Growing Ginger, Turmeric, and Lemongrass

Posted on March 13, 2025 | 1 comment
lemongrass

Bunch of lemongrass culms wrapped in plastic

Every year at this time, I visit a local Asian supermarket and pick up a few turmeric and ginger rhizomes and a couple of lemongrass stalks. For a few dollars, you can grow these tropical herbs for the summer. It is important to start early inside as ginger and turmeric have long growing seasons. It can take 8 to 10 months for the plants to fully develop in order to be able to harvest the rhizomes. Fortunately, they do not need the type of light structures you use to start seeds indoors.

Visit your local Asian supermarket and you will see bins of turmeric, ginger, and lemongrass. If possible, purchase organic ones but of these, I only see organic ginger in my stores.

ginger

Organic ginger rhizomes in bins

For the ginger (Zingiber officinale), pick rhizomes that are as healthy, disease free, and as plump as possible. Ginger is a rhizome, an underground swollen stem. It has eyes, like a potato, so make sure you purchase a piece with several eyes. It is best to purchase organic ginger as regular ginger may have been sprayed with a growth inhibitor. Regardless, soak the rhizomes in water for 24 hours before you plant to remove any chemicals.  Use a plastic container with drainage holes. It is best to start with a small container, just large enough for the rhizome to fit. Think of these as starter containers. Fill with potting mix (I use commercially prepared potting mix). Plant only 2 inches deep, and plant flat or horizontally.  Keep soil moist but not water-logged until you see the foliage emerge. It can take a long time, even a month, so don’t give up hope. Because the watering is a little tricky — too much and they rot, too little and they dry out, you may want to pot up one rhizome per container. That way, if one does not make it, you still have the others. These will not need light until the foliage emerges. But they will need warmth so don’t place the containers in your basement or garage.

turmeric

Turmeric rhizomes in bins

For the turmeric (Curcuma longa), plant the same way as above. I never see organic turmeric in the supermarket so I buy what there is in the bin. I also soak them in case they were sprayed with a growth retardant (it certainly cannot hurt).  Again, best to not put all your eggs in one basket, plant one per container so if one rots, you will have the others.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a little different in that it does not take that long to grow in order to be able to cut the stalks to use in the kitchen. I start them in March because I am buying all of my tropical herbs at the same time but you can start them later. Lemongrass is a true grass.  The foot-long stalk you purchase from the grocery store is called a culm. The entire stalk was cut to make it easier to handle so you are buying the bottom foot of the stalk with the base and maybe a rootlet at the base.  Look for culms that are as plump as possible and not dried out. No need to soak the night before, just plant in the container with drainage holes with potting mix. These also will root if they are in a container of water but make sure you change the water every few days.  One culm can grow to be a large 3- to 4-foot-tall plant so for my family of four I only need one but I buy several in case one does not root. If I start mine in March, I can probably start to cut and harvest in the summer, up until frost.

lemongrass

Lemongrass is relatively cheap

In May, when the evening temperatures are consistently warm, I transfer the plants outside. I put them on my deck in the shade first for them to adapt to the stronger sunlight (shade for them is stronger sunlight than what they received indoors). Then gradually I move them to larger containers and more sun. The lemongrass is moved to a full sun location. The turmeric and ginger can take part shade. I prefer to leave mine in containers because it is easier to harvest in the fall. They will not overwinter in the DC metro area. Fortunately, they are relatively easy to purchase every March and can make interesting gift plants as well. If you are really want to start a conversation, try growing the ginger and turmeric as houseplants!

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Tips for Starting Seeds Indoors

Posted on March 5, 2025 | Leave a comment

marigoldsIts time! The month of March is a good time to start many seeds indoors under lights. You can get a head start on warm season plants such as tomatoes and peppers. Before you begin to sow seeds indoors, check out these tips to ensure as much success as possible. If you haven’t ordered your seeds yet, here is a list of seed companies.

ONE: The sunlight through your windows will not provide enough light. Use fluorescent tubes from hardware stores or purchase special grow lights but make sure their height can be adjusted. Seedlings are grown an inch away from the light source but as they grow the light source must be able to be adjusted. Lights have to be on for 14 to 16 hours daily but you can use a timer.

TWO: Yes, you can make your own seed starting mix but why? It is easier to purchase a bagged mix made especially for starting seeds – this mix is sterile with enough porosity for seeds to germinate and push through.

THREE: Not every seed should be started indoors. Some should be sown outdoors such as cilantro, dill, carrots, spinach, radishes, beans, and peas. Look at the seed package for instructions.

FOUR: What you use as a container is partially determined by what you are sowing. For example, if you are starting a lot of tomatoes, you can use one large tray because the seeds are likely to germinate and grow at the same rate. If you are sowing a variety of plants, use many small containers because each plant will have a different rate of germination and growth. Use plastic containers with drainage holes, draining excess water into a watertight, plastic tray. These can be small plastic cups, fruit cups, or yogurt cups. Another option is soil blocking.

FIVE: Once you sow and water seeds, you need to keep the seed moist until germination because if they dry out, they are no longer viable. This is why many people use clear plastic domes but remember to remove these domes when you see the seed emerge.

SIX: Water the mix in the container so it is moist before planting the seed. It will likely be hard to get moist, it may take several waterings, letting the water drain through, and tamping down with your fingers until you can sow the seeds. Then water again to soak the seeds.

SEVEN: The most common problem is “damping-off” which is caused by a fungus that thrives in warm, moist environments that are poorly ventilated. You will see pinched stems and seedlings that fall over. There is no recovering from this so one must prevent damping off by using clean containers, fresh water, increased air circulation, and not overwater.

seed packetsEIGHT: Usually, fine seed need light to germinate while larger seeds should be buried; check the seed package.

