
Cultural Suggestions 
Plant in a sunny location in any good garden soil. 
Good drainage is very essential. Mix coarse sand, 
leaf mold, or peat moss and well rotted manure to 
a depth of twelve to eighteen inches. Sprinkle bone 
meal in bottom of hole, spread out roots, plant firmly 
at same level as grown before, do not plant too deeply. 
Sprinkle lime or bone meal, and leaf mold or peat 
moss on surface after planting. 
May and June are the best months for planting. 
Space eighteen to twenty-four inches apart for cut 
flowers or garden display. When plants are established 
and growing or when about six inches high, pinch 
off the very tips of each shoot for cut flowers or 
garden display, pinch again when about ten inches 
high. If large blooms are wanted space twelve inches 
apart. Do not pinch for exhibition blooms only on 
varieties that grow too tall, or for timing blooms 
for certain dates. Select two or three of the strongest 
shoots, remove the rest. 
When plants are starting to grow put in stakes 
and start tying as soon and as often as needed to 
keep stems growing straight. Tie cloth to stake and 
loop around plant loosely. Keep free from insect 
pests with rotenone, nicotine or other insecticide 
spray. Use also any good fungicide spray every two 
weeks. Remember the best time to spray is when you 
do not need it. Prevention is the best. 
Do not let plants suffer for lack of water. Water 
at the root, do not sprinkle foliage on hot days. 
Water in morning or evening for depth of at least 
twelve inches. 
Top dress plants end of July, third week in August, 
and second week in September, with manure, organic 
fertilizer, or a good rich humus. When buds appear 
feed with liquid manure, use weak diluted. 
While disbudding or removing surplus stems, if 
leaves or stems break off too easily you are using 
too much water, or fertilizer, or both—cut down a 
little. Never let stems get woody, hard, which shows 
lack of water or fertilizer or both. 
When buds begin to show color gradually cut down 
on water and fertilizer to harden and finish bloom. 
After blooms are through in the fall, cut down to 
sir inches of the ground. During winter place small 
branches or sticks around and over plants, and place 
other loose material on branches, do not smother 
with material that packs. Or dig up and place in 
lighted and ventilated building, cold frame, etc., do 
not let dry out or keep too wet. Gradually remove 
covering in spring when growth starts. Watch out 
for slugs, in early growth. Use Meta slug bait. Make 
traps by placing slug bait under boards placed so 
rain cannot wet bait. Separate plants in spring, by 
breaking up clumps, ‘plant only outer green shoots, 
or take new cuttings, and root in mason sand. 
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