Dear Helen: I understand that zonal geraniums can be grown from seed. Is this something new? How difficult are the plants to raise from seed?
L.F.
Dear L.F.: These geraniums (zonal pelargoniums) were grown only from cuttings until the mid 1960s, when seed-grown varieties were introduced. The first one I grew, in the late ’60s, was called ‘Carefree.’ I recall proudly showing the beautiful little transplants to my father.
I’ve grown many new varieties from seed since then and I can’t recall ever having a problem with them. The newer zonal geraniums bloom faster than those first varieties, but it still is best to seed indoors early, in late January or early February, for a long flowering season.
This year, I chose a traditional, large-flowered red in the Maverick series. The transplants are robust and ready to go outdoors.
A warm (24 C) soil temperature facilitates speedy and successful germination. A temperature reduction to around 18 C after germination, together with bright light, helps to produce stocky, strong transplants.
Dear Helen: I am about to plant a vegetable garden in a sunny site with a rich soil. Please suggest a deer-resistant selection.
R.R.
Dear R.R.: Every time I suggest plants that are not palatable to deer, I hear from hordes of readers keen to tell me they have observed deer mowing down those same plants. Keep in mind that deer will eat almost anything whenever favourite wild foods are scarce.
I’d start by buying plants of two edible perennials — rhubarb, whose leaves are toxic, and globe artichoke, which is prickly. Try also cucumber and squash (also prickly), root vegetables and strongly scented plants such as onions, leeks and chives. Plant garlic in the fall. Tomatoes are worth a try and, if grown against a length of tall fencing, the plants can be easily covered with netting.
Even plants favoured by deer, including most salad vegetables, peas and beans, can sometimes be protected by surrounding them with strong-scented marigolds and herbs such as lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme.
If you become discouraged by persistent deer browsing, look into inexpensive and inconspicuous black deer fencing to erect around the edible garden.
Dear Helen: How can I avoid buying plants that have been treated with neonicotinoids, pesticides that may be linked to an alarming decrease in bee populations?
W.C.
Dear W.C.: If you keep asking retailers about pesticides on the plants they sell, those retailers will have to consult growers and wholesalers to find this information. It would probably be a wise move for retailers to make sure their plants are untreated and then post information in their stores declaring their plants to be free of neonicotinoids.
GARDEN EVENTS
Cactus meeting. The Victoria Cactus and Succulent Society will meet this evening at 7:30 in First Memorial (Funeral Services), 4725 Falaise Dr. in Royal Oak. Meeting rooms are at the back and can be reached by a path to the right of the parking lot or a ramp at the left side of the building.
Plantaholics sale. The Friends of Abkhazi Garden Society is hosting a sale on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Abkhazi Garden, 1964 Fairfield Rd. Among the plants for sale will be Pacific Coast irises, woodlanders, ferns, grasses, succulents, geraniums and fuchsias. Bring garden tools for sharpening while you shop and enjoy the garden. Plenty of parking at Margaret Jenkins School. Convenors wish also to let the gardening public know that there will be no UVic Finnerty Gardens sale this year.
Birthright plant sale. A plant sale on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 798 Goldstream Ave., will showcase rare and double-flowered plants, flowering shrubs, drought-tolerant and deer resistant varieties, all at excellent prices.
Chrysanthemum sale. The Victoria Chrysanthemum Society will hold a sale of spray and disbud chrysanthemum plants on Saturday at the Moss Street Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cowichan Fair. The Cowichan Valley Garden Fair, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Cowichan Exhibition Mellor Hall, will feature many specialty growers and garden vendors in one location. cowichanvalleygardenfair.com.
