Mallow's flowers look stunning in garden beds or borders. Plus, this cottage garden favorite is easy to start from seed.
Lupine is a fast-growing plant that is easily found in North America. There are hundreds of different varieties with different colors you can grow, Here's how...
Borage is an annual herbaceous plant that is easy to grow and provides a myriad of benefits for gardeners. Not only are its striking star-shaped flowers picturesque to look at, but borage is an excellent companion plant that helps other plants to thrive, and it is entirely edible from stem to flower. The plant's leaves and stems are easily identifiable by the bristly hairs that cover them as they mature and look particularly unique on dewy mornings. Follow our guide to learn about borage uses, benefits, and companion planting advantages. Borage Soil Requirements Borage soil should be well-tilled and well-draining. Borage is a vibrant herbaceous plant that can tolerate soil that falls between 4.5-8.5 on the pH scale but thrives optimally in the middle at a pH of 6.5. How to Plant Borage Borage plants can be found at your local specialty nursery in the herb section, but they grow very well from seed as well. Either way, they should be planted directly outdoors after the threat of frost has passed. Sow seeds directly into the ground about ½ inch deep in clusters of 3 or 4 seeds and cover with nutrient-rich soil or compost. Plant borage plants or thin seedlings to approximately 15 inches apart. Borage can tower up to three feet in height, so it's essential to give the plant room to spread out. Proper spacing will help airflow, proactively combat against diseases such as powdery mildew and allow for the adequate spread of blooms. How Much Light Does Borage Need? A common question when planting and growing borage is, how much light does borage need? Plant your borage plants and seeds in full sun or partial shade. Plants will bloom more vigorously if they are planted in an area where they receive 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. How Often Should You Water Borage Plants? It can tricky to figure out exactly how often you should water borage plants. The answer is simple, water borage plants regularly. They are not drought tolerant and need plenty of water to thrive. However, try and avoid over-soaking them. The Best Temperature for Growing Borage Borage is relatively cold-tolerant, enjoying soil temperatures that are a minimum of 50°F. It can withstand light frosts. Kellogg Garden Organics All Natural Garden Soil Learn More Product Locator by Locally **Product not available in AZ, CA, HI, NV, UT. For a comparable product in these states click here. Common Borage Pests and Diseases Unfortunately, borage tends to be plagued with powdery mildew in damp conditions or in areas of high humidity. For the best chance of avoiding this devastating disease, space your plants adequately for proper airflow and be sure that your plants receive plenty of sunlight. Aphids and Japanese Beetles are drawn to borage plants and feed on their leaves. Aphids can be kept at bay with a strong spray of water from the hose, while the beetles can be easily handpicked off the plant and placed in a jar of soapy water to eliminate them. Borage Companion Planting Companion planting borage with vegetables and certain flowers can bolster each other and significantly improve your garden productivity. Borage is an all-around best friend in any garden bed for several reasons. Borage flowers attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden, which are essential for plant reproduction. Borage also benefits gardens by attracting beneficial insects for natural pest control of common garden pests. Additionally, borage releases calcium and potassium into the soil, which can help other plants like squash and tomatoes to combat diseases such as blossom rot. Interplant borage with: Tomatoes Cabbage Strawberries Grapes Peas Beans Cucumbers Squash Borage Uses and Benefits Not only does borage have a flower you can eat, but its leaves are also edible and can be used in a variety of ways. Its flowers have a refreshing taste that is reminiscent of cucumber. Pick blooms early in the morning and use them to brighten up a fresh salad, add some zest to a sandwich, mix into dips, and cook up in soups or stews. Harvest borage leaves when they are young for the best taste and texture. You can use borage fresh as salad greens or steam them up like you would spinach or kale. Another option is to dry the leaves and set them aside for use as a dried herb or seasoning. It can also be used to steep in teas and is a delightful treat when candied. How to Harvest Borage Seeds Borage plants do a fine job all on their own when it comes to propagating and spreading their seeds around. Once you have an established borage plant, you will likely always have a borage plant or several. You will often find new plants in the garden each year, and they are a pleasant surprise to see. Once you have borage in your garden, you will likely never have to reseed them again. If you intend to save the seeds, wait for the flowers to dry thoroughly on the stems, and allow the petals to die away. When the flower head is dehydrated and browned, remove the seeds from the center and store them in a paper bag or paper envelope until next spring. Share The Garden Love
Campanula, also known as Bellflower, is a genus of plants with bell shaped flowers. Learn how to grow Campanula, for a cottage garden look.
Growing gaura plants is easy. Just provide its basic needs and prevent root rot. More tips for care of the gaura plant and its uses. [LEARN MORE]
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Det finns så många vackra blommor som är perenner och som blommar fantastisk fint, riktiga pärlor att ha i sin trädgård då de kommer upp år efter år och blommar otroligt fint.
