Amazing Annuals

It's hard to resist those blooming annuals that fill the garden centers this time of year. We are especially tempted by anything tall. The idea that a plant can start out as a tiny seedling in June and grow to over 6 feet tall by August is almost too amazing to be true. But if there's one thing in your garden that requires a little extra pampering, it's your annuals. They're only going to be around for a few months, so you might as well get the most out of them.

Annuals need rich soil, regular fertilizer, and consistent watering to do their best. Work in our Happy Frog soil conditioner, which has beneficial microbes added, and get everything off to a good start with our organic Jump Start fertilizer. Once plants get ready to bloom, regular feedings of Big Bloom will keep them going. Some of our favorite annuals:

Cosmos -- There are two tricks to getting these daisy shaped annuals to grow tall and bloom for several months. First, they've got to have some heat. Give them a warm, sunny spot, preferably against a wall or a fence where they can enjoy a little radiant heat. Second, be sure to pinch off the top bloom. This will encourage the plant to branch out and grow taller.

Sunflowers -- Sunflowers also require plenty of heat, and they need protection from snails. To keep them blooming over a long season, plant a few more seedlings every few weeks. Sunflowers can be prone to powdery mildew, so try to avoid overhead watering.

Zinnia --- If you choose the right varieties, zinnias can grow into hefty plants that will attract butterflies all summer long. Skip the dwarf varieties and look for plants with the word "giant" in the variety name. Zinnias also suffer from powdery mildew, so try to keep the plants from getting wet, and be sure to cut the flowers as they bloom to encourage more growth.