NINE: Heat mats are only necessary if you are starting warm season seeds in a cold area. Not all plants need this and not all places in the home need extra warmth. If you are starting seeds in a very warm room in the house (maybe upstairs – heat rises) you should be fine. If you are using a cool basement, you may need a seed heating mat. However, once the seeds have emerged, they can tolerate cooler temperatures.

TEN: Always label and keep records–within weeks you won’t remember anything. Because the small containers will be close together and under the light, you may want to mark the containers with a black magic marker instead of using plant tags at first.

ELEVEN: What you will see first is not the true leaves but the cotyledons. These once were the halves of the seed. They will look like leaves but soon they will shrivel and die off. Then you should see the first set of true leaves that can begin the photosynthesis process (i.e., make its own food). Decrease watering as you see growth emerge because really the roots are now down deep in the container taking up water so the surface can look a little drier than when you first sowed.

TWELVE: If you planted too many in one container, you can transplant seedlings into other containers after you see this first set of true leaves. Alternatively, you can remove the weakest looking ones with small scissors, just cut across at the base of the soil, do not pull it out.

THIRTEEN: When to start the seed indoors under lights? First determine your average last frost date for your area. Then count backwards the number of weeks given on the seed package. For example, if I use Mother’s Day as my average last frost date then I would start Black Krim tomato seed 6 weeks prior so it would be the last week in March. In that six-week timeframe, I know that probably the last 2 weeks, end of April, beginning of May, I will have moved the seedling to a larger 4-inch pot and place outside on the deck. This period will allow it to harden off.

FOURTEEN: Some seeds have to go through a scarification process where the seed coat either has to be nicked with a file or the seeds have to soak in a container of water for 24 hours before they are sown. For example, soak morning glories in water overnight before you sow them to help the process of breaking down the seed coat and letting the water in. Other seeds need to go through a stratification process of moist, cool temperatures several months before they will germinate. These seeds can be stored in the fridge for a few months before you attempt to sow them. Seed packets should state these requirements.

FIFTEEN: The caveat to #14 is that the seed packet is small and can only offer so much information, so read more information on the company’s website or catalog, or search on the internet, or look in a gardening book in order to have as much knowledge and success as possible for that particular plant.

SIXTEEN: Often there is too much seed in a packet. Don’t think you have to sow all the seed in the packet. In fact, save some in case your initial planting does not work out, or share/swap with friends, or use next year. Most vegetable seed will be viable next year with the exception of onions and leeks.

Good luck!

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New Herbs to Grow in 2025

Posted on February 19, 2025 | Leave a comment

Thai Double Sky Blue butterfly pea, photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co./rareseeds.com

As you are making your seed list and checking it twice, consider growing new herbs this year. Every year I scour more than 20 seed/plant catalogs/websites for new introductions–something new to try in my garden. In the past, I think I was constrained by a narrow definition of herbs but the more I learn, the more my definition has expanded. Many plants could be considered herbs, including greens. Herbs are plants that are of use to humans, either for culinary, medicinal, aromatherapy, cosmetic, and even coloring (dyes).

Also, “new” can be defined in different ways. The item may be new to the company’s inventory but that does not mean it would be a new plant for an experienced gardener. To me “new” is: “Wow! This herb is really different from all the other ones — I have not seen this before, and I think you might be interested.” Obviously, my list is not all new herbs on the market but a selection of “herbs of interest” – suggestions for you to try as you expand your herb gardening experience.

Finally, not all companies list new introductions. They may have them but they do not highlight or tag them, so it is difficult to ascertain. If you want to keep exploring new introductions, here is a link to more than 100 seed companies. Many will send you free catalogs!

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds always has tantalizing introductions — many of which are from other countries, so you always learn something new. Note that plants are listed in alphabetical order in the catalog — not categorized by flower, vegetable, or herb. I think they recognize the overlap or blurred distinctions between many ornamental and medicinal and/or culinary useful plants. For example, new this year is ‘Beetroot Amaranth’, an ornamental edible plant from India. The red foliage can add color to the ornamental garden and can be cooked as a green, like spinach. There also is a new white version called ‘White Beauty’ with ice white stems and green foliage.

Purple Perfume hot pepper, photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co./rareseeds.com

Another example is butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) and this year Baker Creek is introducing ‘Thai Double Sky Blue’. This vine blooms stunning double-flowering pale blue flowers which can be used to color beverages, cocktails, and food such as rice.

Baker Creek has several new hot peppers which are too spicy for me, but I would grow ‘Purple Perfume’ (Cheiro Roxa) as an ornamental for its translucent purple fruit. A staple in Brazilian cooking, these plants produce many very small colorful peppers which Baker Creek says are “pretty enough for the flowerbed.”

And if you are strictly looking for herbs, try their new papalo seeds. They have two types: butterfly leaf and narrow leaf form. I have seen the broad leaf form in my area (Porophyllum ruderale var.  macrocephalum) so it is not really “new” but I have not seen the narrow leaf form. Papalo foliage commonly is used in Mexican cuisine. The flavor is supposed to be similar to cilantro but with a more pronounced flavor. However, papalo thrives in the summer while cilantro will flower and set seed when the summer begins. The narrow leaf form (Porophyllum ruderale) reminds me of willow leaves. It is a lesser-known variety of papalo, and again used like cilantro, but prefers warm weather. This plant also is known as quilquina.

