Last year, I fretted mightily about the right time for sowing annuals. We didn't have decent rains until spring, and I worried about frost and birds...
This year is completely different. Many of my annuals reseeded and seem to do well. I think I see baby blue-eyes (above) and five spot, both reseeding from last year.
Lots of poppies, as always, but also some tidy tips (I do hope they'll make it - only had 5 plants).
And the clarkias, both Clarkia unguiculata and Clarkia amoena, have started to show their little green leaves for a few weeks.
So, what will I do to really reap the harvest that the seedlings promise?
- Check for weeds. I've gotten pretty good at seeing which little plant is a friend, and which is not so welcome.
- Use slug bait if necessary. I'm using a fairly non-toxic product when I start to see slug damage. Slugs don't like the redwood twigs and needles that cover much of my garden, but sometimes I get a few anyway, and I don't hesitate to protect my baby plants.
- Water if necessary. The plants have loved the rain we've had during the last few weeks, but when little, they dry out quickly. I'll keep an eye on the soil moisture and give my plants a little extra rain if necessary.
- For a longer bloom period, I'm also planning on sewing some seeds from last year in mid-January and maybe even in mid-February. It's a great way to have native annuals for several months.
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Happy 2013!