Help with annuals

9 years ago

Hoo boy-- file this under "double check the fine print"...

My church sent out a call about a week ago asking for volunteers to help spiff up the campus by adopting a flower bed, planting annuals, and maintaining it for the summer. Sure! Sounds like fun... Where do I sign up? I offhandedly suggested a specific bed, but told them any would work. The one they assigned me is a completely bare 20'x25' space. Eeek!

So, how to fill it? I know there is a tree going in dead center, so that's good for some occupied square footage. I went to a local nursery and hit their "hail sale" clearance rack and picked up many flats of ragged alyssum, red salvia, nicotiana, and petunia for deep discounts. They are currently in recovery and looking much better. And if I plan in some small paths through the center, I'll have two or four smaller beds to maintain and still keep sight lines to the center tree.

But I still have a lot of space to fill. The current plan is to sow the bare spaces between the plug plants with seed. I was trying to stick to flowers especially enticing to bees, butterflies, and beneficials that would quickly fill in without too much fuss and bother. Could you guys check the list and see if 1.) these seeds can be sown mid- June and still be ok to grow, and 2.) the ones I've selected are good for the bugs and are pretty goof proof? I'm really concerned that I've missed the sowing window....

Also, are there any I'm leaving out that would fit in with the general scheme?

Basil

Calendula

California poppy

Coriander

Cosmos

Dill

Nasturtium

Oregano

Scarlet Runner Bean (on a few bamboo supports)

Thyme

Tithonia

Zinnia

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Comments (3)

digit (ID/WA, border)
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
An end of May notice was a little short-sighted of "them." Good for you, making that quick scramble!

Let's start with the number of plants. You may be able to take some pressure off yourself with what you already have.

There are 500 square feet. Admittedly, I'm usually growing taller plants than petunias and alyssum but I'm packing 'em in and have supports, string and trellising to keep 'em from falling down or out of the bed. I would put no more than 600 plants in that area. It would be less than that with a tree and paths but I don't know how much room those require. If the plants grow large, like taller zinnias, I'd take another one-third off that number.

Count your flats and cells. Are you already close to whatever you want to pare down those needed 600 to? (Love ending sentences with prepositions ;o)!

Seeds, I don't know. About the only flower direct-seeding I've done this year is nigella. Often, about this time, I realize that there are some gaps in the dahlia garden. It may look a little odd to others but I like to fill in where dahlias have failed to emerge with cosmos. They grow quickly from seed and require about as much room as a tall dahlia. Your planting is probably to low for cosmos. We need gardeners who directly-sow flower seed to weigh in! I have lots of square feet of flowers but the plants were started in the greenhouse, months ago.

By the way, I like your mixed flower and herb theme with the climbing beans. Good on you, again!

Steve
inbetweendays
Original Author
9 years ago
When I first saw the bed Steve I was sorely tempted to throw down some squash and melons and call it a day (they ARE annuals, right?), but I suspect the landscape committee was looking for something a little more "flowery"...

I also think in terms of square feet. Using the average spacing for the plants I have already bought, I can cover about 160sqft. The tree and space around it will be another 16-25sqft, and the paths could account for another 150sqft or so. Then leaving a little space around the sprinkler heads and I figure I have between 150-175sqft left to fill.

I'm not concerned about keeping things short. Well, I'd like to stay away from too much staking and tying, but I figure there's a happy medium in there somewhere :-) The seeds I have go from 1' to about 2.5' (except for the tithonia-- those suckers are 4-6'-- and the beans, but they will be on supports). In fact, I'd rather have some height in the beds. The tree is not going to be very full or tall this year, so I thought I'd try to get some elevation in the planting.
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digit (ID/WA, border)
9 years ago
Okay, if height works maybe the cosmos will work. The common colors could match China asters, somewhat late in the season. I often set out and sow the seeds of annual asters but they will not grow as tall as transplants. I like Tithonia and have grown it. Here is a Harlequin marigold that comes close to matching the height (LINK). I thought those were great but must have set out plants.

A little more height, maybe some branching sunflowers. I like The Joker! This is a picture of the first blooms I posted on RMG during our very hot June.

Let's see, I must be forgetting easy choices. Gladiolas? You should be able to carry off and store the bulbs, after frost.

Steve