If you have not heard of Experimental Farm Network, you need to check it out. EFN is the quiet studious bookworm to party girl Baker Creek, chock full of interesting plants from other countries as well as seed saving, plant breeding, and preserving genetic diversity efforts and collaborations. There are quite a lot of new items so I am going to bullet list them here because the EFN website provides chapters of descriptions for each:

  • ‘Big Hip Apple Rose’ (Rosa villosa): They are offering seed to grow this rose, which produces very large red hips (hips are the fruit used for culinary and medicinal purposes).
  • ‘Hun Ken’ (Allium ramosum): This is a fragrant flowering garlic from China, cold hardy to zone 5.
  • ‘Iraqi Rashad’ garden cress (Lepidium sativum): Cress is a hot and spicy green, which can use as a microgreen, garnish, salad green or on soups and sandwiches. It prefers cool weather, grow like cilantro.
  • ‘Kyrgyzstani Kalmyk’ dill (Anethum graveolens): This is a flavorful heirloom dill bred for its foliage from Kalmyk (Dzungar) in Bishkek, capitol of Kyrgyzstan.
  • ‘Monhegan Post Office’ sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata): Sweet cicely is a perennial in the carrot family known for edible leaves, seed, and roots. This one is named after an old post office on Monhegan Island, Maine (how cute is that?).
  • ‘Nga Khaw Buk’ sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum): Yes, Virginia, you too can grow sesame. This is an annual plant from Thailand.
  • ‘Togolese’ hoary basil (Ocimum americanum): Despite the botanical name this basil hails from west Africa and has a strong fruity fragrance. The word “hoary” means gray-white color but this plant has green, small, pointy leaves.
  • Clary sage, redwood strain (Salvia sclarea): This particular strain of seeds has large white lilac pink bracts surrounding light blue flowers. This is a biennial or short-lived perennial known for its medicinal properties and stunning flowers.
  • Sanshō Japanese peppercorn (Zanthoxylum piperitum): Native to Japan, this will grow to a small shrub and the leaves, flowers, and fruit are used for culinary and medicinal purposes. A primary ingredient in Chinese five spice powder, this peppercorn’s claim to fame is its ability to cause a spicy and numbing sensation when consumed.

Anil (indigo), photo courtesy of Owen Taylor, Truelove Seeds

If you are interested in herbs, you need to become familiar with True Love Seeds. In addition to their informative website, they have a podcast called Seeds and their People and they offer seeds/herbs/veggies from many countries. Check out their collections such as African diaspora, East Asian, Italian, Ark of Taste, and the Roughwood Seed Collection. They have a lot of new products, many of which would be hard to categorize as either herb or veggie so check out their website. Here are some of the new 2025 introductions:

  • Shambalileh Iranian Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum): Fenugreek is a medicinal and culinary herb, both foliage and seeds are used. This variety is from Iran.
  • Reyhan Sabz Basil (Ocimum basilicum): Also from Iran, this green basil is supposed to be milder than other basils.
  • Shevid (Persian dill) (Anethum graveolens): This Persian dill is known as Shevid in Iran.
  • Persian purple basil (Ocimum basilicum): Although not entirely purple, this basil makes a great ornamental plant. Can be used for cooking of course but think about using it for foliage color in a container.
  • Rashad Iraqi Cress (Lepidium sativum): A cress from Iraq, a spicy green.
  • Añil (Indigo) (Indigofera suffruticosa): Indigo is grown for its use as a plant dye.
  • Besobela (Ocimum): A type of holy basil from Ethiopia that is very floriferous so consider growing it for pollinators.
  • Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum): A type of basil from Nigeria and Ghana used for various dishes.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds and High Mowing Seeds are go to sources for downy mildew resistant basils.  Both are introducing ‘Thai Thai Prospera ® Active DMR’, an organic seed; while High Mowing Seeds also is introducing ‘Noga Prospera ® Active DMR’, organic pelleted seed. Johnny’s is introducing Everleaf lemon basil that is supposed to be slower to bolt. High Mowing Seeds is introducing two green basils: Large Leaf and Saporoso. High Mowing Seeds has expanded their herb offerings to include Thalia and Ceres Dill, Beefsteak Plant Bi-color Shiso, Rosemary, and Za’atar.

Rashad cress, photo courtesy of Owen Taylor, Truelove Seeds

Adaptive Seeds is offering organic caraway (Carum carvi) seeds called ‘Sprinter’. Caraway is an annual, about 2 feet tall, similar looking to fennel and dill. The foliage and seeds are consumed. Although caraway is a biennial herb, Sprinter has been selected for annual production.

Another edible ornamental is organic celosia, Sokoyokoto or Lagos Spinach (Celosia argentea var. spicata). This leafy green is from Africa, similar to callaloo greens. It is a warm season annual with green foliage splashed with red. The flowers are ruby pink spikes, perfect for arrangements.

Organic Forest Green Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a curly parsley, but it does not have a tight curl. The flavor is less bold than flat leaf parsley and can be used to garnish or add flavor in cooking. Although people don’t associate parsley with an ornamental garden, it makes a lovely green accent.

Scent leaf, photo courtesy of Owen Taylor, Truelove Seeds

Known for their works of art seed packets, Hudson Valley Seeds is now offering organic Resina calendula (Calendula officinalis) which is the best strain for making herbal salves. Not really new but Hudson is making it available in one of their art packs, which makes it an elegant gift. They also are selling lemon mint bergamot, Monarda citriodora, for the first time in 2025 but this one is not available as an art pack. This annual is not “new” but nice to know that Hudson Valley Seed offers it so you can include it when you order their other seeds.

If you are interested in dying fabrics with natural dyes, try their 1-2-3 indigo dye kit using organic indigo. They provide indigo seeds; you supply the fabric of your choice. They sell the Japanese indigo seeds separately, which is one of the oldest plant textile dyes. This one is available as an art pack.

Park Seed has a Sow Effortless Seed Collection where you just sow, water, and grow plants from paper discs, mats, and tapes embedded with seeds. The theory is you just lay down the paper, water, and magic! The advantage is that the seeds are “pre-spaced” or spaced correctly but also if you have dexterity issues with small seeds, this could make life easier. They have these available in several herbs, flowers, and veggies.

