Picture this: you’re outside, enjoying the sunset, and enjoying the cooler weather that the day has FINALLY brought. You’re sipping on your southern, NC sweet tea, talking with your friends, and watching the grill master cook up some perfect sirloin steaks. But suddenly, you start to feel something itch on your arms, and then your legs. You look down, and there’s what seems to be a thousand little flying, annoying insects circling you like they’re about to feast on you. Mosquitoes. And just when you’re about to “call it a night” and go inside, you remember this blog post that gave you some tips and tricks to get rid of those mosquitoes.
So you finally got your GORGEOUS hanging basket (maybe from Garden Valley Farmers Market). You’re watering it and admiring its unique beauty that it brings to your home. Until one day… you notice that it’s looking sad, not blooming anymore, and its honestly just, well, ugly. But it doesn’t have to turn out that way this year! With the following tips, let’s keep your hanging baskets looking absolutely gorgeous and full all summer long.
This Heirloom Tomato Tart with Basil Sauce is the perfect easy Summer dinner! Loaded with fresh juicy tomatoes, topped with tangy feta cheese and an easy basil sauce! Fresh and delicious! I knew instantly that since it’s finally Summer that I wanted to develop a recipe using heirloom tomatoes…
So you want to have a beautiful yard filled with plants that will add character, but you have no sun because your entire yard is covered with trees? Do you have a back covered patio that’s in need of some refreshing and updating? Well, we at Garden Valley Farmers Market, have got you covered with our seven favorite perennials that will absolutely THRIVE in the shade, and leave your house looking like a home for years to come…
Do you love herbs? Well we do too! Herbs not only add delicious flavor to your favorite recipes, but they also have medicinal, homeopathic properties that your grandmother has been using for ages. Whether you’re adding fresh rosemary to your chicken recipe, or infusing your freshly squeezed lemonade with lavender, we’ve got all of the tips and tricks ready for you to start the herb garden of your dreams.
The calibrachoa form excellent colorful ornaments for gardens, wonderful bedding plants and gorgeous hanging baskets.
They make great additions used alone or as part of hanging baskets or window boxes as their long stems, spill and and cascade over the pots or containers.
Moreover, unlike petunias, do not produce seeds and stop blooming. Instead they keep on blooming until the environment freezes. You can pinch them off if you are fond of bushy shrubs.
Million bells require minimal care. Fairly moist soil and dry temperatures with regular fertilizing are primary care needs for calibrachoa.
Full Sun Plants – Million Bells are considered to be full sun plants. They can do best when placed in direct sun for at minimum of 6 hours daily. If plants do not get enough light they may look tired and blooming will decrease and the plants will begin to stretch. This is an indication that the plant needs to be moved in a location where it gets at least 4-6 hours of direct and filtered sun in a day.
Fertilizer Needs – Lighting is important to a bright, eye-popping, color display Calibrachoa provides. But fertilizer is also very important. Heavy blooming the entire summer means heavy demands on plant nutrition. To keep plants strong fertilize every other week with a liquid fertilizer. Fertilization, in short is the key for blooming you calibrachoa throughout the season well.
Soil – Calibrachoa prefer very well-drained soils. Most garden soils do not have the best drainage. This is why Calibrachoa is normally found growing in containers. Use a good quality potting soil in your containers, with excellent drainage.
Water Requirements – Calibrachoa needs generous amount of water for “soaking” the roots. However, the soil needs to be given time for dying out until the next watering cycle. When watering water the soil thoroughly and allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry before watering again. Soggy soil lead to plants rotting.
Grooming Million Bells For More Flowers – When plants start looking tired or non-vibrant, it signals for trimming. Trim your calibrachoa up (1-4 inches) in mid-summer time. This process is not complicated. Trim plants to a neat and tidy status. This will temporarily reduce the blooming for a week or two but picks up quickly as trimming stimulates root growth resulting in fuller bushy plants. There is no requirement of deadheading calibrachoa. They are a self-cleaning plant. Spent flowers automatically drop following another batch to bloom.
Though slightly fussy about moisture and temperatures, fuchsias are still considered an easy plant to grow in container gardens. Most will thrive in part shade to full shade, but they don't like to be too hot and they especially hate dry heat.
Fuchsias are happiest with temperatures between 55-80°F, though there are some heat-tolerant cultivars that will keep their blooms up to 90°F. Fuchsias thrive in humidity, so if you live in a dry climate, you may have to mist your fuchsias to keep them sufficiently moist.
Though some fuchsias don't need deadheading, for peak bloom production pick off spent blossoms. During the blooming season fuchsias have a huge appetite, so you have to feed them regularly with diluted liquid fertilizer. Fuchsias like to be moist, but not soggy. Susceptible to root-rot, they require a fast draining potting soil and very good drainage.
