The true lily (Lilium) is one of the backbones of the perennial garden. There are hundreds of species and thousands of hybrids. For
Minnesota gardens there are three families
of lilies that do well in our climate, the
Asiatic, Oriental, and L.A. hybrid (longiflorum X Asiatic). Each of these groups has
advantages for perennial gardening. Asiatic lilies are very hardy and multiply quickly in the garden. They come in a wide range of
colors from yellow, pink, orange and red. There are dwarf sizes and tall varieties. They bloom in June/July. Oriental lilies have large fragrant blooms, later in the season. They bloom in white and all shades of pink. L.A. hybrids are relatively new for Minnesota.
They are hybrid crosses with Asiatic lilies and The Easter lily
(Longiflorum).
The result is an Asiatic looking lily with a very large bloom.
Because they are all true bulbs, plant them all in well-drained soil (Oriental lilies prefer an acid soil) and in full sun. If you love lilies and are successful growing them look for other varieties that can be a bit more challenging. True fans of lilies join The North Star Lily Society. Find them at northstarlilysociety.com
Bachman’s will host the 2008 North Star Lily Show on
Saturday, June 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Bachman’s Heritage Room located at 6010 Lyndale Ave So., Minneapolis, MN 55419.
Hardy Shrub Roses
Hardy shrub roses are a growing trend in the landscape. This popularity is due to the great effort in breeding beautiful roses hardy in the north. Disease resistance is another important factor in their popularity. The most important thing for the gardener is that the new roses bloom for such a long time.
Shrub roses need at least 8 hours of full sun in order to bloom at their best. Good air circulation is important even if the rose is
resistant to disease. Feeding shrub roses is very important in order
to keep the blooms coming. Fertilize shrub roses until the end of July. Don’t fertilize in the fall, this promotes growth when you want the plant to start getting ready for winter. There are many great roses at Bachman’s garden centers. Look for these new
varieties in 2008.
Carefree celebration
Centennial
Climbing carefree sunshine
Flower carpet pink supreme
Flower carpet scarlet
Knock Out double pink
Meidiland crimson
Plum frost
Polar ice
Tequila
Yellow brick road
Vegetables with no Sign of Fruit
Tomatoes and other vegetables have a hard time setting fruit when there are periods of rainy weather. The indication of lack of fruit is if the plant has flowers but the flowers fall off after a short period of time. There is an all-natural plant hormone that can be sprayed onto blooms to help set the fruit. The product is called Tomato And Blossom Set Spray. Its ‘ready to use’ formula allows for easy application. To promote blossom set and fruit development, spray the flowers and adjacent foliage with Tomato and Blossom Set. Spray until the leaves are completely wet. Spray again as
new blooms develop on the plant.
Can be used on: Beans, Cucumbers, Eggplants, Melons
Peppers, Tomatoes
Pinching Mums
Garden chrysanthemums benefit greatly from pinching early in the growing season. If your goal is to grow compact mums covered with buds, the rule of thumb is to pinch 2-3 times early in the season, making your last pinch around July 10. Pinching chrysanthemums encourages
branching and keeps them full and compact. Flower buds develop on the ends of branches, so the more branching,
the more blooming.
To pinch a mum, simply go back several inches from the tip along each stem and pinch just above a set of leaves. This will force the side shoots to develop. You usually pinch off about 3 inches of growth each time. You’ll be amazed by the difference it will make.
Did You Know?
Tomatoes are very high in Lycopen, which can lower your
risk of cancer.
Tips
Removing side shoots from tomatoes will result in earlier fruit ripening,
but less quantity over the growing season.
Get those houseplants outdoors for the summer. Almost all
houseplants will benefit from a summer outdoors.
Move
houseplant to a shady sheltered location so they will adjust to
the outside.
Check them for water daily until a watering
routine is established.
Climbing roses don’t climb without help. Tie ramblers to trellis, fences, or other supports.
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh floral arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding floral design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh floral arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