Park is introducing the new Bonsai Basil from the Kitchen Minis ™ Collection. These are Greek basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum) which produce a fine leaved, compact plant about 6 to 12 inches tall — perfect for containers.

Another Park introduction is purple ball basil which has very dark red purple foliage. A great container plant, purple ball basil grows to be a 10-to-12-inch ball shape that can either be used as an ornamental or harvested for use in the kitchen.

Coarse besobela, photo courtesy of Owen Taylor, Truelove Seeds

Territorial Seed has a wide variety of herbs, flowers, veggies, berries, and fruits. The nice thing about this company is their extensive inventory, free catalog, and for many, they sell both plants and seed. If you cannot find a particular herb in your area or would rather have the plant than sow seed, they sell many herb plants. New to their inventory is the ashwagandha plant (Withania somnifera) which is a medicinal herb used to alleviate stress and anxiety. They also are offering yerba buena (Satureja douglasii), a plant harvested for tea. Like Park Seed, Territorial Seed is offering the new Bonsai Basil but their sizes include a smaller package of fewer seed, for those who do not need a large quantity.

These are just a few selections for you to increase your herbal gardening palette. Good luck and happy gardening!

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Heart-Shaped Hoya Plant

Posted on February 14, 2025 | Leave a comment

If you were lucky enough to receive a heart-shaped hoya plant, also known as a sweetheart plant or Valentine’s hoya, here is how to take care of this cute little plant.

This heart-shaped leaf is what it is, a leaf from a vine plant called Hoya kerrii. Because it is a rooted leaf and not a rooted stem cutting, it will not grow into a vining plant, it will simply exist as is. There is no growing point to develop a vine. However, if you take care of it, it will last quite a while. Provide a warm room, bright indirect light, and don’t overwater the plant. This is a succulent that needs little water and well-draining soil. Make sure the container has drainage holes.  Since you are not encouraging growth, just survival, you only need to fertilize once a year during the summer.  These plants will stay small, they won’t grow or change, which makes them perfect desktop plants.

In its natural life, Hoya kerrii is a vine with heart shaped leaves. Like other hoyas, these plants make great hanging basket plants. They have fascinating blooms, usually scented. Interestingly, we know about this plant because an Irish medical doctor named Arthur Francis George Kerr worked in southeast Asia in the early 20th century. He is known for his botanical studies of the flora of Thailand. He collected Hoya kerrii in Chiang Mai, which is in northern Thailand, and sent it to Kew Gardens in England where it flowered in August 1911. I am sure he had no idea that over one hundred years later, a single leaf cutting of this plant has become a popular Valentine’s Day gift.

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Chervil: A Culinary Herb with Ephemeral Grace

Posted on February 6, 2025 | 2 comments

Chervil is a culinary herb that graces us with its presence for a few months in the early spring. Its finely cut, green leaves emerge in March and April here in the DC metro area. By summer, the foliage melts away.

Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) is an old European herb, one of the components of fines herbs of French cuisine. It is not as well known here in America but it is easy to grow from seed. A cousin of parsley, chervil’s leaves are similar but finely cut. The overall height is smaller, about one foot tall and wide. If it flowers, the compound umbels display small white flowers, again, similar to parsley or carrot. Because chervil is a hardy annual, seeds should be sown in very early spring, end of March to beginning of April. Chervil prefers moist soil and partial or afternoon shade. I prefer to grow it in containers because the ground soil is still very cold plus this prevents slug damage.

You will not be able to purchase this plant at local garden centers. Order seeds now so you are ready to sow in March (here is a list of seed companies).

The fresh leaves taste like a combination of parsley and anise (licorice). Chervil is great in egg dishes, fish, fruit salad, cream cheese, cream sauces, cheese dishes, and butter. The foliage also can be added to vegetables such as carrots, beans, corn, and peas during the last few minutes of cooking. It is best to add chervil at the end of hot dishes such as soups and stews because exposure to heat for a long time will make it taste bitter.

The foliage does not dry well so you use it fresh. That is why you have to grow it from seed in the spring and take advantage of it then. I have not seen fresh cut chervil for sale in the produce section of the grocery stores. You can purchase dried chervil in bottles along with the other herbs and spices in the grocery store but the taste will not be the same.

Try growing this spring ephemeral this year, you still have time to order seeds!

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Multiply Your Holiday Cactus Through Cuttings

Posted on January 26, 2025 | Leave a comment

stem cuttings twisted off holiday cactus plant

Another great winter activity, propagating your holiday cactus. By now it should be finished blooming which is a good time to take cuttings and make many more plants to give away as gifts.

Line up a few clean, small plastic containers such as yogurt containers, fruit cup containers, or plastic cups and puncture the bottoms to allow for drainage. Fill with packaged seed starting mix and water each cup so water runs through the drainage holes.

To take the cutting, simply twist off a piece of stem about three to four segments long. The stems are made up of joined rectangular segments. Each segment is called a cladode. The length should be long enough to insert into soil and stand up. You want to twist so you have the end of a segment or cladode, not mid-way into a segment. Insert into the container, water again, and tamp to ensure the stem is standing upright. You can insert several per container or just one per container.

Place on a tray, in a well-lit place, out of direct sun. The room should be warm, “room temperature,” not a cold, drafty basement.  It is not necessary to place the container in a plastic bag or to fertilize.

stem cuttings planted

Some people insert the cutting directly into the soil while others wait a day or two for the cut part to form a callus. This is done to prevent rotting. I have never had a problem with rotting so I simply insert the cutting into the wet soil.

