbs” are actually bulbs! A true bulb is a specific type of underground storage structure—think onions, tulips, and daffodils. Many popular “bulbs” are actually other types of structures, like corms (gladiolus), rhizomes (irises, daylilies), and tubers (dahlias). However, most gardeners simply refer to this entire category of plants as “bulbs” to make things a little easier! Caring for Bulbs Wait until spring-flowering bulbs have finished blooming and their foliage has died back before digging, dividing, or moving them around. Mark their locations with brightly-colored popsicle sticks so you can find them more easily in late summer or early fall, which is the time to divide and transplant. Read more about spring-flowering bulbs. Taken from https://www.almanac.com/when-plant-flowers Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
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Groan can help with stress, let me know what you think. At least, a reason for doing that groaning.2/1/2024 Good morning, and the temperature already at 8:15 AM is 32 degrees, high today in the 50’s. Yes, it is Feb 1st, yes, I am in Iowa. No, it isn’t early spring. We need to get through March and early April. JUST enjoy and take that walk. I found this article very interesting. As the title says, how about using intentional groaning, just for relieving stress. I noticed I do more groaning with my age, but to do it to help relieve stress. See what this author says about that.
My favorite stress-busters don’t cost anything! By Margaret Boyles Light deprivation, snow and ice storms, dangerous driving, power outages, frozen pipes, overindulgence, and weight gain: Winter delivers extra stress. However, here are some “stress-busters” to lessen its negative effects on our health and well-being. My favorite stress-busters don’t cost anything, require any special equipment, or take much time. They’re safe, always available, and (at least for me) reliable. Each in its way helps interrupt the downward spiral of anger, frustration, fear, and anxiety. 1. Laugh Go ahead and laugh! Googling “laugh therapy” brings up 179,000 links. Laughter clubs and laughter events have spread throughout the world and many people even celebrate Global Belly Laugh Day. With good reason: laughter measurably reduces stress hormones, boosts immune function, and tunes the cardiovascular systems. Researchers say laughter is contagious, and works its magic best in company with others. But laughing alone works, too. Fake laughter works. Even anticipating a laugh confers health benefits. 2. Groan People instinctively groan in pain, in pleasure, and in the grip of strong emotion. We groan with effort and we groan when we’ve finished a piece of hard work. But what about intentional groaning, just for relieving stress? It works wonders for me. I do most of my groan therapy in my car (alone), where I don’t feel self-conscious. I experiment with the depth, length, and volume of my groans. I find it fun and exhilarating. It doesn’t interfere with my driving, encourages deeper, more complete breathing (see below), and sometimes lapses into hilarious laughter (see above). 3. Take a Deep Breath Because we breathe until we stop for good, breathing is the most available and least publicly observable stress-relieving technique we have. Most of us breathe shallowly, using only the upper portion of our lungs. Since every cell in the body requires oxygen, breathing better will improve health in many ways. I find a minute of mindful breathing (if I can remember to do it) helps restore a balanced perspective when I sense a surge of negative emotion, fear, or anxiety starting to take hold. 4. Walk I‘m not talking about a bout of exercise, but a slow, mindful walk of five or 10 minutes (around the driveway or parking lot if necessary). Focus simply on putting one foot in front of the other, following the swing of your arms, or the breath going in and out of your nose. I find a short, slow walk especially useful for breaking the grip of writer’s block or tamping down a rush of frustration when things aren’t going my way. 5. Take a Hot Bath When it comes to cleanliness, a shower is faster and more convenient. But for pure pleasure and stress reduction, nothing beats a hot bath. For moisturizing benefits, toss in a tablespoon of olive oil or mix half a cup of uncooked rolled oats with half a cup of honey in an old sock and let it soak along with you. Taken from https://www.almanac.com/5-winter-stress-busters Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365 Good morning, and the temperature already at 8:15 AM is 32 degrees, high today in the 50’s. Yes, it is Feb 1st, yes, I am in Iowa. No, it isn’t early spring. We need to get through March and early April. JUST enjoy and take that walk. I found this article very interesting. As the title says, how about using intentional groaning, just for relieving stress. I noticed I do more groaning with my age, but to do it to help relieve stress. See what this author says about that.
My favorite stress-busters don’t cost anything! By Margaret Boyles Light deprivation, snow and ice storms, dangerous driving, power outages, frozen pipes, overindulgence, and weight gain: Winter delivers extra stress. However, here are some “stress-busters” to lessen its negative effects on our health and well-being. My favorite stress-busters don’t cost anything, require any special equipment, or take much time. They’re safe, always available, and (at least for me) reliable. Each in its way helps interrupt the downward spiral of anger, frustration, fear, and anxiety. 1. Laugh Go ahead and laugh! Googling “laugh therapy” brings up 179,000 links. Laughter clubs and laughter events have spread throughout the world and many people even celebrate Global Belly Laugh Day. With good reason: laughter measurably reduces stress hormones, boosts immune function, and tunes the cardiovascular systems. Researchers say laughter is contagious, and works its magic best in company with others. But laughing alone works, too. Fake laughter works. Even anticipating a laugh confers health benefits. 2. Groan People instinctively groan in pain, in pleasure, and in the grip of strong emotion. We groan with effort and we groan when we’ve finished a piece of hard work. But what about intentional groaning, just for relieving stress? It works wonders for me. I do most of my groan therapy in my car (alone), where I don’t feel self-conscious. I experiment with the depth, length, and volume of my groans. I find it fun and exhilarating. It doesn’t interfere with my driving, encourages deeper, more complete breathing (see below), and sometimes lapses into hilarious laughter (see above). 3. Take a Deep Breath Because we breathe until we stop for good, breathing is the most available and least publicly observable stress-relieving technique we have. Most of us breathe shallowly, using only the upper portion of our lungs. Since every cell in the body requires oxygen, breathing better will improve health in many ways. I find a minute of mindful breathing (if I can remember to do it) helps restore a balanced perspective when I sense a surge of negative emotion, fear, or anxiety starting to take hold. 4. Walk I‘m not talking about a bout of exercise, but a slow, mindful walk of five or 10 minutes (around the driveway or parking lot if necessary). Focus simply on putting one foot in front of the other, following the swing of your arms, or the breath going in and out of your nose. I find a short, slow walk especially useful for breaking the grip of writer’s block or tamping down a rush of frustration when things aren’t going my way. 5. Take a Hot Bath When it comes to cleanliness, a shower is faster and more convenient. But for pure pleasure and stress reduction, nothing beats a hot bath. For moisturizing benefits, toss in a tablespoon of olive oil or mix half a cup of uncooked rolled oats with half a cup of honey in an old sock and let it soak along with you. Taken from https://www.almanac.com/5-winter-stress-busters Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365 |
AuthorHi! My name is Becky and I am a Master Gardener. I own Becky's Greenhouse in Dougherty, Iowa. Archives
March 2024
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