A rare true-blue flower, tweedia brightens up gardens and works well as a cut flower. Join farmer Briana Yablonski to learn how to grow this tender perennial at home. It’s tough to find true blue flowers. While you can often spot this color on plant tags and cultivar names, these supposedly blue blooms often turn out to be shades of purple. That’s one reason why I love tweedia. This perennial produces star-shaped flowers that are true baby blue. The first time I spotted them, I couldn’t believe their color! When you add their fuzzy stems and elongated heart-shaped leaves, they stand out from the crowd. Although tweedia isn’t commonly grown in gardens, it’s not difficult to grow and can thrive in various climates. Not only are the leaves and blooms beautiful in the garden, but the flowers also hold up well when cut. So, if you’re looking for a new, unique flower, try growing tweedia. What Is It? Tweedia is a tender annual that’s known for its light blue flowers. It’s also known as blue milkweed. Since the blooms hold up well after they’re cut, people often grow them for flower arrangements. In fact, I first saw tweedia when working at a Georgia flower farm. As I started my first spring on the farm, I tried to become familiar with all the plants dotting the neatly formed beds. I could recognize the dark green lanceolate coneflower leaves and the tall delphinium flower stalks. But the slightly woody stems covered with heart-shaped leaves? I had no idea. When I asked the farm owner what it was, she told me it was tweedia. But that didn’t help—I had never heard of this plant. Later that day, I looked up a photo of the flowers and was amazed! Since then, tweedia has been one of my favorite flowers to introduce to other gardeners. Characteristics The plant often grows as a small shrub with slightly woody, branching stems. It produces dark green, small, heart-shaped leaves that become elongated as they age. Both the leaves and the stems are covered in fine, fuzzy hairs, and the stems produce a sticky, milky sap when broken. Tweedia blooms in the spring and summer and attracts pollinators including bees and butterflies. Individual flowers appear on inch-long pedicles that grow from the main stem. The and start out in shades of light blue. As they age, they turn light pink. Elongated, green seed pods follow the flowers and are filled with brown seeds attached to silky, white hairs. In most areas of the United States, you should grow tweedia as an annual or dig up the plants and bring them indoors during the winter. That’s because cold air will squash the tender foliage and stems. Although many sources say tweedia is hardy to zones 10 and 11, I’ve seen it successfully overwintered outdoors in zone 8! So if you live in zone 8 or 9, it’s worth covering the plants with a layer of frost cloth and watching what happens. Native Area This perennial is native to parts of South America, including Brazil and Uruguay. In its native environment, it grows as a small, messy shrub or slightly trailing plant. It’s often found in dry, open areas rather than wet, tropical forests. Planting You can grow tweedia outdoors in a garden bed or container. Since it maxes out at a few feet tall and has a branching shape, it works well in front of taller shrubs and perennials. You can also mix it with other flowers in a cutting garden. How to Grow These perennials are easy to grow as long as you know how to provide the proper environment. Keep these ideal growing conditions in mind if you want to end up with stems covered in beautiful blue flowers. Maintenance These low-maintenance plants don’t require much care besides regular weeding and watering. However, young seedlings develop from pinching to encourage a highly branching form. This involves removing the top tip so the side shoots start growing longer. This will eventually lead to an increased number of long stems that are suitable for harvest as cut flowers. If you live in zones 8 or 9 and want to keep the plants alive through the winter, you can take protective steps. Mulch the soil around the plants with wood chips or straw to protect the roots. Then, cover the plants with a layer or two of protective row cover. This will help keep the plants warm and give them a better chance of surviving the cold temperatures. When the weather remains above freezing, remove the row cover.

Bergenia plants, or pigsqueaks, are low-growing perennials perfect for borders, beds, and neglected pathways. They’ll spread over time, filling your garden with bright-colored blooms and squeaky foliage. Join seasoned grower Jerad Bryant and learn how to plant, grow, and care for these lush flowering plants. Easy-growing perennials are incredibly valuable in the home garden. They require little care and maintenance to thrive and grow well in a wide range of environments. Poor soils, harsh exposures, and low moisture levels are no match for rugged perennials. Bergenias, or piqsqueaks, are a group of tough plants that fit the bill. They sprout thick, glossy, and round leaves that squeak when you rub them together. In spring, pink, white, and purple blossoms emerge atop thin stems above the foliage. Attract pollinators, fill empty spaces, and beautify your garden with bergenias. They’re adaptable and dependable, working well around your yard. Learn how to best take care of them, and they’ll thrive for years to come! What Are Bergenias? These spreaders are evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous depending on the species and the growing location. They’re exceptional garden plants, tolerating droughts, frosts, and extreme weather events. When other plants fail, piqsqueaks thrive! Native Area These perennials originate from parts of Asia. They’re native to the Himalayas and other mountain ranges in China. Though they’re native to mountainous regions, they work well across the globe in various gardens. Part of why bergenias are tough and durable is because of their native range. They need frost, drought, and heat-tolerant qualities to survive extreme alpine weather conditions. When you plant them at low elevations instead of up high in the mountains, they retain their durable qualities without growing weak or frail. Characteristics Many pigsqueaks resemble each other, though some species have distinct qualities. They sprout heart-shaped green leaves with toothed edges that sprout off long stems in a central rosette. They resemble cabbage plants before they form their heads. After new leaves appear in spring, flowering stems emerge from the rosettes. Clusters of white, pink, or red blooms open on each stem, creating a lush effect in the springtime garden. They attract hummingbirds with their sweet nectar. Some bergenias are extremely hardy; they have a thick, rugged rootstock that protects them from water loss in summer and frigid temperatures in winter. Though tough, their leaves may wilt after many weeks without water. Planting Whether you’re transplanting potted plants or growing seedlings from seed, getting bergenias into the garden is a simple, straightforward process. Many hybrid varieties are only available as potted plants from nurseries and retailers, while heirloom varieties and bergenia species grow well from seeds.

