|
Click here
to Go Back to All HOME Page
Balsam
ANNUAL
100 seeds for $1 Very easy to grow.
Hand picked seeds
Species: balsamina
Bloom Start to End: Early Summer - Late Fall Habit:
Compact Plant Height: 24 in Plant Width: 18 in
seed to bloom in just 2 months it thrives
in sun or shade and blooms from summer to frost! How
many plants can we say that about?! Compact, bushy,
and very free-flowering, this mix sports big 2-inch
blooms in pink, red, lavender, and rose. They arise
all along the stems, which makes deadheading difficult,
but if you do pinch off those you can easily reach,
you'll get new blossoms all the faster. And the
foliage is attractive too -- dense, bushy, and bright.
Balsam makes a nice companion to other heavy feeders
in the garden, such as roses, phlox, and hollyhocks.
It needs consistent moisture, and appreciates an
application of fertilizer every 2 weeks or so during the
growth and bloom seasons. Given that, it can take as
much or as little sun as you want to give it, with
afternoon shade ideal in most climates. Bees
and birds both seek out the nectar in these flowers,
making Balsam a good choice for the butterfly garden or
for a choice birdwatching spot in the backyard. Get
your binoculars and camera ready! reaches 24 inches high
and about 18 inches wide. One of its common names is
Touch-Me-Not and another is Jumping Betty, and they
probably both arose for the same reason: if you brush
against or handle the seedpods in autumn, they will
burst open, scattering seeds everywhere (and probably
frightening poor Betty long ago!) So if you want
this annual to take up residence in the garden, let the
seeds pop where they will!
To begin the seeds,
germinate them at 70 degrees F. Germination only
takes 4 to 7 days, so you might want to wait until
spring to begin them indoors, because you shouldn't
transplant them until night temperatures consistently
remain above 60 degrees F. In the garden, space the
plants about a foot apart for nice dense coverage. Quick
and easy, these plants belong in your annual beds this
season!
|
|
|