PRAIRIE GARDENER: Geraniums Are Good For Beginner Gardeners To Grow

Although there is no official survey, it is safe to assume that geraniums are America's favorite bedding plant. Nothing signals the arrival of summer better than a planter of crimson geraniums. And if bright red isn't your preferred color, there are plenty of other shades to choose from, including muted pastels.

Geraniums are not very frost tolerant, so plants are usually purchased around Memorial Day for summer planting. Some gardeners kept geraniums last fall and these plants can also be brought outside. If we have a few cold nights in early June, cover these beauties with an old sheet or blanket.

The name barberry was in use long before the flowers we usually call barberry were known in the West. What we call "Barbarosa" is actually pelargonium, a plant genus native to southern Africa. True geranium is a hardy perennial we know as "cranemouth". This is today's gardening lesson.

Geraniums have been hybridized continuously since their discovery in the late 1700s, and they are an ideal garden plant for beginners. They are cheap and easy to grow and reproduce. Free-flowering plants with densely branching stems and lush foliage will bloom all summer long, provided they are given occasional fertilizer, water and faded flowers are removed.

There are many types of flowers that you can choose from. Some have cactus-like flowers, others are double or semi-double, with pink buds, single or petal flowers. Traditional cultivars include scented leaf and Martha Washington geraniums, popular for planting in cemeteries.

Geranium frames

For optimal flowering, expect full sun. However, geraniums will tolerate partial sunny locations, but expect fewer flowers. If you have them in containers, keep them out of the hot afternoon sun if possible. Space the plants about a foot apart. Otherwise, you risk ending up with mold-like diseases due to overcrowding.

Geraniums do best in moist, loamy, well-drained soil with regular applications of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Offered once a month. They should be watered, but don't overdo it. Check the soil daily to see if it is slightly moist. Make sure your containers or planters have drainage holes so you can get rid of excess water.

- To ensure flowering until the first fatal frost, faded flowers are covered and damaged leaves are removed. Occasional pinching of the growing tips prevents the stems from growing long.

- You don't even have to say goodbye to geraniums in the fall. As frost approaches, bring your plants indoors or take cuttings. You can also take them to the basement and put them under grow lights or let them hibernate. They will be reborn in the spring.

- If you have overwintered geraniums, it will take some time to get them up and running. You may want to buy flowering mallows for a prominent display and use winter plants for background color. It takes a few weeks before it really starts to bloom. However, they will also provide a lot of color in autumn.

Tomatoes

What's a garden without tomatoes? There is nothing better in summer than enjoying fresh tomatoes. Home grown tomatoes are a real treat after almost a year of buying the store variety. However, the season was short before another frost brought down the curtain on those red summer roses.

If you end up with extra tomatoes, they can be canned or made into condiments, jams and ketchup. If you like, they can also be frozen for soups, stews or chili. However, they missed something in the process.

There are many types of tomatoes to choose from. Patio, cherry and vine tomatoes do well in tight spaces, such as the edges of flower beds or in containers. Large-fruited tomatoes do best with more space. There are two types of tomatoes: determinate and indeterminate. The plant grows quite large and produces fruit that ripens immediately, while indeterminate varieties roam the garden and bear fruit until the final frost.

A skilled gardener buys different batches of tomatoes and tries to squeeze in as many varieties as possible to ensure a long harvest. The tomatoes are soft, so leave them until after Memorial Day. Leave plenty of space, spacing them 3 to 4 feet apart in rows with 5 feet between rows. Place each in an old tire, which will help keep the fruit off the ground. Tomatoes need six hours of sun. Protect yourself from scratches with newspaper collars. Avoid overspray.

vegetarian suggestions

If you don't start your garden until early June, you can still grow vegetables and expect success most seasons.

- think a little. A small, weed-free garden will produce more and better quality vegetables than a large, cluttered garden.

- "Plant thick and thin fast" is an old rule in the garden. This is especially true if you grow carrots, beets, lettuce or parsley. In the case of beetroot and lettuce, the diluted can be used in salads.

The fertilizers commonly used in gardening are complete, that is, they contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Some of the more common fertilizers are 5-10-5, 5-10-10 and 18-24-6. Each number indicates the ratio starting with nitrogen followed by phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen should not be overused in vegetable gardens or you will end up with excessive vegetative growth. Lawn fertilizers will have a higher OL, such as 20-10-10.

Garden visit

Be sure to mark June 28 on your calendar because this date is the 24th anniversary of the Grand Forks Horticultural Society's Garden Tour sponsored by Grand Forks. This year the date has been brought forward by about a month and reduced to one day instead of two. The event will run from 08:00 to 17:00 with free coffee and cake for early risers. We need volunteers. If you can help, call the district at (218) 773-9180.

In addition to the visit to the garden, there will be a botanical sale. Members will plant excess plants for attendees. There will also be a Garage Gardeners sale. This will be the second year of a garage sale. The money raised will be used to beautify and educate the community. Stay tuned for more information.

In other news, The Grand Forks Horticultural Society is hosting a July 14 bus tour of suburban gardens and greenhouses. The one-day event starts at 07:00 and ends at 18:00. The cost is $25. For more information, contact Karon at (701) 772-2835.

busy month

May was a busy month for the prairie gardener. Her first grandson, Wyatt Owen Staff, arrived on May 6. Gardener and his wife, Peggy, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on May 26, and today (May 31) marks the 50th anniversary of their graduation from New York Mills High School, Minnesota.

Marilyn Hagerty celebrated her birthday on May 30th. Years ago, this was the date we celebrated Memorial Day or Decoration Day before it became a traveling party. If you haven't sent the greetings yet, please do so. Marilyn is an inspiration to all of us here at the Grand Forks Herald.

Koehler is a columnist for the Herald Park. His column is published every Saturday. Send him questions about the garden edited by The Grand Forks Herald, Box 6008, Grand Forks ND 58206-6008. Watch the weekly gardening show that airs Thursdays at 4:10 PM on KNOX 1310 (AM).