I purchased some annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus), also known as Madagascar periwinkle, part way through the season last year to rejuvenate some tired planters. These are amazing annuals for hot, dry conditions. They bloomed not stop, even better than verbena. And, lucky for me, they are deer and rabbit resistant. Varieties and Sources I’m not… Read more »
Growing Annual Verbena From Seed & Getting The Timing Right
I tried growing annual verbena from seed in 2025 and while I had success with germination the plants were VERY small when I wanted to put them in pots. I ended up buying replacement plants. I think this happened for two reasons: I didn’t start them early enough I didn’t have enough supplemental heat and… Read more »
Growing Marigolds So They Don’t Get Root Bound
Marigolds are easy to grow from seed but I’ve generally had issues with them becoming root bound or drying out. Once they dry out the plants suffer. The key – use larger pots and start later than you think. This is my personal garden growing guide. I use it to track seed sources, when to… Read more »
Growing Salvia From Seed
There are over 1,000 species of salvia – some annual and some perennial. I started my salvia journey with Salvia Caradonna – an herbaceous perennial with strong vertical purple stems that carry deep violet-blue flowers in early summer and again in late summer if you deadhead. Eventually, I branched out into other perennial varieties, all… Read more »
Growing Gomphrena For Borders and Containers
I grew Gomphrena (globe amaranth) for the first time in 2023 and tested them out both in the landscape (Circle Garden) and in containers. They performed very well, with little pest damage and required little care, although Gomphrena is slow to get going and doesn’t really fill out until mid-summer. The plants in the Circle… Read more »
Growing Dusty Miller – 3 Varieties For Containers
Like almost everyone else on the planet, Dusty Miller, or Senecio cineraria, is my favourite annual silver foliage for containers and garden edges. While buying a small flat is relatively cost-effective, they are easy to grow from seed or cuttings. I grow three varieties now from seed or cuttings.
Growing Cosmos – Still Finding My Favourite
I love the delicate blooms of cosmos, but honestly, there are too many to choose from! I grow cosmos mostly in the Circle Garden, with a few more near the vegetable gardens for the pollinators. This is my personal garden growing guide. I use it to track seed sources, when to start seeds and if… Read more »
Alternanthera Purple Prince For Container Pots
I’m always looking for new annuals to use in pots and containers that are deer-tolerant. I decided to try Alternanthera and what a beautiful foliage plant. Alternanthera grows quite large although you could clip it as it branches easily. The foliage of Purple Prince is brown-red and best of all showed no signs of pest… Read more »
Growing Zinnia – I Need to Edit Myself!
They say zinnias don’t transplant well, but I still prefer to start mine indoors to control placement and colour in the garden. Having said that, I’m still playing with how many weeks before frost so the new starts are not too leggy and stressed when planted out after risk of frost has passed. This is… Read more »
Growing Alyssum – Some Varieties Need Less Shearing
My first try with Alyssum was a McKenzie Seeds package picked up on a whim at a big box store – Carpet of Snow. I quickly fell in love, except Carpet of Snow is leggy, so needs frequent shearing if grown in a container. I’ve since switched to shorter varieties which will bloom longer without shearing or cutting back.