I have Nasturtium and Four O'Clocks in my yard! I love the flowers! Are they annuals in zone 9B? Bees are all over them first thing in the morning. And I ocassionally see butterflies on them. I originally planted them to attract hummers. I also am not familiar with where the Nasturtium seeds are on the plants. The Four O'Clocks put out tons of seeds. Which I grab and save for next year and to share. Can someone educate me about these 2 plants?
Plant questions .....
Some nasturtiums are perennial for you, t. majus is not, which is likely what you're growing. 4 o'clocks will tuber for you....they'll die down when it get's cold and come back in the spring like nobody's business! Careful, though.....you'll have seedlings popping up everywhere LOL. When the nasturtium sets seed you can't miss it, it's a large single seed just like the 4 o'clock, it may not set seed until next spring though, that'll be a cool weather annual for you while the 4 o'clock is a warm weather perennial. HTH!
My plants are in pots. I do container gardening with them because I love the look and smell right next to my screened porch. I didn't know if they would come back or die completely as annuals do. Since I am growing them in containers, I wanted to plan how I was going to grow them again next year. A lot of the plants that are annuals in my yard do not come back from seeds. None. Don't know why. Perhaps because my yard is sand/clay and sweltering hot in the summer. I rarely get a seedling popping up that came from an existing plant I've had in my yard. I wish they would, cause it'd save me time and money to re-grow them each year. Though I will say my Basil herb does sprout from seed all over my herb garden, but I love it and don't care. The other plants tolerate it and like the shade they give in the summer. I let mother nature shape my gardens! :-)
Thanks for the helpful info azreno!
Another question .....
I am going to plant bulbs this year for the first time. I have never done bulbs before. So.....
Do any of the plants like yellow daffodils, Yellow & Purple Dutch Iris, and red Tulips attract butterflies or hummers?
I have bare areas in my gardens and thought a bulb or two would be a nice way to fill it in. I know they are usually early bloomers that are short-lived. But figured I'd give them a try! Any suggestions?
I hear you about the bad soil and such. I'm just now starting to amend and really start growing things....I look forward to many odd seedlings coming :-) I had those darn 4 o'clocks coming up in the driest worst soil around though LOL
I don't know about the bulbs, I'm sure someone will pop in with that....but I can say that tulips will require refridgeration for you- every year :-( They are way too much work for so little benefit IMO. Freesias and gladiolus should naturalize wonderfully for you.
Becky you may not want to do bulbs. If you don't get enough cold weather they won't sprout in spring. I gave up on bulbs a long time ago. i don't have time to dig refridgerate and then replant every spring lol
That's why I suggested freesias and glads....no chill needed. Have you tried those Donna?South african bulbs should do well for you in zone 9b as well, becky- they just aren't as easy to come by.
we get Freesias and glad very readily at Lowes and Wal Mart. Glads just get knocked down to easy from Thunder Storms lol
I hear ya on those glads. I have them along the side of my house and the wind whips thru there and blows everything forward.
I've got spring bulbs coming up now! I don't know what will happen to them. I usually plant some tulips but they do have to go in the refrig and they are very short lived.
My favorite bulbs are ranunculus! They are gorgeous! I don't think they require chilling either. I'm glad I remembered them so I don't dig them up if I get to pulling stuff out.
I've never had Freesias but need some because they smell wonderful! I'm going to buy some Amaryllis this year too.
The wind! That stinks. They're just done here when our monsoon hits. Freesias are awesome smelling! I'm trying amaryllis for the first time this year.