Tuesday, November 25, 2014

How to Grow Morning Glories

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory

How to Grow Morning Glories

Morning glories are not difficult to grow at all. It is very easy as long as you give the seeds a good soak in water for at least 12 hours. The outer shell of the seed is very thick, so without soaking them it can be hit and miss whether or not they germinate. Some people scar the seed in order to get them to germinate, but it's so much easier just to soak them all at once for up to 24 hours, and then just sow them on to the soil or in pots.

As with all seeds it's important to keep the seedlings moist at all times, you really can't let them dry out too much or they will most likely dry. Morning glories are quite fast growers, so it won't be long until you will have to find a place to plant them. The plants do well in most soil types. It's important to get the plants started not long after the last frost date, The vines will grow up a trellis or fence, and by late summer the vines should start to produce beautiful flowers that will bloom in the morning. 

Heavenly blue morning glories are annuals in Northern climates, and the seeds will have to be replanted each spring. Unlike some other morning glories, the heavenly blue variety is not weed like at all.

Once the vines are growing well, the plants only need to be watered once or twice a week. Some have said that too much watering produced less flowers and more leaf and vine growth. Just make sure to always water during long dry periods.

Untreated seeds (chemical free) can be bought at this link: Morning glories.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Types of Basil to Grow


Basil Varieties

There are quite a few basil varieties to choose from. The most popular types of basil are sweet basil, and Genovese basil, followed by Thai basil.

Sweet Basil
This variety is the most commonly found in groceries stores. It is a good grower and can be distinguished from Genovese by it's pointier leaves. Sweet basil is a very hardy plant and is easy to grow in most conditions. All basil loves the heat and is sensitive to cooler weather.

Genovese Basil
Produces larger leaves than the sweet variety and a similar taste. It has a much more bushy and vigorous growth. It is also a very hardy plant.

Thai Basil
Has an anise like flavour which makes it very unique among the basil types. The growth of the plant is not as vigorous as the ones mentioned about, and it is extra sensitive to cooler weather. Make sure you are well into the warm weather before starting, or moving the plants outdoors.

Purple Basil
In particular I am referring to "dark opal basil", it has a beautiful dark purple colour which gives it ornamental qualities for the garden. It's an award winning basil for it's flavour and is a very hardy grower.

Basil is great for companion planting, as it will help attract predator insects to keep other pests at bay. Also, it will help enrich the flavour of tomatoes if grown in proximity.

All the seeds can be purchased from the links above.