YORKTON - Looking for a bright and cheery addition to this year’s containers? Think osteospermum, also called African Daisy. It comes in pinks, purples, whites, yellows, reds, and bi-tones.
What can we expect from this lovely plant in our containers? It is easy to grow, and if you have a spot that give full sun for at least six hours, you will have a happy plant~ They love the heat!
They like well-drained soil, and do not like wet feet. At the beginning when they are just getting settled in, they like the soil to be moist (not wet!) but once they have taken root and are nicely on their way, they can stand slightly drier conditions.
They are great in containers, and will bloom all summer. We should make sure we use a light potting mix that drains well, and that our container has a drainage hole. Dead-heading will keep the blooms coming. If we are planting them directly into the garden, we should allow about twelve inches between them so that they aren’t crowded. ( FYI—if we trim the plant just a little in the spring, it will encourage a nice profuse plant. If the plant is looking a bit leggy, it might need more sun.)
And of course, the plant will be delighted to get a dietary treat of some balanced fertilizer every two or three weeks. Osteospermum have dark green foliage, and this looks great with various ‘spillers’ in a container. Keep in mind that expression of using a “thriller plant, a filler plant, and a spiller plant.” For great visual appeal.
Growers are always developing new kinds and colors: I saw a photo of a beautiful osteospermum called Sideshow Copper Apricot, and that’s just the color it was: a very delicate apricot colour, with a bit of a flush of copper and mauve. There was also one called “Flower Power Spider White” that had very unusual petals, making the blooms look like they cam from outer space ! It was delightful!
So these happy little plants will make great additions to our containers, give them a try!
Now I’d like to tell you about something that I read this past week: bee balm makes better tasting tomatoes. What do you think, true or false?
This is one of those questions that makes you right, no matter which answer you picked! Bee balm, also called monarda, also called bergamot, is a perennial that has lovely purple lovers that attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.
Does it make tomatoes taste better if they are planted close together? Here’s the answer that I found, take from it what you will! “It is said…” that tomatoes will taste better with bee balm planted nearby. BUT…that could be for a variety of reasons.
Bee balm is a fine companion plant for many things because it attracts bees, which help pollination, which produce more veggies.
Bee balm also keeps away certain pests that could attack tomatoes, which helps to make healthier plants, which produce more veggies.
See where this is going? The plant is definitely beneficial in the garden, but whether it makes tomatoes taste better is something only the gardener can decide!
Thank you to our friends at YTW for their fine work every week. Visit the hort society at www.yorktonhort.ca and see what’s coming up! Be watching for information about our Spring Plant Sale on Friday, June 6 at the Parkland Mall. Have a great week!
