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Annuals give color, beauty, and warmth to our outdoor living areas. Many of them will bloom continuously from May until frost. Trips to different trial grounds have aided us in selecting the best varieties for outdoor performance for Westchester County. Sprainbrook Nursery is unique in it’s selection of varietal differences. Variety is what puts flower power in your garden. We have the largest selection of annuals in Westchester County.

DESCRIPTIONS - In this chapter we provide you with information regarding the height, color, light and soil requirements and best use of every annual we carry, keeping you up-to-date on all the newest varieties. We have included the botanical names as well to allow you to pursue further research on your own. We have a number of fine books in our Garden Center to help you, and every winter we hold a two hour slide presentation on annuals.

You will notice a symbol system which shows the light requirements - shade, part shade, full sun -  and its use as a cut flower . The symbol indicates plants which were vegetatively propagated from cuttings rather than from seed.

PLANNING AND PLANTING- Plan your garden at home and bring a list of your needs. In the spring we are very busy. If you can help us, we will be able to do a better job for you. Take some time to read this chapter completely. If you feel you need more help, contact one of our consultants who will, for a fee, come to your home and help you plan your garden. We also offer planting service. Let us help you put all those little pots in the garden for you.

CONTAINERS - Our fiber pots far outperform plastic pots. We have put most of our production into these pots including our hanging plants. We found it to be aesthetically pleasing. Plants do grow better in them and they are environmentally sound. Try planting established hanging baskets directly into the ground for immediate color and cover.

Peat pots - Our annuals are grown in peat pots. Because you plant the entire container, peat pots provide the least amount of transplant shock, are environmentally sound and are easy to plant . Our dilemma is that we believe strongly in the merits of peat pots but a lot of plants are damaged because customers do not handle them carefully. Peat pots are easily destroyed by rough handling - so please be gentle in your selections.

We encourage the larger unit (whole flats), as it is more economical and gives a larger splash of color, creating a more dramatic effect for your garden. Our JUMBO packs contain more than twice the number of plants sold in most packs on the market. We consider them a real bargain. In most cases 16 plants are planted, giving you a full dozen even if a few die out.

CULTURAL TIPS - Try not to overhead water the plants, but water carefully below the foliage. Use drip irrigation wherever possible. A layer of mulch will conserve water and reduce weed problems. Use Daniel's organic fertilizer which releases nutrients slowly and is both better for the plant and the environment. Incorporate Bio-Tone Starter Plus containing Mycorrhizae, for deeper root penetration.

PLANTING TIME: Buy your plants early, keeping in mind that we are usually beyond danger of frost by May 15th.

Annuals provide us with constant color. They should be used at every opportunity available to brighten up the landscape. If properly taken care of they will bloom from early spring to late fall. Varieties continue to improve yielding more flower power, greater heat tolerance and greater vigor. At Sprainbrook we have switched to the organic way of growing plants. This is different from most of the growers in our industry who are growing their plants inorganically. The majority of today's growers use peat-lite mixes and rely heavily on liquid feeding to spur growth. They are developing nutrient dependent plants for it is a cheaper process yielding quicker results. If you are a grower supplying the big boxes or the mass chain market, it is a necessity to keep your costs low. However there are pitfalls to this approach. If you don't keep heavily feeding these plants they will decline. The salts in the inorganic fertilizers kill the microbes in the soil and the micro nutrients are no longer available to the plant. Pumping in chemical fertilizers spurs growth but weakens the plant in many other ways by not supplying a plant with all of its nutrient requirements. Our annuals are organically grown and are not grown to be nutrient dependent. This produces a stronger plant that fits nicely into the organic approach to gardening. These plants will hold up better and will out preform most plants that are grown by mass produced modern techniques. Organic growers strive for the strength and health of the plant rather than for quick vegetative results. The organic gardener's motto is 'Feed the soil and let the soil feed the plants'. From the soil they receive a well balanced meal with all the micro nutrients available to them. Strong healthy plants bloom more profusely and stand up better under stress.

Choosing the right variety for the right location is important. www.sprainbrook.com provides you with all the cultural information on the plants that we grow. Through trial and error we can learn; but a lot of mistakes can be avoided if we spend a little time doing research. In addition we put out a top twenty list which is comprised of plants that you should definitely be part of your garden.

