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I have a beautiful amaryllis blooming right now. I heard that your can keep them from year to year. How can I do that?
Enjoy the plant thoroughly while it is in bloom. It doesn’t last long but it is truly spectacular and well worth preserving for years to come. After the plant finishes blooming cut off the flower stalk.
Maintain the plant with water and fertilizer throughout the summer. As the leaves die down they will feed the bulb. When the plant dies down in the late fall (stop watering to force it to do so if it doesn't by November) cut off the dead leaves. Then store the plant in a cool place like a heated garage (up to about 50 degrees), for example.
Late next winter, perhaps the first of February, bring the plant out into bright light and water. You should have another beautiful plant next year.
I want to start some of my own plants this year. When should I plant the seeds?
Just as you do not want to plant your garden all at the same time, neither do you want to start all of your seeds at the same time. There are two primary factors to consider. One is when they need to be planted in the garden and the other is how long it takes for them to germinate and grow to planting size.
First determine when you will want to plant your seedlings in the garden. This information should be on the seed packet. Cole crops like broccoli and cabbage need to be planted early, around the first of May. Tomatoes and peppers are tender and must be planted after the last frost, around the end of May. Memorial Day is the typical planting day in Douglas County but watch weather reports around that time when it comes to actual planting.
Second, look on the seed packet to see how long it takes to germinate and grow your seedlings. Again the broccoli and cabbage will take at least six to eight weeks. Since you want to have them ready by the first part of May you will want to plant them around the middle of March.
Plants vary widely in their needs so you need to check each one out individually. Snapdragons can be started twelve weeks before planting and can handle light frost like the cole crops so they can be planted as early as the first week in February! Zinnia needs to be planted after the last frost and only need two or three weeks to grow so they should be planted in early to middle May. Quite a difference.
There are no hard and fast rules. Weather is unpredictable in our area. Cauliflower may bolt and not do well if planted late. Other plants may freeze if put out too soon. But in general you can be quite flexible in your schedule. Don't worry too much about dates, just plant and enjoy.
