~Written by Mike Darcy, photos by Rich Baer.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have finally had some sunny days and the temperature actually reached the 80′s. How nice it was to see the sun and what a wonderful feeling to get outside in the garden without a jacket. I always like to visit other gardens and made a recent visit to the garden of a friend to check on the status of the peas he had planted from seed earlier this spring. Since peas like cool weather, they have done just fine. It is so nice to see his raised vegetable beds and how they look with Black Gold Soil Conditioner worked into the soil at time of planting. It gives these beds a ‘finished’ look.
If you have held off on planting your summer vegetable garden, it should be all right to do so now. Beans are very easy to grow from seed and once the soil has warmed, they germinate quickly and are a good crop for children to grow. Cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and corn can also be planted from seed although if you just need a few plants, most garden centers sell individual small size plants.
With the arrival of warm weather, basil can finally be planted. Basil is a plant that definitely needs heat and is one of the last plants I set out in the spring. I wait until the nights and days are both warm. Try growing basil in containers on a deck or patio. As long as it has full sun, it should thrive. At our house, we always have basil in several pots on our deck and an ideal potting mix isBlack Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil. I do not know why but there is just something about planting basil that makes me think it deserves to be planted in an organic potting soil. There are many different types of basil to grow and in addition to the familiar Sweet Basil, consider growing Dark Opal for leaves that are dark red, African Blue which as the name indicates has leaves with a bluish tint, and a new one for me this year is ‘Pesto Perpetuo’. ‘Pesto Perpetuo’ has variegated leaves that are light green with a cream margin. The contrasting color of the leaves make this basil stand out nicely against the reddish stems.
Gunnera tinctoria is a plant that always amazes me with its’ giant size leaves and how fast they can grow in a relatively short period of time. Mine are already over 6 feet tall and still growing. My Gunnera is also sending up a flower stalk which looks somewhat like a corn cob. Sometimes garden centers will label Gunnera as “The Dinosaur Food Plant” because it is an ancient plant and is found in fossils. Here in the metro Portland (Oregon) region, I have had good success with Gunnera even though it is often thought of as not winter hardy here. Once we have had a frost, I cut the huge leaves and cover the crown of the plant with them for winter protection. I then cut the stems and insert them through the leaves and into the soil to help anchor them. This has provided enough protection for my plant that it has survived for the past five years even though we have had some very cold temperatures. My experience is that Gunnera does best with some shade, especially protection from the hot afternoon summer sun. It also requires plenty of moisture and a soil rich in humus. I planted mine with about a 50% mixture of Black Gold Soil Conditioner and good garden loam. I also apply Black Gold Soil Conditioner every spring as a mulch to help hold moisture in the summer. With the huge leaves and growth that this plant gives us, it does need nutrients. I use Black Gold Blood Meal in early spring and then two applications of Black Gold All Purpose later in the season.
Roses should be coming into bloom and this is the time to fertilize them with Black Gold Rose & Flower Fertilizer. Roses expend so much energy with their continuous flowering, it is wise to fertilize on a regular basis (perhaps every four weeks) during the growing season. I always like to make one application of Black Gold Blood Meal because of the high and fast acting nitrogen content. For an easy care shrub rose, consider the rose ‘Knock-Out’. While not the traditional cutting rose, ‘Knock-Out’ has flowers in clusters and they bloom all summer and I have never had a trace of diseases such as black spot or powdery mildew.
The hardy banana, Musa basjoo is another good summer plant for Pacific Northwest gardens. When the word ‘hardy’ is used, it refers to the roots as being hardy and not the leaves. This plant will die to the ground in the winter but come up again in the spring. I have had a planting in my garden for over ten years. When the first frost comes, I take the old leaves and cover the entire ground area with them. I am amazed at how tall they have already grown this year considering our cool weather. Apply Black Gold Blood Meal now to encourage new growth. I find one application is usually sufficient. By the end of August, these bananas will be towering above most other plants in the garden, reaching perhaps twelve feet in height.
A final plant to mention is Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy). Magnificent white crinkled petals with a cluster of yellow stamens in the center. The foliage is bluish and so the plant attracts attention in the garden even when it is not in bloom. If you are looking for a plant that will grow well in a hot and dry space, this is it. The only requirement I have found is that it needs good drainage. Once established, no summer watering is required.
So many plants to choose from! Check out your local garden center and try something new this. I always try to find some plants to add to the garden that I am not familiar with.