Garden Tips Newsletter
May 4, 2009
Herbs
It is safe to set out transplants of basil in all parts of the state now. Basil is particularly sensitive to cold and will not grow well until the ground is warm. Plant perennial herbs such as chives, oregano, mint, fennel, lemon balm, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme and Southern tarragon in a permanent location. You can begin harvesting foliage as soon as the plants begin growing well—just try not to take more than one-third of the plant’s foliage at a time!
Annuals
Plant zinnias now for summer arrangements. Choose long stemmed selections such as Big Red, Royal Purple, Canary Bird, Envy, or scarlet Queen. Pick a sunny spot and sow seeds directly into the soil. Sunflowers, marigolds, cleome, and cosmos can all be direct seeded now for blooms this summer.
Houseplants
Take tired foliage plants outdoors for the summer, but be careful to put them in the shade. Their leaves are as sensitive to sunburn as a person’s skin after a long winter indoors. Repot, fertilize and prune as needed to encourage new growth. If you want to learn about the unique benefits of having houseplants and some great ones to select, you should check out the new gardening feature on the Extension Service Web site, “Gardening through the Seasons.” The URL is msucares.com/gardenvideos. Click on the video for March.
Lelia Scott Kelly, Ph.D., writes Garden Tips weekly and is a Horticulture Specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Her office is in the North Mississippi Research & Extension Center, Verona.