how does your garden grow?

InDepth by Betsy McAllister and Kelsey Sullivan

Imagine walking through gardens on a sunny summer day, the fragrant scent of flowers floating in the air. The flowers are a pleasure to the eye, a rainbow of colors in the garden bed. Gardens are a sure sign of spring and to fully enjoy them, one needs to know all of the work it takes to make them beautiful. It takes hours in the garden and also time spent indoors in the spring to ensure that the plants will flourish outdoors. 

Hooper’s and other nurseries start plants indoors, but these are not the only places where signs of spring are sprouting everyday.  Senior Elaine Brewer and her mother have started their summer plants inside.

“A table in our living room is covered with tulips, daffodils and hyacinth plants,” said Brewer.

Not only do the Brewers have plants covering the table, but their windows are also showing signs of spring.

“We have all of our windows sills covered with geranium plants,” said Brewer.

Brewer likes having flowers blooming throughout her house all winter because she can take one of the plants to her room with her when she needs “a little cheering up.” These plants will be moved outside once the danger of frost has passed and Brewer will get a chance to work in her garden outdoors.

“I have my own garden; it is filled with carnations,” said Brewer, who will start carnations this spring from seeds she collected last fall.

“I started my carnations four years ago but I have been gardening since I was about five years old,” said Brewer.

Gardening can be a hobby or a business, but all who are involved enjoy the benefits of gardens.

“Gardening is relaxing. I can go out and pull the weeds,” said Brewer. “It feels good, I never wear gloves so I can feel the loose dirt.”

When starting a garden, it is important to be organized and patient, according to Jean Huntsman, greenhouse manager of Hooper’s Nursery.  The first step in planting gardens is to determine what kind of plants will grow in an area. Three factors determine what types of plants can be planted: sunlight, soil composition and soil moisture.  Plants that require “full sunlight” need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Plants that do not require as much sun can normally grow in shady or partly sunny areas. The ideal soil would be composed of 40 percent sand, 40 percent silt and 20 percent clay. If the soil in the area does not have these exact concentrations, it can be amended to create the ideal soil. 

There are many types of plants that will grow in the Flathead Valley. Some are very difficult to grow,s requiring delicate care. Others are easier to grow, such as petunias, which are the biggest crop at Hooper’s, according to Huntsman.

“As far as flowers, the easiest are marigolds, petunias, sweet peas and zinnias,” said Huntsman. “Tomato plants also need to be started early and now is the time to start them.”

Sweet pea seeds and lettuce can be planted directly  each year at the end of April.  Zinnias can be planted in the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Marigolds and petunias need to be started early indoors before the plants can be moved into an outdoor garden.

According to Huntsman, it is important not to start seeds too early indoors. Many houses are too warm, causing the plants to grow too rapidly. The best time to start seeds indoors is the end of March to the beginning of April.

When planting seeds indoors a good seed-starting mixture is needed, said Huntsman. The mixture should be composed of vermiculite and a lightweight soil to allow the plants to germinate at a temperature of 70°F to 75°F. Start with damp soil in seed flats or any other type of planting containers.  Next, place the seeds on top of the damp soil and spread a thin later of dry lightweight soil on top. Then place the containers in a warm, sunny spot. Water the plants when they are dry, but be careful not to over-water.

The plants can be moved “outside after the danger of frost and the second set of leaves has emerged,” said Huntsman. In an area like Montana, where frost can remain in the ground longer that other parts of the country. Most plants need to be started indoors, said Huntsman.

Plants started indoors can normally be moved outside during the first week of June.

“There isn’t a lot you can put out early, before the first week of May,” said Huntsman. “Anything you have started indoors will not be able to go out early.”

Senior Elaine Brewer waters the plants that she has grown from bulbs. Each summer the Brewer family plants flower and vegetable gardens.

Download and uproot: (recommended websites for gardeners)

•http://www.gardenweb.com

•http://pages.prodigy.com/Real.Gardeners

•http://seedman.com/share.l.html

•http://www.springhillnursery.com

•http://www.gardenforum.com

Quick tips for a beautiful garden

After raking fall leaves, cover soil with the leaves.

If you have an aquarium, use your waste water to water your plants. High levels of nitrates are good for plants.

Add rabbit or llama droppings to the soil. It breaks down quickly for super fertilizer.

To keep weeds out of the garden, layer soil with newspaper and then cover with grass clippings.

To help boost buds on roses, dissolve a birth control pill  in a gallon of water and use the water on the roses.

Steep tobacco in water for one or two hours and use as an organic insect repellent.

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