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We have the list of the best nasturtium companion plants for your garden that will help maximize harvests and reduce pests.
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When it comes to having a herb garden, there's really nothing more satisfying than picking your very own fresh herbs for that night's dish! These herbs that grow together can be planted in just one pot or directly in your herb garden outdoors for a full, healthy harvest in no time! These herbs not only enjoy each other's company, but also feed off of each other by exchanging important nutrients and therefore, making sure your harvest is plentiful! Herbs that grow together stay together! Herbs That Grow Together A rule of thumb when planting any herb or vegetable together, is
This is a whole new way to preserve flowers 😯 🌸 | flower, hammer
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Gaura plants, also known as Beeblossom, wandflowers or whirling butterflies, are beautiful perennials with thin, delicate stems and white or pink flowers that
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The Gazania flower, named after the 15th-century Greek-Italian scholar Theodore of Gaza, is a perennial plant native to South Africa with a warm climate that is typically grown annually. It is an...
Deadheading geraniums keeps the plant strong and blooming. Flowers want to create seeds and by removing old flowers the plant is encouraged to bloom again.
A beautiful and delicious tomato is a gardener’s prize. This does not, however, rule out the fact that sometimes things go wrong with our tomatoes and we have to buckle down, diagnose and fix the
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Growing zinnia flowers in your backyard has plenty of benefits: These simple, low-maintenance plants provide colorful, wow-worthy, oversized blooms—with sturdy stalks that make them a prime choice for cutting gardens and indoor arrangements.
When planning your garden, it can be important to keep in mind what types of plants tend to do well when planted near each other. These plants are called companion plants. They can help each other grow and thrive through a variety of benefits they provide each other. Learn about companion planting and what okra companion plants you should consider when planting your garden this year. Why Companion Planting Companion planting pairs plants that thrive together in the same general area of the garden. This allows them to work together to deter pests, boost growth and production, and allow for beneficial insects and pollination. Companion plants can enrich the soil and diversify the garden, which can improve your overall crop. They can also help each other in an organic garden, by allowing for different nutrients in the soil to increase other plants’ growth and boosting harvests. Alternatively, if your plants are not compatible, it could cause issues for you down the road. Plants that attract the same diseases and pests are more susceptible, and more likely to get sick or damaged. They can interfere with the growth and health of other plants, too, by using up all the same nutrients in the soil or soaking up all the water before other nearby plants can get what they need. Companion plants can help reduce these negative side effects of gardening. What to Plant With Okra When selecting companion plants for your okra, you should consider the needs of both your okra and the other plants. These needs include temperatures, sun/shade preferences, and watering needs. Oka thrives in warm regions, so your companion plants should also do well in similar conditions. Okra grows on tall stalks, often reaching 6 feet by the end of the summer. Be sure to plant only companion plants that don’t need a lot of sun and maybe even those that prefer shade, because okra can reduce the sun in that area of your garden. Because of okra’s height, some of the best companion plants for okra include lettuce. The tall plant shades the greens from the hot sun. Another plant that can benefit from the shade of your okra is melons (which also have the added benefit of attracting pollinators to your plants). Another great option for companion planting with okra is peas. Planting the peas and okra together, the okra seedlings won’t crowd the peas until temperatures are higher, allowing you to harvest the peas. Peas add nitrogen to the soil naturally, so they can help with the overall health of the soil, too. Eggplant is another option for soil benefits, because eggplant releases potassium for the okra to benefit from. Like peas, you can also plant radishes at the same time as okra. Plant the okra and radish seeds together, about 3-4 inches apart per row. The radishes loosen the soil as their roots grow, allowing the okra to grow strong roots deeper into the earth. Additionally, you can find companion plants that help with pest and disease prevention for your okra. These plants can repel certain insects from the area, protecting each other from damage by common pests. By planting peppers after you harvest the radishes, you can protect the okra from cabbageworms, which are known to feed on okra leaves. Another plant you can grow alongside okra is tomatoes. When companion planted, tomatoes act as a trap crop, luring stink bugs away from okra plants. Beyond fruits and vegetables to pair with okra plants, flowers can be a great option to increase pollination in the area. Sunflowers work well, as they attract pollinators who can then visit the okra, encouraging the okra flowers to bloom. Herbs can also be a great addition to your okra. You can plant basil near your okra, repelling flea beetles from your plants to reduce the chance of damage to your okra. Companion plants can naturally support each other so they can grow strong and healthy. By naturally improving the soil to deflecting pests that may cause damage, companion plants for your okra can ensure a healthy harvest at the end of the season. Kellogg Garden Organics All Natural Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables Learn More Product Locator by Locally **Product not available in AZ, CA, HI, NV, UT. For a comparable product in these states click here. Share The Garden Love
We have the list of the best nasturtium companion plants for your garden that will help maximize harvests and reduce pests.
