Benedict T. Palen, Jr - Tips To Care For Your Budding Biennials Properly

The attractiveness of the biennial is that it is a little more complex. In its first year, a plant will develop. While putting energy into establishing a vigorous root system, all that will develop above ground is a big leafy green plant. The doubtful gardener may go to check their plants in the winter and fret that they are not going to make it. But even if chapped, shriveled, frosty or brown, chances are your biennials are just perfect.

With the onset of spring, new green growth appears from under the dew. Months or weeks later, that same plant you thought you knew will go through an incredible metamorphosis and rupture into bloom, revealing something new altogether. Below are tips to properly care for your budding biennials.

• All garden plants need to be regular watering to grow. When the weather is chilly in early spring, water biennials about once a week, enhancing to two or even three times per week once the air temperature augments. You may not see much development in the first season, but it is vital to still water regularly.
• Throughout the year, get rid of dead or dying foliage from your garden. This will perk up the look of your garden while also endorsing healthy, new growth in the second year. When your biennial plants bloom, remove spent flowers by cutting off, pinching or deadheading dead blooms—to support continued growth.
• The bacteria, fungi, and organic matter in compost supplement the soil with nutrients. This endorses strong immunity in your biennial plants and extends the life of crops. Adding mulch to the top layer of your soil can also offer your biennial vegetables a head start in growth.
• All vegetables are prone to pests. For insect pests, use a noninvasive or an organic pesticide. A net or fence around the perimeter of your garden will assist keep out larger animals.
• Keep a garden journal to follow your vegetables’ progress. Note when and where you planted your vegetables, whether pests are prying, and any pertinent details about the development and wellbeing of your crops.
• Weed your garden to do this in the morning when the soil is humid and you can pull the weeds easily. This guarantees that your biennials do not get shaded out by fast-growing weeds.

If you wish for blooms every year, instead of every second year, start another planting or seedling of biennials during the first planting’s second year. For best results, follow this timetable:

1. Year 1: Begin seeds or seedlings
2. Year 2: Previous year’s biennials will bloom, then go to seed. Begin more seeds or seedlings to bloom next year.
3. Year 3: Seeds from first planting of biennials will grow and just grow foliage. The second planting will bloom, then go to seed.
4. Year 4: From here on, few plants will be going to seed and other flowering every year

 

Benedict T. Palen, Jr., has thirty years of knowledge working in management, operations, and agricultural investments. Right now, Benedict T.Palen, Jr., serves as co-proprietor and manager for Great Plains Farms, LLC, administering all from the appraisal of farmland to offering proposal on operator training and irrigation development.