Seedling Grow Tips!
Basil (Nufar, Red Rubin, Dark Opal)
Use a 10-12” deep pot with good quality potting soil. Basil likes heat and full sun (6-8 hours). Water regularly, every other day. Pinch back the center stems and flowers in order to get a more productive, bushy plant. When harvesting, pick from the top, right above the next set of leaves. You can fertilize with a little compost or organic fertilizer every month or so.
Chives
Grown best in full sun (at least 6 hours of sun a day). Use light and porous potting soil. Best grown in clumps in a pot at least 8 inches wide/deep. Keep soil slightly moist with regular watering. Harvest as soon as they reach 6 inches tall with sharp scissors.
Marigold
Grow best in well-draining soil; they grow equally well in containers and raised beds. Give marigolds plenty of sunlight, as shady conditions will cause plant to get leggy. Overall very low-maintenance once established, and they are notably pest-free. You can plant as a deterrent to pests that attack other plants. Marigolds can bloom almost non-stop and will keep going all summer, until frost. To achieve that non-stop flowering, keep your marigolds deadheaded.
Nasturtium
Can grow in a window box or pot that is 10-12”. They require full sun for best growth. Plant in loose, well-draining soil. Water once a week or when the soil becomes dry. You can deadhead any spent stems or flowers to insure more growth. The whole plant is edible! Leaves have a peppery taste while flowers have a lil spice!
Parsley
Grown best in full sun or partial shade. Well draining pot/soil. 50-70 degree temps. Harvest once the plant reaches at least 6 inches tall. Harvest whole stems from the base of the plant to encourage more growth.
Sage
Likes a sandy or loamy soil with good drainage. Wet soils can cause rot and be fatal to the plant. Sage has moderate moisture needs, along with some drought tolerance. Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy for young plants. Water established plants when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dries out. Avoid getting the leaves wet. Too much fertilizer can result in weaker flavor. In a plant’s first year, try to harvest minimally, so the plant can focus on establishing itself and stop harvesting about two months before your projected first fall frost.
Zinnia (Giant)
Zinnias are not picky about their soil but need their space. Larger types of zinnias need at least 12 to 18 inches between plants in full sun for proper air circulation and disease prevention. The more you pick, the more they bloom.