Quotation of the Week: "There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments." — Janet Kilburn Phillips

Good Morning Sunshine!

African daisy Osteospermum hybrida

By: Ima Daisy

If this flower doesn't brighten your day, nothing will! African daisy, formally known as Osteospermum hybrida, has become a mainstay in the landscape for the past several years. To keep osteospermum happy: provide sun to light shade; allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Some consider this to be a 'xeric' plant; it is drought-tolerant. (Notice I didn't say no water!) If you live in zones 8 or colder, treat as an annual. Use African daisy in mixed planters, window boxes and hanging baskets. Place where it can be seen and enjoyed; this plant will grow to 14 inches in height. If orange doesn't suit your fancy, look for yellows, magentas and other tropical-like colors.

How To Grow Pole Beans

-Choose a spot 6 feet square in full sun. -Dig up and loosen the soil to the depth of 1 foot, and cultivate a 4-inch layer of organic soil amendment (but not manure) into it. A good soil amendment that we recommend is Kelloggs Amend. -Sprinkle the ground with 2 cups of Whitney Farms Vegetable Fertilizer. Work this into the top 6 inches. A couple of my favorite bean varieties are Blue Lake and Romano (Italian Pole). -Tie together at one end four 8-foot-long bamboo poles or green plastic-covered garden stakes. Set up your teepee with the legs spread about 4 feet apart and the ends shoved 3 to 4 inches into the ground. -Plant 5 or 6 beans 3 inches apart, with the scar side down, around each pole. Plant 1 inch deep along the coast, 2 inches deep inland. Cover the seeds with commercial potting soil and pat it down gently. -Water deeply after planting. Don't water again until the beans come up unless the soil begins to dry out. (Sometimes beans rot instead of coming up. If the problem is heavy soil see How to Plant Large Seeds in Heavy Soil (below) for how best to plant in it. If the problem is cold soil - below 60 degrees F or 16 degrees C - presprout the seed before planting it. -Once the plants have emerged keep them well watered and protect them from birds and snails. -When the plants are 3 or 4 inches tall thin to the best three on each pole. (Snip the others off with scissors.) Give the young plants a helping hand to start them winding around the poles. Once started they'll keep going with no further help from you.

Jason Moine Green Thumb Garden Pro

How To Plant Large Seeds in Heavy Soil

Heavy soils such as red clay or adobe often bake to a hard crust on top. Large seeds - beans or squash, for example - may not be able to break through. Take these precautions to avoid their rotting under the ground. -Make a trench to the right planting depth. Soak the trench deeply, at least twice or three times, and let the water drain out. -Place seeds in the bottom of the trench. (In the case of beans, place them with their scar side pointing down. The root will go straight down and all your beans will come up at the same time.) -Cover the seed with an inch of dry potting soil, in cooler areas, or with 2 inches of dry potting soil if the weather is very warm. Pat it down gently and don't water again until the beans pop through. A good potting soil to use is Whitney Farms. The dry potting soil will act like a mulch and draw just the right amount of moisture to the seed for it to sprout.

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Breathtaking Sprekelia

By Tamara Galbraith Is it the fiery red bloom color or the bold architectural flower shape that gave Sprekelia formosissima its common name of Aztec Lily? In truth, it's really more of a Mexican amaryllis. Whatever the case, gardeners will call it "gorgeous." Sprekelia, sometimes also called Jacobean lily or St. James lily, is a warm season bulb that should be planted in the spring. Give it well-draining soil like Whitney Farms Bulb Planting Mix with several hours of morning- to early-afternoon sun, and the daffodil-like foliage will emerge quickly, followed by large scarlet blooms that rival the most impossibly perfect orchids. Like orchids, these plants do not like to be kept soggy. In fact, Sprekelia's Mexican origin ensures it to be fairly drought tolerant once established. Generally, you will see beautiful blooms in early April through May; and after a brief break during the hottest part of the summer, Sprekelia usually returns for a second show in fall. Sprekelia bulbs are hardy only in Zones 9-11, but can survive in Zone 8 with a covering of mulch during the winter as long as conditions remain fairly dry. Gardeners farther north should dig up the bulbs in the fall and store them in dry peat in the garage. If you do leave Sprekelia in the ground, the plants will eventually multiply into a clump, so allow for some elbow room when setting out the bulbs. You'll definitely want this one to be seen and appreciated!

Good Enough to Eat: Rainbow Sorbet(TM)

By Tamara Galbraith Looking for a breathtaking rose that is as beautiful as it is tough? Take a taste of 'Rainbow Sorbet,' one of the 2006 All-American Rose Selections winners. Developed by hybridizer Ping Lim of Bailey Nurseries, this upright floribunda provides a splash of color that keeps going all summer long. The cupped, 3" flowers are edged in deep pink, with each petal fading to yellow-pink, then burnt orange in the center. Glossy, deep green leaves accompany the delicate flowers on this 5' shrub. Speaking of leaves, 'Rainbow Sorbet' is especially good at holding off black spot, which makes it an excellent choice for gardeners in humid areas. Some noses have reported Sorbet's scent as being strong, while others describe it as "lightly sweet." One thing is for sure...you'll find 'Rainbow Sorbet' to be a carefree garden treat that looks good enough to eat.

What You'll Need: 1 cup watermelon balls 1 cup cantaloupe balls 1 cup honeydew balls 1/3 cup fresh lime juice 2 tbsp. sugar 2 tbsp. honey 1/4 cup coconut, toasted Fresh mint, optional

Step by Step:

In a bowl, combine all melon balls. In another bowl, combine the lime juice, sugar and honey; pour over melon and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Sprinkle with coconut. Garnish with mint if desired. Yield: 4 servings