Celebrate Plant a Flower Day!

It may be too cold in your area to actually start your garden, but whether you're planting outside or inside using a pots - get going! For most of us in the US, especially us in Minnesota, starting seeds indoors is a great option who wants to benefit from an early start.  Don't have pots?  Really anything will do with the proper care - yogurt cups, milk cartons and other household containers.  Be sure to clean all containers thoroughly to prevent disease from affecting seedlings. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to get started: 1.  Decide on your flowers.  Visit a local garden center and choose the best flowers for your garden.  Check the tags that come with the flowers or seed packets to make sure the flower is right or you.
  • Look for the complete growth size of the flower
  • Ask about native flowers before looking at all available varieties
  • Check to see if the flower you are growing is an annual or a perennial.  Annuals bloom only once a year and must be replanted.  Perennials grow back every year without needing to be replanted
  • Read the tag for watering requirements
2.  Get good soil and mix in some fertilizer.  This will add a nice nutrient boost.  Avoid soil that is heavy with clay, sand or rocks, and that has a balanced pH near 7.  Plant flower seeds at least six inches deep in loose soil.  Nothing too packed! 3.  Then, read the plant's light preferences on the seed package.  Select a good location for your seeds to begin growing.  Flowers can't just grow anywhere.  Usually, an area that isn't in the direct sun, but doesn't have too much shade is perfect - a happy medium. 4.  Water your flowers regularly.  But not daily!  Just make sure the soil is always slightly moist. 5.  Weed the area as needed. 6.  Maintain flowers.  Remove deadheads on your flowers so that new ones can bloom.  Add support if the flowers are getting too tall.  And, consider relocating flowers to larger pots or areas outside if they get too big. Let us know if you have any questions!  Happy planting! :) Pssst... Want to give little ones the gift of spring?  Snuggle Pods are perfect.
{Snuggle Pods Two Peas in a Pod}