Three steps to a better garden:
1) Sign up at www.sprainbrook.com for weekly garden tips
2) Follow the recommendations in Krautter's Korner on the home page
3) Download The Organic Approach to Annuals

Watering is the most important factor in growing a good annual. Plants that are allowed to wilt down suffer stress. Extreme stress causes death and lighter stress causes plants to go out of flower. Avoiding overhead watering is important to avoid disease and poor flower quality. We prefer a drip system that waters the roots without leaving the foliage wet. Drip systems can be hooked up to automatic timers which will water your plants even if you are not there. Drip systems can work for container plants, hanging baskets and bedding plants.

For container gardening, window boxes or hanging baskets we recommend using our soil; a rich organic mixture fortified with additional microbes. Continue feeding these plants throughout the season with Daniel's organic liquid fertilizer and add plant tabs to the soil on a monthly basis. If you keep your plants well -watered you will be rewarded with incredible results.

Mulching is important when plants are placed in the ground. All flower beds should be covered with a 2 inch layer of mulch . This prevents weeds and conserves moisture.

ORGANIC PREPARATION OF A NEW PLANTING BED
The preparation of the planting bed is important for developing an area where you want to grow annuals. Most of our soils are heavy clay which require additional organic matter to improve soil structure. We recommend that all weeds be removed, the products listed in Preparation of a Planting Bed be spread evenly in layers on existing soil and dug in or roto-tilled into at least a 1 foot depth. Once this is done, you can follow our monthly calendar and this step will not be necessary in the following years.

