HOW TO GROW 



All flowers listed jn 



The numbers, I to VIII, found with every 

 flower listing refer to the following culture 

 notes which give directions for growing 

 all of the flowers we list. 



One of the important problems in the 

 garden is that of maintaining a continuous 

 show of bloom. This calls for the use 

 of several different types of annuals, such 

 as those that must be planted early to 

 grow in cool weather (Culture IV) and 

 those which bloom later in summer heat 

 (Culture I and II). If some of the cool- 

 weather annuals from Group IV are sown 

 in mid-summmer and kept well watered, 

 they will grow slowly until the cooler 

 days of fall start them into more active 

 growth. These will produce late flowers. 

 Quick-growing annuals from Group II rnay 

 also be sown at intervals for a succession 

 of bloom during the summer. 

 One way to lengthen the blooming period 

 of annuals is to cut off all flowers as soon 

 as they fade. Annuals complete their life 

 span when seed is formed and frequent- 

 ly stop flowering as soon as the seed 

 ripens. By preventing the seed from form- 

 ing through removal of all old flowers, the 

 plants are kept growing and blooming. 



Culture I 



These flowers need a long season and 

 must be started indoors if a full blooming 

 period is to be had. If early bloom is not 

 important, they will bloom later in the 

 summer when sown directly in the gar- 

 den. Some gardeners sow both ways to 

 obtain a succession of flowers. 

 When starting seedlings indoors, select a 

 place with plenty of light. North or 

 shaded windows may be too dark for best 

 results. Cold frames are generally very 

 good. The seed is planted in small boxes 

 (or flat) that have good drain- 

 age and will fit the space 

 you are going to use. Fill 

 them with a mixture of Vz 

 good soil, Vb sand and 1/3 

 humus such as peat. Press 

 the soil down firmly and 

 make small rows with the 

 edge of a ruler or lath and 

 slowly shake the seed from 

 the packet into the rows. 

 Sift a light covering of the 

 soil mixture over the seed 

 and moisten with a fine 

 spray. Keep soil moist until 

 the seeds have sprouted. 

 Very fine seed such as that 

 of petunias should be dusted 

 carefully onto a smooth soil 

 surface and covered with a 

 pane of glass. Shade it with 

 newspaper until the seeds 

 sprout. These are best wat- 

 ered by setting the flat in 

 a pan of water until the soil 

 has become thoroughly 

 dampened all the way 

 through. When the seedlings 

 have formed the second true 

 leaves, transplant them into 

 other flats so the plants are 

 about 21/2 inches apart. This 

 will give them room to grow 

 to good size before being 

 set out. Expose gradually to 

 outside conditions and plant 

 outside after the weather is 

 warm and settled. When 

 sown directly outdoors, fol- 

 low directions under Culture 

 II. 



Culture II 



These are the quicker-grow- 

 ing annuals that can be 

 sown directly in the garden 

 and will bloom in time to 

 make a good display for 



most of the summer. If wanted especially 

 early, they should be started as directed 

 under Culture I. Some flower seedlings 

 are rather delicate. Extra care in preparing 

 the seed bed will pay dividends in better 

 plants. 



Prepare soil with a liberal amount of mixed 

 fertilizer and organic matter and dig it in. 

 Rake the surface until it is smooth and 

 pulverized. Sow the seed at a depth equal 

 to three times the diameter of the seed. 

 Fine seed can be spread on the surface 

 and pressed in without covering. 

 Keep soil moist by light spraying until 

 the seedlings have formed the first true 

 leaves. When they are large enough to 

 handle, they may be transplanted to other 

 parts of the garden. 



Culture III 



These flowers do not transplant well. They 

 should be planted where they are to 

 bloom. 



Sow as soon as the weather begins to 

 warm in the spring. Otherwise the culture 

 is the same as II. Sow seed thinly or 

 remove the smaller plants after they are 

 up. These can be handled as pot-grown 

 plants as in Culture VII. 



Culture IV 



These flowers are unusually hardy an- 

 nuals that can withstand very cool weather. 

 They are often sown late in fall so they 

 can start growing the first warm days of 

 spring. If not sown in fall, they should be 

 planted as early in the spring as possible. 

 Fall sowing gets the seeding job out of 

 the way before the spring rush. 



Culture V 



These flowers, while garden subjects, are 

 also useful for winter-flowering house 

 plants. For garden use, handle as in Cul- 

 ture II. For winter flov/ering indoors, plant 

 fairly late in the season and transplant 



PETUNIA — Fire Chief, 1950 Gold Medal AVinner. 



The first flower development to win the gold medal in 

 eleven years! This "natural color" reproduction cannot 

 do justice to the real life, fiery-red brilliance and beauty 

 of Fire Chief. A wonderful addition to your garden. Be 

 sure to ask us about it. 



into small pots as soon as they are large 

 enough. Keep moving them to larger pots 

 as roots fill the soil until they are finally 

 in six-inch pots. Annuals in pots should 

 have at least six hours of direct sunlight 

 daily if they are to flower. 



Culture VI 



Perennials can be seeded at almost any 

 time of the year. Best periods are early 

 in the spring or in early summer v/hen 

 the rush of spring work is over. A cold 

 frame or sheltered bed which can be 

 shaded from the direct sun is best. Pre- 

 pare soil thoroughly with plenty of organic 

 matter. A loose, friable soil will produce 

 a thick mat of roots so that the seedlings 

 will transplant more easily. Perennial 

 seedlings are rather weak growers need- 

 ing extra care. In covering the drills in 

 which the seeds are sown, use either 

 pure, clean sand or a mixture of half sand 

 and half peat. This prevents packing of the 

 soil over the seeds. Always water with a 

 fine spray. 



As soon as the second leaves form, seed- 

 lings may be transplanted into their 

 permanent position. Or, if more con- 

 venient, they may be left in the seed-bed 

 until the following spring. Under this cul- 

 ture, only a few species will bloom the 

 first year and they will not produce nor- 

 mal flowers until the following year. Plant- 

 ing earlier does increase the chances for 

 flowers the first year. But, if it is more 

 convenient. Culture I may be used. 



Culture VII 



These varieties need a longer growing 

 season than can be given them outdoors. 

 And because they do not transplant well, 

 they must be started in pots and set out 

 without disturbing the roots. Otherwise 

 Culture is the same as I. The use of plant 

 bands allows you to set the seedlings out 

 without disturbing the roots. 

 The bands soon rot away 

 and the seedlings will grow 

 as though started in the 

 garden. 



If clay pots are used, the 

 excessive drying can be 

 avoided by placing the pots 

 in a flat and filling the 

 space between them with 

 damp peat or vermiculite. 

 Be sure to keep this mate- 

 rial moist or it will draw 

 moisture from the pots. 



Culture VIII 



These flowers are biennials. 

 They make a leafy growth 

 the first year but do not 

 flower. The leafy growth of 

 the first year forms food for 

 blooming the following year. 

 The flowers apoear the sec- 

 ond year and then the plant 

 dies. 



This means that a continu- 

 ous show from biennials 

 must be provided by start- 

 ing new plants every year 

 to replace those that are 

 flowering. Biennials are han- 

 dled in the same way as 

 perennials except that they 

 are started early in the 

 spring to allow the plant to 

 store as much food as pos- 

 sible for the next year's 

 bloom. 



Many gardeners start bien- 

 nials in the vegetable gar- 

 den or special starting bed 

 and then transplant the ones 

 needed to the flower gar- 

 den the following spring. 

 During the winter, biennials 

 should be given the same 

 treatment as perennials. 