I do not use a rooting hormone because the plant roots easily. A holiday cactus, also called a Christmas cactus or a Thanksgiving cactus, is an epiphytic plant that grows on trees in Brazil’s coastal mountains. In their natural habitat, they have aerial roots, which is an indication that the cuttings will root easily without added hormones.

For the first few weeks, I water the containers often enough so the soil is moist but not waterlogged.  Because the containers are very small, the soil will dry out faster than a full grown plant in a large container. After a few weeks, I check to see if roots have formed by gently pulling to see if there is resistance. Also, if the plant is still turgid, there is a good chance it has survived the cut and is still trying to form roots. If the plant is obviously wilted or rotted, I throw away the entire plant and container into the trash. This is one advantage to having one cutting per container; if it does not work, you only lose the one cutting and container, not many cuttings in one container.

roots formed on cuttings in 17 days

Eventually, the cuttings will form enough roots so you can transplant to a larger container with potting soil. You can either continue to grow this indoors or put outdoors in the summer and then bring back in the fall. For the cost of seed starting mix, cuttings are an inexpensive gift for friends and family. Makes a great teacher’s gift too!

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When Can I Plant My Tomatoes? When Is the Last Spring Frost?

Posted on January 22, 2025 | 1 comment

Basil plants for sale in March in Northern Virginia

A lot of us are just itching to start seeds, purchase plants, and start gardening as soon as possible. It is important to know that some plants need warm summer weather, while others thrive in cool spring temperatures. Also, just because it is for sale does not mean that you should sow the seed now or plant the plant in your garden.

First, learn which of your plants/seeds are cool season versus warm season plants. Second, identify your average last frost date so you can figure out your starting time.

Cool season plants thrive in March and April. They can tolerate a cold nip at night. By summer, they may have disappeared, gone to flower, or died back. In the DC metro area, March and April are cool season months and this is when we can plant/sow seeds of spinach, lettuce, cilantro, and kale outside. However, if we were to plant a warm season plant such as tomatoes and basil outside, they would not survive a frost. Warm season plants have to be planted after the danger of frost has passed and the night temperatures are constantly in the mid-fifties. Usually they will do well in the summer, from May until our first autumn frost. You can start the seeds of basil and tomatoes indoors in April under lights where they will stay warm and toasty until you bring them out when it is warmer.

From winter to spring, the chance of frost diminishes. Although some gardeners will plant their warm season plants in mid April, there is still a slight risk of a frost. There is no risk in May and some gardeners use Mother’s Day as a marker for when they can safely plant warm season plants in the garden.

Tomato plants for sale in March in Northern Virginia

Many hardware stores and garden centers will sell plants as early as March, including basil and tomatoes.  People assume that because the plant is there for sale it is okay to plant it in the ground.

Frost is predicted when air temperatures reach 32 degrees. It also may occur when air temperatures are just above freezing due to open exposure to the clear night sky. Frost can be a “light freeze” at 29 to 32 degrees, which usually kills tender plants. Using the 1991-2020 climate normals from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Gardening Association provides a useful chart outlining probabilities of cold temperatures by dates.

By entering my Northern Virginia zip code, I can see that March 29 is the point where there is a fifty-fifty chance of frost occurring. Some gardeners look for this point to get a head start knowing they may have to cover their plants.  I am more interested in being safe than sorry  — I have no desire to rush out and cover my plants so I am looking for a number lower than 50. Also, the National Gardening Association recommends using 36 degrees as the marker because frost can form at 32 degrees and then fall down into your garden even though it is 36 degrees on the ground. Using this logic, the 50/50 mark is April 9.

On April 10, I have a 10 percent chance of 32 degree temperatures. Ten days later, I have a 10 percent chance of 36 degree temperatures. As time goes by it, the 10 percent chance of frost will diminish to zero (until autumn). Because I am a low risk taker (or possibly too lazy to go outside and cover my plants), I am shooting for less than 10 percent to near zero. Therefore, I can plant basil and tomatoes at the end of April with a slight risk of frost to Mother’s Day when there is no risk.

At this point, when to plant is a personal preference and it also depends on your schedule, your available time. But don’t sow your tomato seeds now and do not plant tomatoes in the garden in March!

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More than 100 Seed Companies!

Posted on January 16, 2025 | 2 comments

The following is a list of more than 100 seed companies, including seed potato and garlic. Many of them have free catalogs and/or informative websites. This is a great resource as you are planning your 2025 garden. If a company is missing, add it in the comment box. For a source of ornamental bulbs, see the “Bulb Companies” tab on pegplant.com

Seed Companies

3 Porch Farm https://3porchfarm.com/

Adaptive Seeds http://www.adaptiveseeds.com

Alliance of Native Seedkeepers https://www.allianceofnativeseedkeepers.com/

American Meadows  http://www.americanmeadows.com

Ardelia Farm (sweet peas) https://www.ardeliafarm.com/

Artisan Seeds https://store.growartisan.com/

A. Whaley Seeds https://awhaley.com/

Baker Creek Heirloom Seed http://www.rareseeds.com

Botanical Interests http://www.botanicalinterests.com

Burpee http://www.burpee.com

Companion Plants https://companionplants.com/

The Cucumber Shop (yes, all things cucumber) https://cucumbershop.com/

Earl May https://www.earlmay.com/

Eden Brothers http://www.edenbrothers.com

Ernst Seeds https://www.ernstseed.com/

Everwilde Farms https://www.everwilde.com/

Experimental Farm Network https://www.experimentalfarmnetwork.org/

Fedco Seeds http://www.fedcoseeds.com

Ferry Morse https://ferrymorse.com/

Filaree Farm https://www.filareefarm.com/

Floret Flower Farm https://www.floretflowers.com/

The Good Seed Company https://goodseedco.net/

Grand Prismatic Seed https://www.grandprismaticseed.com/

Gurneys Seed and Nursery Company  http://www.gurneys.com

Harris Seeds http://www.harrisseeds.com

Harvesting History http://www.harvesting-history.com

Henry Field’s Seed and Nursery Company http://www.henryfields.com

High Country Gardens  http://www.highcountrygardens.com

High Desert Seeds http://www.highdesertseed.com/

High Mowing Seeds http://www.highmowingseeds.com

Hudson Valley Seed Library http://www.seedlibrary.org

Irish Eyes https://irisheyesgardenseeds.com/

Izel Native Plants https://www.izelplants.com/

J.L. Hudson, Seedsman https://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/