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Annuals
Annuals Prices	Annuals price table
Abutilon	Well drained, sandy soil. Full sun.
African Daisy	Well, drained sandy soil. Full sun.
African Mallow	Full sun, partial shade. Moist, well-drained soil. Sold as a standard or in bush form. Covered with pink flowers all summer.
Ageratum	Full sun to light shade. Space 6-9". Blooms June-frost. Deadhead to prolong bloom. For edging and combination plantings. Needs well-drained porous soil and well-balanced phosphorous-rich fertilizer. Spray with Diazinon monthly to prevent red spider build-up. If it goes out of bloom, cut back.
Alstroemeria	Full sun, light shade, ordinary soil. Once you see them you do not want to be without them. Extremely long-lasting flowers. Use in containers as a central focal point or grace the garden with them.
Alyssum	Fragrant ground cover. Loves sun. Grows best with a minimum of water. Space 6-8". Blooms June-frost. For combinations, bedding and edging. Does well in the poorest soil; do not overfeed.
Angelonia	Full sun, ordinary soil. Thrives in heat.
Aster	Excellent cut flowers which love full sun and a rich soil. Space 10-12". Aug-Sept. Stake and give a deep root soaking in dry weather at least once a week. Plant in a different location each year to avoid Aster Wilts. Spray monthly with an insecticidal and fungicidal combination.
Bacopa	New varieties are available adding to the appeal of this wonderful plant. Flowers all summer. For baskets and windowboxes.
Basket Grass	Green and white leaves tinged with pink.
Battenberg Ivy	(from Mrs. Krautter's hometown in Germany) Sun, part shade. Light green and white variegated leaf. Trailing habit for window boxes. Excellent substitute for Vinca.
Begonia, Fibrous Rooted	Fibrous-rooted types are best suited to hanging pots.
Begonia, Tuberous	Ideal for shade in planters or beds. They require a very rich and porous soil. Their flowers are large and spectacular and give a tremendous show throughout the summer. Space 12-15". Upright and trailing forms. Sold as tubers.
Bidens
Brachyscome	'Blue' The old reliable swan river daisy is back. An abundance of lavender-blue, small daisy-like flowers with yellow centers.
Browallia	Can tolerate sun but prefers light shade. 6-12". Requires rich soil. They require much water but if heavily fed and well watered will give a profusion of flowers. Can also be used for bedding in shady areas.
Caladium	15-24". Very showy, decorative foliage plant. They like shade, need quantities of water, food, warmth and humidity. Keep out of strong winds. Drying out or too much sun cause most problems. Sold as tubers or plants.
Calendula	15". Excellent cut flowers if picked in bud. Require a well-drained soil and a sunny or lightly shaded location. Space 8".
Calibrochoa	Require well-drained soil and a sunny or lightly shaded location. Space 8".
Canna	Prefer a moist, rich soil and thrive in hot sunny locations with good air circulation. They grow from rhizomes which must be planted annually. Just after frost, cut the stalks to the ground and dig up the roots for dry storage. Cannas produce a large dramatic flower spike in a number of different colors. Effective both in background or containers.
Carnation	See Dianthus
Celosia	Plant in full sun 6-8" apart. Mass for effect. These strong positive colors will attract attention. Use in dry arrangements. Bloom June-frost.Heat and drought tolerant. They prefer warm weather. Don't plant too early.
Centaurea	Plant in rich soil in sun or semi-shade. Space 12". Bear a profusion of flowers until extreme heat of summer arrives. Keep well watered and plant in background. Excellent for cutting.
Cleome	Blooms from mid-summer until frost. Thrives in summer heat but needs plenty of water. Plant in a sunny location 15" apart. Grows tall and looks best en masse.
Coleus	An annual plant whose beauty lies in its foliage and not its flowers! 6-10" if kept pinched. Shady or lightly shaded locations. Space 12" and keep well watered. Pinch off flower heads to keep plants compact and bushy. They thrive in most well drained soils. Use for mass plantings, borders, window boxes and tub plantings. The new hybrids become more popular every year and give a large, dramatic show.
Cosmos	Few plants grow as rapidly as Cosmos, fewer still have such graceful flowers. Most valuable used at the back of beds. Long-lasting cut flower. Space 8-12" Full sun, will tolerate part shade, any porous soil.
Cuphea	This is delightful for edging, rock gardens or pots. Full sun. Heat and humidity tolerant. Densely branched, compact and uniform, with delicate foliage and tiny star-like 3/4" flowers all summer.
Dahlberg Daisy	An excellent border plant covered with a profusion of yellow flowers from May until frost. Plant in full sun and space 6". This plant is not widely known but is in great demand by those who are familiar with it. It should be cut back in mid-summer to rejuvenate. Spreading, low dwarf habit is similar to Alyssum. Excellent annual, withstanding heat well.
Dahlia	The tall, large-flowered exhibition types, sold as tubers, are planted 18" apart in a sunny location in rich, well-drained soil. They are used for mass effect, background and as cut flowers. They can grow up to 72" tall and bloom from June 'til frost. Dahlia tubers are available in the spring and can be saved year after year.  The bedding types (Dahlia pinnata), which we sell as plants, are spaced 12", and bloom continually all summer. Plant   in full sun. They are used for secondary borders, mass effect and cutting.
