Get a blossoming friend
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How to sow Tall Verbina – step by step
Step 1: Get the ingredients
You need this to get started: Tall Verbena seeds, sowing soil, pots, vermiculite, and grow lights.
Step 2: How to plant
Sow sparsely in damp soil and cover the seeds with a thin layer of vermiculite. Make sure you have grow lights for this one. The optimal temperature for the seeds to germinate is between 18-20 C. It can take up to 3 to 4 weeks before you see sprouts coming up from the soil. The ideal pre-cultivation period is February to March.
Know your seed
Plant placement: sun
Plant spacing: 30 cm
Row spacing: 30 cm
Sowing depth: 0,2 cm
Harvest time: July - October
Step 3: Development time
It take some time for Tall Verbena to development, so don’t lose hope! If the seeds do not germinate, it may be because they need to be activated by cold. Try to put the seeds in the fridge (or outside if it's not too cold) for about 4-6 weeks. It might actually help the first sprouts to see the day of light (or the interior of the fridge).
Step 4: Placement
When the sprouts start coming, put them in a sunny place. The Tall Verbena originates from South America, and really likes the sun.
Step 5: Attract pollinators
If you want to attract pollinators all summer, tall verbenas are the plants to go for. Their rich nectar is particularly popular with all sorts of bees and hoverflies, which are very useful for controlling aphids in the rest of the garden. Tall Verbena bloom from July and well into autumn, and are an excellent flower to have in the background of a planting.
Why you should grow more flowers
Embrace nature's beauty and ecological harmony in your own backyard. Grow flowers to attract pollinators, benefit your plants, and contribute to a diverse ecosystem. Enjoy the beauty while supporting nature's delicate balance. Here are more reasons to grow:
1. Better air
Flowering plants can help filter toxins out of the air and improve the air quality we breathe. Nowadays, even astronauts grow flowers in space to improve the air.
2. Flowers are part of a larger plan
The environmental design of Mother Nature relies on sufficient flower pollination to produce new seeds. Your little flower friend is thus part of a larger plan that helps propagate a more diverse ecosystem.
3. Attract pollinators
Flowers are a great source of nutrients for bees, and other pollinators. In fact, without these little guys swarming your flowers, there wouldn’t be any flowers, fruits, or anything. So when you plant a flowery friend, it quickly attracts its own important little friends that benefit us all.
4. Benefit other plants
When your flowers attract pollinators, all your other plants benefit and can flourish because they also get to participate in the pollination process.
5. More areas of use
Many flowers have great health benefits and effects we historically have used to make floral teas, herbal medicines, food, different crafts and more. For instance, chamomile has been used in cooking and traditional medicine for centuries to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.
6. Flowers make us happy
Studies have shown that flowers offer us an incredibly simple but effective way to improve our mental health. Simply being around them can lift our spirits, increase happy emotions, improve social behavior, and encourage feelings of life satisfaction.
7. Improve green spaces
Flowering plants are a great way to improve green spaces, as birds and bees benefit greatly from flowers in the environment.
Arrange a cut flowers bouquet in 6 simple steps
Finally, it’s the time of the year when you can pick the flowers you’ve been growing all spring. To Amanda, this is pure joy! As you know, she’s cultivating Tall Verbena on her balcony and can’t wait to create a bouquet using it. These are Amanda’s top tips for putting together the perfect summer bouquet:
1. Have the right tools in place
Before getting started, you'll need a pair of sharp garden shears or pruners. To make an extra neat bouquet, getting some floral wire or twine is a good idea. For the finished bouquet, you’ll also need a vase!
2. Choose flowers that will last long
To Amanda, her bouquet must look beautiful for several days. Therefore, she carefully selects flowers based on that. Larkspur is one of her favourites, as you can pick it when it’s just a bud and then let it burst into bloom indoors.
3. Mix up your bouquet
Select a variety of flowers that complement each other regarding colour, size, shape, and length. For example, let your bouquet include a focal flower (such as a large bloom), filler flowers (smaller blooms or greenery), and accent flowers (unique or contrasting colours).
4. Treat your flowers well
Early morning or late evening is the perfect time to harvest your flowers, as the temperature is cooler. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle using sharp shears to help the flowers absorb water more effectively.
5. Add greenery and wildflowers
Greenery adds texture and volume to your bouquet! Even a more petite bouquet will look lush and lively if you mix it with grass and leaves. Amanda also loves incorporating some wildflowers in her bouquet.
6. Turn your flowers into a bouquet
Start by selecting a few larger focal flowers – like Tall Verbena – and hold them in your hand. Gradually add other flowers, and turn the bouquet slightly to create a spiral effect as you add each stem. This way, you’ll create a visually pleasing, balanced arrangement. For added stability, wrap floral wire or twine around the stems. Put your lovely bouquet in a vase, and just enjoy it!
