Annuals are perfect for brightening your garden, window boxes and containers. They provide vibrant colour, shape, and texture to any garden, and with proper care, annuals will provide continuous blooms until frost arrives.
With so many annuals to choose from, it is important to understand the different growing conditions required per plant. Annuals can vary in size, required sun exposure, growing and soil conditions.
The days are getting warmer, and Spring is finally here! Get a head start on the growing season by starting some of your favourite flowers, fruits, and vegetables indoors from seed. The risk of frost will have passed in no time at all, and you’ll have strong and healthy seedlings ready to transplant once the regular growing season begins.
Tomatoes are by far the most popular choice that Canadians grow in their home “vegetable” gardens, but there are so many other easy options that you may want to explore.
Here are some helpful hints on how you can start sowing the seeds of your summer garden right now.
The gladiolus, also known as “glads”, is a beautiful symbol of summer’s arrival. These impressive flowers look stunning in the garden or as an elegant arrangement in a vase.
Easy to grow, gladiolus are ideal for novice gardeners. The corms are planted in the spring and within a few weeks, their orchid-like blooms will quickly fill your garden with colour.
The gladiolus originated in Africa and Eurasia, finding its way to North America in the mid-1900s. Their impressive size prompted experts to deem them the Latin term Gladius or “sword”, leading to their appropriate nickname, the sword lily.
Standing on stems that can reach upwards of five feet, gladiolus come in a variety of striking colours, with each flower adorned with smaller blooms. These blooms reach a width of about 3 to five inches across.
Here are some helpful hints on how you can grow delightful gladiolus in your garden.
As 2022 welcomes the year of the Peperomia, it is an excellent opportunity to add this easy-to-manage tropical plant to your home.
Native to Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean, the Peperomia is a member of the pepper family that allows you to incorporate lush tropical vibes into your decor.
Not only do plant lovers choose the Peperomia for its hardiness, but also for the stunning foliage that sets it apart from other houseplants.
Leaves come in a variety of colours, including red, grey, green, and purple, beautifully blended to create a marbled effect. This plant makes a statement with heart-shaped leaves that come in assorted sizes, so you can easily find a colour and size that fits your taste. Blooms are long, narrow stalks in green or brown. They don’t actually resemble flowers, and often people pinch them off as they can take away from the overall aesthetic of the plant. In a home setting, blooming can be a rare occurrence.
The Peperomia is known by several other names, including:
Ideal for filling in sunny spots in any container or garden bed, these annuals will thrive in an area that has direct sun for five or more hours.
To get the most out of your sun loving annuals, add our water-soluble Parkwood® Flower Plant Food 15-30-15 fertilizer every two weeks. It’s high in phosphorus so your plants will grow strong roots and vibrant blooms. Do not forget to water at the base of the plant regularly!
The perfect for companions for areas that have dappled shade or morning sunlight. Gardening in the shade can be challenging, but with these top picks, you all have a show-stopping display.
To get the most out of your annuals for shade, add our water-soluble Parkwood® Flower Plant Food 15-30-15 fertilizer every two weeks. It’s high in phosphorus so your plants will grow strong roots and vibrant blooms. Remember to water at the base of the plant when necessary!