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Gardening with Allen: Wait to plant new stunning flowers until May

By Allen Wilson, Columbian freelance writer
Published: January 4, 2025, 6:05am
4 Photos
Dahlia Black Forest Ruby has an abundance of 3-inch ruby red flowers with striking black foliage.
Dahlia Black Forest Ruby has an abundance of 3-inch ruby red flowers with striking black foliage. (Photos All-American Selections) Photo Gallery

Last week I described the hardy new flowers that can be planted outside as early as April 1. This week’s flowers are more tender to frost and should not be planted outside until early May. Although nasturtium seed is often sown directly outside in early April with expectation that plants will emerge in May.

Zinnia Zydeco Fire has large 21/2- to 3-inch bright, fiery orange, double flowers on 18- to 22-inch plants. Vigorous plants bloom from early summer until first frost. Larger flowers on sturdier stems than the comparisons. Very suitable for cut flower bouquets. Resistance to powdery mildew which is the primary foe of zinnias. Needs deadheading for best appearance. Available from seed or started plants.

Marigold Mango Tango dances through the garden strutting its stuff: a stunning, super-saturated flower of yellow and red. Vigorous 6- to 8-inch plants with uniform, abundant flowers blooming from early summer until frost. This dwarf French marigold is suitable for border or bed planting and can also be used in containers. Available as seed or started plants.

Dahlia Black Forest Ruby has an abundance of 3-inch ruby red flowers with striking black foliage. Sturdy 20- to 27-inch plants do not flop open and are disease free all season long. The knee-high stature provides stems suitable for cutting. Can be grown in beds or larger containers. Deadheading provides the best appearance. Available from seed or started plants.

Three different colors in the nasturtium Baby series have all won All-America awards in the same year. The Baby series is known for being a petite-flowered, mounding variety with healthy, dark foliage. Ideal for containers and small space gardens. Their compact habit means less “flower flopping” with blooms remaining upright throughout the season.

Nasturtium Baby Gold has uniformly compact plants with intense golden yellow flowers. The golden yellow color contrasts beautifully with the dark green foliage

Nasturtium Baby Yellow also has uniformly compact plants with light, lemon yellow flowers. The dark green foliage also sets off these lighter yellow flowers.

Nasturtium baby Red matches its sister varieties with uniformly compact plants with dark green foliage. It has rich, scarlet red flowers.

Combine these three varieties with the previous All-America award winning Baby Rose and you have a nice mixture. Remember, both nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible. Add some to your summer salads.

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Columbian freelance writer