What Do You Want To Grow?

It is the time of year when people think about their intentions for the coming months. Some of those goals are noble but not so easy to accomplish…losing the “Covid 19 pounds” that you’ve been carrying since 2020, or adding more exercise into each day. Far more delightful to contemplate are the ways that plants and your landscape can add to your well-being. Even the planning of new plantings and garden projects is enjoyable, and January is the perfect month to get started. This short list contains just a few of the things you might want to grow in the coming year; know that for these and more, we’re here to help.

I want to grow more color in my yard.

A landscape that contains an assortment of plants with different foliage colors and flowers that bloom at various times of year makes people happy. This is a good time to evaluate your property and make plans to add the low-maintenance shrubs and trees that will provide color. If you have photos of your yard through the previous year, winter is a good time to review them and note the months when your yard could use more flowers and the areas that need bright foliage.

I want to grow an organic vegetable garden.

There are so many reasons to grow vegetables, from showing your children or grandchildren where food comes from to having the freshest food on earth. Nothing beats being able to go into your yard at 5 PM and pick vegetables for dinner. To assist those who want tips for growing veggies, we’re offering a virtual Sunday Seminar on April 30th at 4 PM called “Vegetable Garden Success.” The registration information will be on our Events page soon. The store is already well stocked with vegetable seeds, and our staff can give you advice about soil for raised beds, growing in Smart Pots or preparing an in-ground garden.

I want to grow more native plants.

From supporting pollinators to using less water, there are many reasons to include more natives in your landscape. Many of our customers tell us that when a plant dies or isn’t doing well in their gardens, they want to replace it with something that’s native to the eastern United States. There are many native shrubs, trees and perennials that are beautiful and easy to grow. You might begin by downloading our list of native plants to support pollinators, and researching some of those this winter. On March 26th at 4 PM, C.L. Fornari will be presenting a virtual Sunday Seminar about Native Plants for Cape Cod. The registration information for that class will be on our Events page soon.

I want to grow cutting flowers!

Clipping a few flowers for a vase in your home or office is one of the joys of having growing space outdoors, and you don’t have to have a large property to grow bouquets. Whether you want to raise cutting flowers in pots, among your foundation plantings or in a dedicated cutting garden, there are many annuals and perennials (not to mention the Cape’s favorite shrub, Hydrangeas) that are perfect for this purpose. On May 7th at 4 PM we will have a virtual Sunday Seminar where you will see photos of some of the best plants for bouquets. In the meantime, download this list of great cutting garden plants.

I want more color and motion in my yard NOW!

You can grow that! Well, maybe “grow” is the wrong word, but you can have more color and movement if you feed the birds. Come talk to us about the best place to put up a feeder, and which seeds will attract the birds you’d like to see.

I want to grow tasty tomatoes!

If your goal is to raise flavorful, organic tomatoes, we have the information and products you need. There are two events scheduled in 2023 for tomato lovers. On March 12th at 4 PM, C.L. Fornari will present a virtual Sunday Seminar on Growing Terrific Tomatoes. And for those who prefer in-person education, be sure to register for Tomatoes and Basil from Seed on March 16th. All of the information and links to registration will be up on our website soon, and be sure to see our Handouts Page for guidance on Soil Prep and Fertilizing for Tomatoes, Tomato Problem Solving, and Tomato Terms.

I want to grow something fun.

Working with plants stimulates our creativity, intellect and curiosity, so if you’re looking for a life-affirming project for the coming season, plan on growing something just for fun. Perhaps you would like pots filled with edible flowers. We have a Botanical Interests edible flower mix that is as enjoyable to grow as it is delicious. There are flowers and vegetables with unusual shapes or colors, long-blooming orchids, and fragrant shrubs. I think it’s fair to say that if you come into 380 West Main Street any month of the year, you’ll find something fun.