John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds http://www.kitchengardenseeds.com

Johnny’s Selected Seeds http://www.johnnyseeds.com

Jordan Seeds https://jordanseeds.com/

J.W. Jung Seed http://www.jungseed.com

Kitazawa Seed Company http://www.kitazawaseed.com

Mary’s Heirloom Seeds http://www.marysheirloomseeds.com

MIgardener https://migardener.com/

Mountain Valley Growers https://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/

Native Seeds Search http://www.nativeseeds.org

Nichols Garden Nursery http://www.nicholsgardennursery.com

Osborne Quality Seeds https://www.osborneseed.com/

Park Seed http://www.parkseed.com

Peace Seedlings http://peaceseedlingsseeds.blogspot.com/

Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply http://www.groworganic.com

Pinetree Garden Seeds & Accessories http://www.superseeds.com

The Plant Good Seed Company https://www.plantgoodseed.com/

Prairie Road Organic Seed https://www.prairieroadorganic.co/

Prairie Moon Nursery https://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/

Quail Seeds https://www.quailseeds.com/

Redwood Seeds https://www.redwoodseeds.net/

Renee’s Garden  http://www.reneesgarden.com

Renaissance Farms http://www.renaissancefarms.org

Restoration Seeds https://www.restorationseeds.com/

R.H. Shumway http://www.rhshumway.com

Richters (Canadian) https://www.richters.com/

Rohrer Seeds https://rohrerseeds.com/

Row 7 Seed Company https://www.row7seeds.com/

Salerno Seeds https://www.salernoseeds.com/

Sand Hill Preservation Center https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/

Sandia Seed Company https://www.sandiaseed.com/

SeedGro https://www.seedgro.com/

Seeds for Generations https://seedsforgenerations.com/

Seeds ‘n Such https://seedsnsuch.com/

Seeds of Change http://www.seedsofchange.com

Seed Savers Exchange http://www.seedsavers.org

Seeds from Italy http://www.growitalian.com

Seeds of India https://www.seedsofindia.com/

Seedwise https://www.seedwise.com/

Select Seeds/Antique Flowers http://www.selectseeds.com

Sierra Seeds https://sierraseeds.org/

Siskiyou Seeds https://www.siskiyouseeds.com/

Sistah Seeds https://www.sistahseeds.com/

Snake River Seed Cooperative https://www.snakeriverseeds.com/

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange http://www.southernexposure.com

Sow True Seeds https://sowtrueseed.com/

Stokes Seeds http://www.stokesseeds.com

Strictly Medicinal Seeds https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/

Swallowtail Garden Seeds https://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/

Territorial Seed Company http://www.territorialseed.com

Terroir Seeds http://www.underwoodgardens.com

The Maine Potato Lady https://www.mainepotatolady.com/productcart/pc/home.asp

Thresh Seed Company https://www.threshseed.com/

Tomato Fest https://www.tomatofest.com/

Tomato Growers Supply Company http://www.tomatogrowers.com

Totally Tomatoes http://www.totallytomato.com

True Leaf Market https://www.trueleafmarket.com/

True Love Seeds https://trueloveseeds.com/

Turtle Tree Seed https://turtletreeseed.org/

Two Seeds in a Pod https://twoseedsinapod.com/

Ujamaa Seeds https://ujamaaseeds.com/

Underground Seed Company https://www.undergroundseedco.com/

Uprising Seeds https://uprisingorganics.com/

Urban Farmer http://www.ufseeds.com

Vermont Bean Seed Company http://www.vermontbean.com

Victory Seeds  http://www.victoryseeds.com

West Coast Seeds  https://www.westcoastseeds.com/

Wildflower Farm https://www.wildflowerfarm.com/storefront.html

Wild Garden Seed https://www.wildgardenseed.com/

Wild Mountain Seeds https://wildmountainseeds.com/

Wildseed Farms  https://www.wildseedfarms.com/

Willhite Seed Inc. https://www.willhiteseed.com/

Wood Prairie Farm https://www.woodprairie.com/

 

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Winter Sowing Snapdragons

Posted on January 10, 2025 | 2 comments

This year I am winter sowing snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), which are annuals that prefer to bloom in the cool spring season. Easy to grow from seed, snapdragons have been bred extensively. There are cultivars with traditional “snap” flowers, open-faced flowers, or double flowers in all colors except for blue. There are dwarfs (6-15 inches), intermediate (15-30 inches), and tall snapdragons (30-48 inches) as well as trailing varieties. These plants are very versatile. They can be grown in rock gardens, containers, hanging baskets, or in the garden.

Snapdragons need full sun and moist but well drained soil high in organic matter. Although they are known for blooming in the spring, if kept watered in the summer and deadheaded, they could bloom again.

Madame Butterfly is an excellent cut flower type and a 1970 All-America Selections Flower Winner

I winter sow snapdragons for several reasons: 1) starting from seed provides a wider range of varieties; 2) starting from seed is cheaper; and 3) winter sowing gives me a jump on the spring season.

In early spring, I will open up the milk jug and transplant the seedlings into the garden. They can take a light frost.

