Friday, Nov. 27, 1992 - Nortn Shore News - 15

te 7

Imagination perfect for summer planters

Geo
Tobiasson

yn,

can you expect such an outstand-
ing combination of attractive
foliage and intensely colorful
flowers from early summer right
through till frost?

This new hybrid is the result of
a cross between two species forms,
hence the name ‘‘speciosa.”’

From one parent we are given
the rambling, spreading habit
while the other brings us the nar-
row, finely cut foliage. Both seem

that all but the most experienced
gardeners look for them as bed-
ding-out plants available at your
local garden centres in spring.

if you choose the challenges of
Starting your plants from seed, !
suggest that you get them going
no tater than the middle of Feb-
ruary.

Here are a few tricks that might
make you a little more successful:

Soak your seed-starting media

thoroughly the night before you
plan to begin. Sow the seeds thin-
ly on top of a lightly compressed
mixture and cover with black
plastic. DO NOT WATER
AFTER SOWING.

Germination takes approximate-
ty 14 to 20 days; leave the plastic
in place until the seedlings begin
to emerge.

In the meantime, keep the soil
temperature between 70° and 75°F

(21° to 24°C),

Bottom watering will reduce the
tisks of damping off season.

Plant verbenas in full sun at 10
to 18 inches apart. The soil should
drain well and the area should be
well ventilated.

These plants are susceptible to
mildew, especially later in the
season; the free flow of air
around them will reduce the oc-
terrence of this problem.

OVER THE GARDEN GATE

LAST WEEK I began a
four-part series on the 1993
All-America Selection
Award winners, starting
with the first of the two
flower award winners,
nierembergia ‘‘Mont
Blanc.’”’

: This week we should have a
look at iis co-winner, verbena
speciosa ‘‘Imagination.’’

It was the alphabet that put this
one second on the list, not me.
Nothing about this gorgeous new
addition can be considered second
place.

I have always been a big fan of
the verbenas. There are few plants
that can match the trailing
verbena in a hanging basket or
balcony planter.

Ia what other trailing annual

to have had a hand in producing
the unique violet blue/magenta
flowers.

Not only does this plant spread
as mentioned above, it) spreads
comparatively quickly. Each vine
is quite capable of putting on up
to two feet of growth over the
course of the season.

This is one reason why it will
make an outstanding addition to
our summer baskets and planters.

The other reason is this plant’s
tolerance of heat and droughi.
Just the thing needed to pull them
through the excessively dry condi-
tions which we negligent gardeners
submit them to every time we
forget to water.

Unlike its co-winner mentioned
last week, this plant is definitely
not happy with the cold, wet
weather we sometimes see in the
early spring.

For this reason, ! strongly sug-
gest that you refrain from plant-
ing it out until mid-May at the
earliest.

Seed for these plants should be
available from mest of the major
mail-order seed houses, but
beware. The seed is very fine, dif-
ficult to germinate and the seed-
lings are prone to damping off.

ft is therefore recommended

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4

NEWS photo Nell Lucente

SEVEN-YEAR-OLDS (ieft to right) Craig Robertson, Catherine Alderson and Scott Casseiman
plant a shrub in Monterey School's new playground. Students helped to landscape the area.

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