Read this in February of 2021: summer 2020 gardening notes

Dear February 2021 Garden Brain:

Even tho, 2020 was a disturbing year in so many respects, gardening was a delight. And knowing that no matter what is going on in the world, once February comes along, even though there is still a good chance for a freeze, I can hardly wait to start planting things. Try to slow that hysteria and make a plan this time. Get your seeds lined up early and be thoughtful. Here is a review of some of what we learned in July about gardening on top of Blue Mountain. 

God willing, and with the good Mother Earth's blessing, here is what to do more of:

More containers. Especially by the Pine tree where they get lots of sun for several hours but then afternoon shade. It was great fun to mix a variety of plants together in the same pot so plan more of it. The companion planting charts are helpful in that regard. Remember LB, whoever LB is, likes eating blooms from the porch container plants so plan accordingly. LB does not seem to be interested in hibiscus or basil. LB likes gardenias and succulents in particular.

From seed, plant more:

Bush beans (Seeds of Change - blue lake) plant seeds directly in the pot, in March and plant everywhere except with garlic or succulents of course. These beans don't need a trellis and make pretty greenery in a container. They liked the deep container near the big pine tree that gets about 6 hours of direct sun so being in part-shade but not full or dappled. Try some in the shade garden raised bed next year just to see what happens in true dappled sun. After mid-June, I didn't get any new ones to grow from seed and the plants started to get yellow leaves so I pulled them by July 1. But those beans were good.

Zinnias (the pollinator kind-cut and cut again-use the saved seeds from 2020) plant in April directly into the garden or large container.  Where ever you need height. Remember zinnias end up behaving like drunken showgirls so make sure they are in a place they can fall over and on top of each other. Put something in front of them like Georgia calmint to hide the scrawny legs.

Greens - buttercrunch, red oak leaf lettuce, and noble giant spinach did well so plant a lot, in March and keep it up through June. They bolt fast in the heat. Plant arugula all year long. People have such good luck with it...someday we might.

Basil - It grows really fast and likes it hot so start in April.  Don't forget to pinch the top leaves.

Parsley - Start in May. Years passed they reseeded themselves. You cannot have enough parsley when you feed caterpillars.

Tomatoes - use the seeds from what you buy at the store and just toss in the pots. They liked being with bush beans. Start in May, keep planting all summer, and hope for the best. I still haven't had the best but I will someday.

Squash in the shade garden raised bed...start earlier in May and June. Maybe even April if only to get the flowers.

Peas! - get seeds and plant by the trellis. Don't wait. They are so pretty and I wasn't able to find seeds.

From plants:

Green pepper plants - they can make it over the winter but the peppers get stunted.

Milkweed - they survive winter but the butterflies are greedy. Get more: 2 plants for the driveway garden and 2 for the shade garden. They reseed better on their own than from the seeds you save.

See how it went:

Ginger? - the ginger from ginger root came up nicely in June. By now we should know about the blooms and how they winter. They might need to go into the ground???

Count on:

Coreopsis - I hope they come up again like they did this spring but they don't like too much rain so in July they aren't as prolific but still trying to remain cheerful. 

Salvia - they may come up on their own. They did in 2020. 

Blue daze and pintas -  be patient, they recover from winter. Just fill in more stuff around them like mint and more coreopsis.

Marigolds - I used my buddy's seeds that she gave me in June. They came up quickly and they are so pretty. I would start them in April next year, in between the coreopsis and in little pots to plant here and there later.

Mist flower - they look like a weed coming up so put the seeds in a designated pot. They end up with cute poofs of lavender and you can replant them wherever they are needed.  They like everything except too much rain but they come back no matter what like a weed!

Dianthus - we probably bought some plants already this winter. They seem to stay happy and persistent in any weather. The red tones seem hardiest.

The lantana, so far, purple, yellow (even the invasive multi-color, thankfully) are not blooming much and they haven't in years so don't get more. It's not worth the heartache. 

New plants to purchase: 

Beach daisy - (full sun) I have tried to propagate by seed but nothing. 

Hellebore (shade)

Society garlic (dappled and sun)

African iris (dappled and sun)

Clethra (part shade)

And more green pepper plants.

Learning a little about planning from who I think is LB, saving lots of seeds was a lifesaver this year since I didn't go out much. Here's hoping they give us a good start this year too. 

LB?