Snapdragons make an excellent cut flower. They need to be deadheaded to encourage a long blooming period. The florets start opening at the bottom of the flower spike first so remove those spent flowers first. Or just cut the entire flower head when blooms are past their prime but cut at the base of the plant.

When cutting the flowers for the vase, cut when a few florets have opened at the bottom and the top buds are still closed. Cut the stem at the base, near the ground and strip off the lower leaves. Cut snapdragons last several weeks.

Try growing snapdragons in your garden this year for deer resistant, cool season flowers.

Snap Doubleshot Yellow Red Heart is a 2025 All-America Selections Ornamental Seed Winner

 

Bottom two photos are courtesy of All-America Selections.

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Start off 2025 With a Bang! Sign Up for Gardening Events!

Posted on January 2, 2025 | Leave a comment

Start off 2025 with a bang! It is easy to learn more about gardening in the DC metro area, we always have so many events, lectures, and workshops. Below are more than 70 for January 2025.  There will be more in the spring and summer. Some of these are free, some require a fee, and many are virtual.

This list of gardening events is posted every month on Pegplant.com under the Monthly Events tab but if you would like to have it in your inbox, just subscribe to Pegplant’s Post Gardening Newsletter. This is a free gardening newsletter for the DC metro area. All you have to do is enter your email address at the Pegplant website on the right rail.

January 2025

1, Wednesday, Plant Studio: Landscape Design History for Beginners, online flex, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

1, Wednesday, Intro to Composting, online flex, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

1, Wednesday, Plant Studio: Plant Science, online flex, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

2, Thursday, Kokedama Workshop, 6:30 pm, fee and must register, Plant House in Alexandria https://planthouse.us/pages/alexandria-va-location

2, Thursday, The Expert Is In: Carnivorous Plants, onsite, drop in program, 10:00 am to noon, free, no registration necessary. U.S. Botanic Garden https://usbg.gov/

4, Saturday, Nature’s Pharmacy, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

4, Saturday, Succulent Wall Planter Workshop, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, fee and must register, all store locations, Homestead Gardens https://homesteadgardens.com/

4, Saturday, Carnivorous Plant Basics and DIY Bog Gardens, 1:00-2:30 pm, fee and must register, Plants Alive! https://plantsaliveshop.com/

6, Monday, Plant Structure, 6 to 8:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

7, Tuesday, Potting 101 Online Workshop, 6 to 7:30 pm, free and must register for link, The Sill https://www.thesill.com/

7, Tuesday, Disease Identification and Management, 6:15 to 8:15 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

7, Tuesday, Soil Science I: Physical Properties, 6 to 8:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

7, Tuesday, Landscape Design History, 6:15 to 9:15 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

7, Tuesday, Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture, 4 to 6:30 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

7, Tuesday, Tipsy Tuesday Terrarium Workshop, 6:30 pm, fee and must register, Plant House in Alexandria https://planthouse.us/pages/alexandria-va-location

7, Tuesday, Botany for Gardeners, live webinar, series of four evenings, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, fee and must register, Phipps Conservatory https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/

8, Wednesday, Soil Science for Gardeners, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

9, Thursday, Designing with Bulbs, 6 to 8:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

9, Thursday, Assisted Migration: A Solution to Combat Climate Change in Gardening, 7 to 8:30 pm, Zoom, free but must register to get link. Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society https://vnps.org/events/

9, Thursday, Cocktails & Conversations: Warming Climate, Wild Weeds, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, free and registration required, Conservatory Garden Court of the U.S. Botanic Garden, Must be at least 21 years old https://usbg.gov/

9, Thursday, Annual and Perennial Garden Maintenance, 10:00 am to noon, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

9, Thursday, Succulent and Sangria Terrarium Workshop, 6:30 pm, fee and must register, Plant House in Alexandria https://planthouse.us/pages/alexandria-va-location

10, Friday, Ask the Experts about Monstera (houseplant), 11:00 am to noon, virtual lecture, free but must register, National Garden Bureau https://ngb.org/

10, Friday, Ask the Experts about Seed and Plant Shopping Tips, 3:00 pm, virtual lecture, free but must register, National Garden Bureau https://ngb.org/

10, Friday, Jellyfish Terrarium Workshop, 6:30 pm, fee and must register, Plant House in Alexandria https://planthouse.us/pages/alexandria-va-location

10, Friday, Gardening with Native Plants, 10:00 am to noon, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

11, Saturday, Growing Gourmet Mushrooms Indoors, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

11, Saturday, Virtual Lecture: Sustainable Gardens in a Changing Climate, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, fee and must register, Mt. Cuba Center https://mtcubacenter.org/

11, Saturday, New Year, New Plants: Intermediate level plant care class, 1 to 2:30 pm, fee and must register, Ballston Quarter location of Rewild Plant store https://www.rewilddc.com/

11, Saturday, Mini Moss Pole with Hoya Workshop, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm in all store locations, fee and must register, Homestead Gardens https://homesteadgardens.com/

11, Saturday, If You Build It, They Will Come: Understanding and Improving Garden Soils, 9 to 3:00 pm, virtual presentation, fee and must register, JC Raulston Arboretum https://jcra.ncsu.edu/

13, Monday, Gut Health: The Key to your Immune System, 6 to 8:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

14, Tuesday, Introduction to Plant Science, 6 to 8:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

14, Tuesday, Kokedama Moss Balls Workshop, 7:00 pm, fee and must register, Shaw location of Rewild Plant Store https://www.rewilddc.com/

15, Wednesday, Reading Trees at Carderock (walk), 10:30 am to 1:00 pm, fee and must register, Nature Forward https://natureforward.org/

15, Wednesday Pruning and Grooming Houseplants Workshop, 6 to 7:30 pm, online, free and must register for link, The Sill  https://www.thesill.com/

