Geraniums Are Garden Favorite Everywhere
Posted on May 12th, 2009 by Sharon Sweeny in Flowers, container gardening
Geraniums are available as bedding plants everywhere.
Farmer’s Market Series
Geranium seeds were brought to Europe from South Africa in the 1600’s and proceeded to take Europe by storm.
Within just a few years they were cultivated in gardens and containers everywhere. Artists of the time featured them in their paintings as either subjects or background.
Geraniums are one of the most popular bedding plants. The geraniums in the picture at left are only a small sample of the many potted varieties available at the Farmer’s Market this week.
Originally classified by Linneaus as Geranium, the half-hardy annual geraniums we grow have since been reclassified as Pelargonium, while the Geranium genus encompasses hardy perennial geraniums.
Pelargonium is derived from a Greek word which means “crane’s bill,” a reference to the shape of their seeds, which hang down and resemble the bill of a crane.
Originally a light salmon color, plant breeders have selected or bred geraniums so that they are now available in a variety of shades of pink, red, magenta, and pure white.
Plant geraniums in full sun in rich well-drained soil. They’ll do alright in partial shade, particularly in areas with summer temperatures consistently above 90°, although they will produce fewer blooms.
Work compost into the soil prior to planting. Use a container potting mix for potted geraniums.
Feed every two weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer, such as 20-20-20, or use a time-release fertilizer when planting.
Water geraniums thoroughly and then let the soil dry out between waterings. For containers, water when soil feels dry about 2 inches below the surface. In any case, check container-grown geraniums daily, especially during the hottest part of summer.
Sometimes the leaves turn brown and die for no apparent reason, usually due to fungal diseases from excess moisture. Remove the discolored leaves and consistently deadhead the flowers to keep them looking their best all season.
Geraniums will live through the winter in a south-facing window. Cut the plants back by about 2/3 when bringing them indoors. Water sparingly, about once a week. In late winter when new growth starts, begin feeding them again.
You can also keep them over the winter by allowing the plant to go dormant and storing in a cool basement under conditions similar to a root cellar. Cut the plants back by about 2/3, take them out of their pots and remove the soil from the roots. The plants are then hung from the rafters. Keep an eye on them; if the roots begin to appear shriveled, re-hydrate them in water for a couple of hours.
Pot them up in late winter and place under artificial lights or in a south-facing window. When new growth begins, fertilize with a liquid fertilizer.
Geraniums are more hardy than you may realize; often they’re one of the last garden plants still in flower at the end of the growing season, right alongside hardy mums.
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