by Emily Wickersham

Created on: April 17, 2008   Last Updated: May 27, 2008

Bedding Plants for Flavor and Color

Selection

Success with bedding plants starts with purchasing healthy specimens. Inspect plants carefully and avoid those with lots of root coming out the bottom and those with yellowing or wilted leaves. When possible, purchase those that haven't bloomed. Full bloom on bedding plants indicates stress.

Preparation

Choose your location according to the plants' needs and make sure the soil has warmed sufficiently for safe planting of your variety. Plant on a cool, cloudy day. Loosen soil in the bed and remove weeds and rocks. Add peat moss, manure, or sand to improve the soil and mix soil amendments in thoroughly throughout the planting area. Dig holes as deep as the soil ball of your plants, but at least twice as wide, spacing the holes as recommended.

Planting

Tip each plant out, gently separating the roots if they're compacted. Center each plant in its hole, firm the soil around it, and water thoroughly, using a hose diffuser. After watering, firm soil again, being sure it's making good contact with the plant's roots.

Maintenance

The first week, water plants every day unless it rains. Once plants are established, add mulch to keep roots cool and soil moist, but avoid piling it around the stems.

Bedding annuals bloom longer if you deadhead. Flowers and vegetables need to be fed several times during the season.

When your work is done, feast your eyes on your flowers and your palate on your vegetables. You've discovered how easy it is to establish bedding plants for season-long flavor and color.

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