15, Wednesday, Flower Arranging at Home, 10:00 am to noon, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

16, Thursday, Reception, Book Signing and Book Talk with Paula Whyman, author of Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop, fee and must register, Oak Spring Garden Foundation https://www.osgf.org/

16, Thursday, Discovering the Secrets of Milkweed Hybridization, 7 to 8:00 pm, Zoom, free, John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society https://vnps.org/events/

16, Thursday, Finding Inspiration Where You Look: Ideas, Tips and Tricks from Smithsonian Gardens, free webinar, noon to 1:00 pm, register for link, Smithsonian Gardens https://gardens.si.edu/

16, Thursday, Basic Plant ID, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

16, Thursday, Botanical Latin, 10:30 to 12:30 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

16, Thursday, Intro to Herbal Medicine, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

17, Friday, Ask the Experts About New Plants for 2025, 1:00 pm, virtual lecture, free but must register, National Garden Bureau https://ngb.org/

18, Saturday, Rockery Madness at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and Arboretum, 10:00 am to 11:30 am, virtual presentation, free for Piedmont chapter NARGS and Friends of JC Raulston Arboretum, nominal fee for others, JC Raulston Arboretum https://jcra.ncsu.edu/

18, Saturday, Plant Parenthood, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, fee and must register, Plants Alive! https://plantsaliveshop.com/

18, Saturday, Kokedama: The Art of Crafting Living Mossballs, 10:30 am to noon, fee and must register, Brookside Gardens https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/

18, Saturday, Houseplant First-Aid Kit Workshop, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, in all store locations, fee and must register, Homestead Gardens https://homesteadgardens.com/

19, Sunday, Winter Lecture: Green Spring Goes to Great Dixter, 1:30 to 2:30 pm, fee and must register, Green Spring Gardens https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

21, Tuesday, Power of the Line: Angles and Curves Create a Dynamic Garden, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, virtual lecture, fee and must register, JC Raulston Arboretum https://jcra.ncsu.edu/

21, Tuesday, Tipsy Tuesday Terrarium Workshop, 6:30 pm, fee and must register, Plant House in Alexandria https://planthouse.us/pages/alexandria-va-location

22, Wednesday, Fundamental of Form (flower arranging), 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

22, Wednesday, Perennial Plant Combinations, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

23, Thursday, Jellyfish Terrarium Workshop, 6:30 pm, fee and must register, Plant House in Alexandria https://planthouse.us/pages/alexandria-va-location

23, Thursday, Brookside Gardens Winter Tour, 1 to 2:30 pm, fee and must register. Also offered on Friday January 24, 10:30 am to noon. Brookside Gardens https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/

24, Friday, Succulent and Sangria Terrarium Workshop, 6:30 pm, fee and must register, Plant House in Alexandria https://planthouse.us/pages/alexandria-va-location

24, Friday, Plant Science Conversations: Evolution of Parasitic Plants, virtual, noon to 12:30 pm, free and registration required, U.S. Botanic Garden https://usbg.gov/

24, Friday, Brookside Gardens Winter Tour, 10:30 am to noon, fee and must register. Also offered on Thursday, January 23, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. Brookside Gardens https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/

25, Saturday, Kokedama Workshop, 6:30 pm, fee and must register, Plant House in Alexandria https://planthouse.us/pages/alexandria-va-location

25, Saturday, Skip the Soil: Intro to Hydroponics, 10:00 am, fee and must register, Cabin John location of Rewild Plant Store https://www.rewilddc.com/

25, Saturday, Air Plant Terrarium workshop, 11:00 am to noon, fee and must register, Plants Alive! https://plantsaliveshop.com/

25, Saturday, Pressed Flowers 12:30 to 2:30 pm, fee and must register, Plants Alive! https://plantsaliveshop.com/

25, Saturday, Miniature Hanging Terrarium Workshop, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, in all store locations, fee and must register, Homestead Gardens https://homesteadgardens.com/

25, Saturday, Bird Box Building, 9:00 am to noon, fee and must register, Oak Spring Garden Foundation https://www.osgf.org/

25, Saturday, Winter Symposium: Plants with Benefits: Plotting a Purposeful Garden, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, virtual, fee and must register, JC Raulston Arboretum https://jcra.ncsu.edu/

25, Saturday, A Garden Design Primer, 11:30 to 1:30 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

25, Saturday, Pruning: How, When, and Where, 10:30 to 2:30 pm online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

25, Saturday, Intro to Landscape Design, 10:00 am to noon, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

25, Saturday, Garden Talk: Easy Garden Makeover Tips, 10:30 to 11:30 am, fee and must register, Green Spring Gardens https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

26, Sunday, Winter Lecture: Pleasure Gardens, 1:30 to 2:30 pm, fee and must register, Green Spring Gardens https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring

26, Sunday, Makers and Plants Market, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, free admission, Plants Alive! https://plantsaliveshop.com/

27, Monday, Fundamentals of Gardening, 6 to 8:00 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

29, Wednesday, Fundamental of Style (flower arranging) 10:30 am to 3:00 pm, online. fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

29, Wednesday, Virtual Lecture: Unraveling Botanical Names, 6 to 7:30 pm, fee and must register, Mt. Cuba Center https://mtcubacenter.org/

29, Wednesday, Longwood Reimagined Lecture Series: From Dream to Reality, 6:30 pm, virtual lecture, fee and must register, Longwood Gardens https://longwoodgardens.org/

30, Thursday, Interactive Orchid Q&A Online, 11:00 am to noon, free and must register, U.S. Botanic Garden https://usbg.gov/

30, Thursday, Herbalism: Beyond the Basics, 6:00 pm to 8:45 pm, online, fee and must register, New York Botanical Garden https://www.nybg.org/

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