News from Smithfield Gardens

The Seeds of Spring

     I believe that when gardeners enter stores in early spring where racks of seeds are displayed an "emotional moment" occurs. Even if they don't normally start anything from seed, seeing the bright pictures of plants on the packets reassures them that warmer weather can not be far off. Our store placed spring seed orders last fall and, as many of you know, we like to stock unusual annuals and vegetables. We always include seeds for plants that can be started this time of the year because we know that many gardeners can't wait to do something plant-related.

     Shopping early for seeds guarantees the best selection, but be aware that the last frost date in our area is about mid April. One of the biggest mistakes people make is starting their seeds in the house too early. Once the seeds have germinated you will have to baby sit them until they can go outside ---often until the end of April! Some of the easiest seeds for novice gardeners to start are also plants that must have it warm to survive. Zinnias, Cosmos, Morning Glories, Moon Vine, Tomatoes and Squash are some examples that come to mind. Armed with this information restrain yourself and calculate backwards for a good date to sow seeds inside.

Chinese Forget Me Not

      Pictured here is one of my favorite true blue annuals, Chinese Forget-Me-Not or Cynoglossum amabile. Easily confused with the more perennial Forget-Me-Not Myosotis sylvatica, this annual definitely likes it cool so in our area it usually dies off during our hot summers. Some gardeners might wonder why anyone would bother growing Cynoglossum from seed (garden centers never carry it, by the way) for this reason, but one look at the flowers is enough to convince "blue" lovers. Another cool season annual that growers don' t provide is Calendula officinalis, which was often called Pot Marigold in colonial times. I first saw this cheerful golden-yellow annual years ago in Colonial Williamsburg gardens. Though Calendula is another plant that dislikes our hot summers it is easily started for your early spring garden. You will get several weeks of color from both of these annuals that I have just described if you start them in the early spring. Also look into fragrant Sweet Peas, Larkspur (often called Delphinium for the south), Nasturtium, 'Blue Boy' Bachelor Button, and annual Shirley and Icelandic Poppies for early flowers. By the way, the Sweet Peas, Larkspur, Nasturtium and Poppies can also be direct seeded.

     Start saving your yogurt cups and fish once-used styrofoam cups out of the office wastebasket. You'll feel good about reusing these items and, with drainage holes punched in the bottom, they both make excellent containers for starting (and sharing) seeds. When you are ready to begin sowing seeds, I strongly recommend that you purchase a quality seed starting mix as opposed to digging the soil from your yard. These mixes are sterile, and they can often be used to root plant cuttings later in the season too. If you are planning to reuse small containers that you started seeds in last spring make sure clean them with a mild bleach solution of 9 parts water to 1 part bleach.

     I encourage anyone, especially if they have children, to try a few seeds this spring. As existing gardeners we need to cultivate the gardeners of the future. What could be more exciting for a child than picking a bouquet for Mom or proudly eating a juicy tomato that they grew themselves from a tiny brown seed?

Ann Weber