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Overcoming Challenges in Growing Five Perplexing Annuals, Particularly in Late Summer

Challenging Annuals to Cultivate: Professional Tips for Growing and Thriving with 5 Tough Annual Species

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Challenging Annuals I've Encountered in My Gardening Experience, along with Strategies for their...
Challenging Annuals I've Encountered in My Gardening Experience, along with Strategies for their Success - Including Late Summer Cultivation

Overcoming Challenges in Growing Five Perplexing Annuals, Particularly in Late Summer

In the world of gardening, annual flowers can be a cost-effective and quick way to add vibrant colour to your outdoor space. Here are some of the easiest annual flowers to grow, as recommended by gardening experts, perfect for those just starting out.

  1. Annual Vinca (Catharanthus roseus)

This sun-loving flower is compact and heat-tolerant, blooming in various colours throughout the summer. It doesn't require deadheading and thrives in full sun to part shade with moist, well-draining soil.

  1. Wax Begonias (Begonia semperflorens-cultorum)

These easy-to-grow flowers bloom in white, red, or pink and can be grown in both sun and shade. They prefer well-draining soil and are relatively drought-tolerant.

  1. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

Known for their impressive stature and colourful heads, sunflowers are easy to grow and require minimal watering once established. They thrive in full sun and poor soil, making them resilient to heat and drought.

  1. Zinnias

These fast-growing flowers bloom in a variety of colours. They are ideal for beginners because they are simple to sow directly into the garden and require little maintenance.

  1. Petunias

Petunias are fast-growing and bloom from spring until the first frost. They are easy to care for, pest-resistant, and come in a variety of colours. They prefer well-draining soil and full light.

  1. Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

Alyssum is great for borders, accents, or hanging baskets. It grows quickly and prefers partial shade and well-draining soil. Its tiny flowers are pink, purple, and white.

For those who are more experienced, there are some annual flowers that can be a bit more challenging. Sweet peas, for example, are adored for their scent and variety of colours, but they require vertical support, full sun, a rich, moisture-retentive soil, and regular irrigation and feeding.

Snapdragons, on the other hand, are easier to manage. Watering 2 to 3 times a week helps maintain their health and bloom production, but they should not be watered if the soil is already moist. Snapdragon seeds, like Nicotiana, do not need to be covered when sown. They are best sown in the fall or early spring, 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost to give them a head-start. Deadheading snapdragons correctly will not only provide a tidy appearance but also encourage new blooms to emerge.

Nicotiana, also known as flowering tobacco plant, is a fragrant annual that attracts moths and thrives in a moisture-retentive soil and dappled shade. To encourage snapdragons to keep flowering, they prefer a cooler climate and can benefit from some shade from the midday sun. After the first blooms have appeared, applying a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and potassium can encourage more blooms.

Bells of Ireland seeds germinate best after soaking them in water overnight and at a temperature of 65-68°F, but patience is required as it can take up to 21 days for seedlings to develop. They are suitable for growing in zones 2-11 and require cold stratification for successful germination. Bells of Ireland seeds are available from Burpee.

Morning glory, or Ipomoea, is a fast-growing climbing plant that can grow to 4m high and is ideal for covering a bare fence or growing up a pergola. To promote flower production in morning glory, it should be planted in a sunny and sheltered spot where it will receive at least 6 hours of sun per day. Morning glory needs a long growing season and should be sown 6 weeks before the last frost to give it the best chance of maturing and flowering before the end of summer.

In conclusion, these easy-to-grow annual flowers are a great starting point for beginners in gardening. With minimal maintenance and care, you can enjoy a vibrant and colourful garden in no time.

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