Daisy Shrub	1-2'. Silver-green foliage bearing yellow daisies. Plant in full sun.
Dianthus	Full sun; well-drained, alkaline soil. Space 8". Used in borders, groupings or rockgardens. Also make attractive, long lasting cut flowers.
Diascia x hybrida	Sunny, well-drained soil. Must be fed heavily to insure constant blooms.
Dichondra
Dracaena indivisia	Stiff, sword-shaped, green leaves provide a dramatic accent in annual arrangements. Well-drained soil, keep moist.
Dusty Miller	Grown for its silver foliage. Prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Space 12". Used for borders or containers.
Euphorbia hypericifolia	15-18" full bushy plants covered with small white flowers.
Evolvulus	Excellent hanging pot and window box plant. Heat and drought tolerant. Blooms all summer.
Felicia amelloides	Sun, light shade. Well drained, moist soil. Used for hanging baskets, window boxes, containers.
Fuchsia	Partial shade. Plant in rich porous soil. Keep moist at all times, but be sure of good drainage. Used for bedding, containers, hanging baskets and tree form. Space 18" in garden. We recommend constant feeding of all containerized fuchsias. Continuous show of bloom all summer and into the fall. Pinching back will rejuvenate plants if you have not been able to maintain them properly. Control aphids, mites and white fly with Pyrethrin or soap spray.
Gazania	An excellent bedding plant under hot, dry conditions. Grows well in windy locations. Plant in a sunny location in well-drained soil. Space 8-12". Compact habit, large daisy-like flowers, mostly orange with shades of yellow and white. Grey-green foliage. Not well known in America but gaining in popularity. Should be used more often.
Geranium	Constant bloom and showy flowers make this the most popular bedding plant. At least half a day of sun is required to grow quality geraniums. Plant with cow manure, peat moss, and bone meal. Use for window boxes, planter and bedding. Space 12" and pick off yellow leaves and dead flowers frequently.   Spray with Serenade if botrytis becomes a problem. We grow only from cultured, disease-free stock cuttings. They may cost a little more but they are worth the investment as these plants will not develop bacterial wilt or soft rot so common to others. Remember, Geraniums are pollution tolerant! The following varieties are grown from cuttings and have large flowers for planters and boxes. They are available in 4 1/2 or 6" plastic pots.
Geranium, Ivy	Full sun, at least half day sun. Trailing habit suited for hanging baskets and window boxes.
Gloriosa Daisy	Excellent cutting flower. Profuse bloomer. Plant in full sun or part shade in ordinary garden loam in secondary border or for mass effect. This Black-Eyed Susan will bloom all summer.
Gomphrena	Does well in window boxes, planters and high windy places. Suitable for edgings. They need sun and well drained soil and tolerate hot weather well. Make nice dried flower arrangements.
Graptophyllum	Foliage plant for sun. Heat tolerant.
Grasses
Heliotrope	Fragrant purple flowers. Space 12" in a sunny location. Prefers rich, well-drained soil. Blooms until frost.
Impatiens	THE most popular annuals due to their ability to give a profusion of flowers in a variety of colors in shade. Bloom May-October. Use for borders, mass plantings and containers.Will withstand conditions of extreme air pollution. The new F-1 hybrids give a fantastic show of large flowers. Prefer rich, well-drained soil with adequate moisture. Once established, DO NOT over water as rot may occur. Perform well in window boxes, planters and windy places.   Space 8-12". By planting impatiens close together they will give you a quicker show of color. Ball Seed Company experimented with planting impatiens 6", 9", and 12" on center. By the end of the season they all looked the same; but there was much greater show of color earlier in the season when planted closer together.  We increase our supply of these plants each year, but we run out quickly, so buy your plants early!   Varieties are listed by height but vary widely depending on amount of light, fertilizer and water.
Impatiens - New Guinea Hybrid	12-18" under ideal conditions. Will take partial shade or full sun with lots of water. Spectacular blooms; excellent as pot and bedding plants. Cuttings can be taken in late summer to bloom indoors during winter.
Lantana	12-18". Full sun. Most profuse bloomer.Space 12-18". Use for mass plantings, borders, window boxes, containers and hanging baskets. Also available this year are beautiful tree-form lantanas. For best control of white fly, use a systemic in the soil, such as Merit. We recommend constant feeding for all containerized plants.
Larkspur	A good early cut flower on long spikes. Plant in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Tolerant of light shade. Space 10". Tall and stately along walls or fence.
Licorice Plant
Lisianthus	Sun. One of the very best cut flowers, lasting for weeks in water. Large blossoms resemble roses or poppies. Needs good garden soil. Go easy on water upon transplanting, then water freely once established.
Lobelia	L. erinus- Only 6" tall. An excellent dwarf plant for semi-shady locations. Space 6-9". Use for rock gardens, beds, borders and window boxes. To keep flowering, trim plants back lightly after the first set of flowers has finished.
Lobularia Snow Princess	4-6" masses of white, very fragrant flowers throughout the summer until the first frost. Ideal for hanging baskets and raised planters.
Lotus Vine