Growing acorn squash is easier than you might think! These small squash are an excellent addition to the vegetable garden and handy in the kitchen for stuffing or roasting. Kelli Klein presents an in-depth growing guide that reveals all you need to grow this squash at home. Growing acorn squash is low maintenance and rewarding! Because of their large seed size, sowing acorn squash seeds is a great task for young children to get them involved in the garden. If you’d rather begin with pre-started seedlings, then fear not! Squash seedlings are likely available at your local garden center. The growing process is long, but you’ll enjoy watching the acorn squash grow throughout the summer and into the fall. This species originated in Central and North America and was introduced to early European settlers by Native Americans. It was a staple crop and often part of a three-sisters garden, which includes corn, pole beans, and squash, all of which are interplanted for their mutual benefits. Acorn squash is very easy to prepare and cook which makes it a great addition to every edible vegetable garden. The flavor has been described as mild and slightly nutty. It requires no peeling, just slice in half and roast cut side down in the oven until tender. Top it with some butter, and a sprinkle of salt, and eat the flesh right out of the rind. Acorn squash is also an excellent stuffable squash since they have a shape that is nearly perfect for stuffing. Half a squash makes for a perfect serving size. (Also, they taste incredible when stuffed with mushrooms and wild rice!) What is Acorn Squash? Cucurbita pepo var. turbinata is also known as Des Moines squash and pepper squash. They are a type of winter squash, but are more perishable and have a shorted shelf life than others of their kind. They can also be eaten somewhat immature, whereas other winter squash should fully mature before being harvested. C. pepo includes vegetables such as butternut, spaghetti squash, and pumpkins. Summer squash such as zucchini is a subspecies of Cucurbita pepo. It is said that the name Des Moines squash comes from a popular variety, ‘Table Queen’, that was first sold by an Iowa seed company and gained popularity in the 1800s. Native Area There is some mystery around the Des Moines cultivars and there are claims of it being cultivated in Denmark, however, these claims have been unsubstantiated and it’s more likely that it was cultivated alongside other squashes in North America. The original Cucurbita pepo is native to Mexico. Characteristics These vegetables have large fan-like leaves and thin stems that will either lead to a central growing point (for bush types) or to a vine (for vine types). The flowers are large and yellow and resemble zucchini blossoms. They are also edible and taste amazing when battered and deep-fried. The shape of the squash resembles an acorn with ribs and a dark green rind sometimes with a tinge of orange. People grow acorn squash because they’re high in Vitamin C. Planting The best time of year to sow acorn squash seeds is after all danger of frost for the season has passed. Pick a spot in your garden that gets plenty of sunlight and has plenty of space for the plants to bush out, sprawl, or grow up a raised bed trellis depending on the variety that you choose. Keep in mind that the decision to sow directly from seed or transplant out seedlings will depend on the length of your growing season. If sowing acorn squash seeds directly, start planting after the soil temperature is consistently at least 60°F. When transplanting seedlings, wait until one to two weeks after the average last frost date when nighttime temperatures are in the 50s. Make sure to space accordingly. Place one transplant per two square feet. Thin direct-sown squash in the seedling stage to this same spacing. How to Grow Now we’ll discuss the care of the beloved winter squash. Hopefully, this encourages you to add it to your vegetable garden as soon as possible! Following these gardening tips will ensure a bountiful harvest. Maintenance Pruning for acorn squash is unnecessary other than removing dead or yellowing leaves. Cut them back at the base of the stem. When pruning away damaged or diseased leaves, be mindful not to cut through the main stem. Otherwise, they can take pruning at many locations without inhibiting its growth. There are two main acorn squash varieties: bush and vining. The bush variety will remain stout and, well, bushy. The vining varieties resemble butternut and can be trained to climb a trellis. This may be useful if you’re limited on garden space. This will allow you to grow acorn squash vertically and make the most of all the square footage available in your vegetable garden. I’ve had the most success growing winter squash on a cattle panel trellis. Set your acorn squash seeds or starts at the base of the trellis and once it is tall enough to do so, weave it through the first few spaces on the cattle panel. Squash will take it from there. If you’re growing vertically, support the weight of the fruit once it begins to mature to prevent it from bringing down the entire vine. Create a cradle out of old pantyhose or an old t-shirt. Although they can generally withstand the weight of the fruit without much support, it is better to be safe. With the bush variety, you may consider adding a barrier between the squash and the soil as it matures. Without a barrier, like a piece of slate, the squash may rot on the side that rests on the ground. This is an issue in areas that are especially moist and wet while the fruit is maturing; otherwise, it shouldn’t be an issue. Follow these growing tips, and you’re sure to have a successful squash season.