Lysimachia congestiflora	Grows best in part shade, heat resistant. Well drained soil.
Marguerite
Marigold	A summer classic. Withstands poor soil. Needs sunny location. Do not overhead water. Wonderful borders, mass plantings or cut flowers. Pinch off spent flowers. F-1 hybrids have been bred for larger blooms and longer blooming period, and Triploid hybrids, which produce very few seeds, bloom right through the summer heat when others might slow down. Red spider is about the only insect to bother Marigolds.
Mecardonia
Melampodium	Plants are bushy and branch easily. Heat tolerant, well drained soil. Flowers all summer. Flowers are star shaped. One of top 10 plants you can see at 60 MPH!
Millet	Sunny well drained soil.
Mimulus	Sun, light shade. Moderately moist. Best in cool weather or in water garden.
Morning Glory	A fast-growing vine for problem areas. Full sun in a rather poor, infertile soil which is not kept too moist. Space 12".
Nasturtium	Richly colored. Fragrant flowers are excellent for cutting or bedding. Require only part of the day's sunlight. They require a well-drained soil and thrive in poor soils. Flowers and leaves are edible and make great additions to salads.
Nemesia Fruticosa
Nemesia Strumosa	Full sun, light shade.
Nicotiana
Nierembergia	6-8". Beautiful cup-shaped flowers on lacy foliage. Excellent in the border if planted in a sunny location. Rich moist soil. Do not plant in too hot a location. Will tolerate light shade. Space 6". For window boxes and rock gardens, also.
Oxalis
Pansy	Our earliest most colorful spring flowers. Plant in sun or light shade and keep moist. They like a rich soil and the flowers must be picked to ensure a long period of bloom. Our new varieties are very heat tolerant. Space 6". These plants are kept cool so they can be planted out of doors very early.
Pentas	Full sun. Moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Few plants are easier to grow. Continuous bloom all summer.
Perilla	Full sun. Fertile, well-drained soil.
Petunia	Plant in an area with at least 1/2 day of sun. Do not overhead water. Space 12". If plants are getting straggly, prune back and they will respond with vigor. Petunias like an open, airy situation. Use for mass plantings, borders, window boxes, containers and hanging planters. They fall into several categories:
Phlox	Full sun.
Portulaca	4-6". Prospers in hot dry locations where most flowers will not grow. Use along driveways, in rock gardens, as a ground cover or in patio planters. Actually prefer poor soil. Flowers are open in sunshine, closed when it is overcast.
Portulacaria	Ideal hanging plant for hot, dry, difficult locations. Requires full sun.
Rudbeckia	See Gloriosa Daisy.
Salvia	Give a continuous show of color from June-frost. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. The blues are used for cut flowers, especially in dry arrangements and the reds for borders and mass plantings.
Scaevola aemula	Full sun. Loves heat and light. Fleshy leaves. Ideal for window boxes and hanging baskets. Truly one of the greatest plants for constant color.
Setcreasea purpurea	Full sun, light shade. Excellent accent plant. Purple foliage. Formerly used as houseplant.
Snapdragon	An excellent cut flower. Cutting the flowers will force basal branching and more flowers. Dwarf varieties are good in borders. Requires sunny location and fertile, well-drained soil. The most useful are the intermediates which require no staking and can be used for mass planting as well as cutting.
Stocks	Fine cut flower. Spiced honey richly fragrant blooms. Do best in cool weather. Plant in full sun or light shade in a moderately rich soil with abundant moisture. Space 8". Flowers retain fragrance when dried.
Strobilanthes dyerianus	3-4'. Outstanding foliage plant. Vivid pink-purple color.
Sweet Pea	'Knee High Mix' - 2 1/2-3'. Fragrant colorful bush type. Mixed colors.
Sweet Potato Vine	Full sun. Use on trellis or in hanging baskets for foliage accent. Ordinary garden soil.
Thunbergia	Useful as hanging basket. Dense, heavy grower covering itself with masses of flowers. Needs light shade to full sun. A heavy feeder. Keep moist.
Torenia	8-10". Small pansy-faced snapdragon-like flowers which do well in shade or partial shade. Requires warm moist soil. Good border plant or en masse. Space 6-8".
Verbena	Heat tolerant annuals which do best in full sun and fertile soil. Give solid masses of beautiful colors and are good choices for rock gardens, bedding, ground covers or edging, as well as window boxes and containers. Taller varieties for cutting. Bloom all summer. Space dwarf varieties 6".
Vinca	Due to hybridizing, they are gaining in popularity. Tolerant of heat and air pollution. Will do well in full sun or light shade. Bloom all summer. Should be planted when soil temperatures are warm. Low-growing, bushy plants, star- shaped blooms, glossy foliage that sheds dust.
Vinca Vine	Full sun, light shade. It is used for combinations, window boxes and containers. It is the classic companion to Geraniums, preferring full sun and a rich, well-drained porous soil, but will tolerate some shade. Pollution tolerant
Viola	Neat compact habit. Well-rounded 1" blooms. Heat resistant, more so than Pansies. Well-drained humusy soil is best. Cut back severely after main flowering to produce equally profuse second round. 5-8". Bloom late April-September.
Zinnia	One of the most popular cut flower annual. Used for mass effects and in borders. Prolific bloomers from June until frost. Need a sunny location and any good garden loam. Very showy, withstand heat. The F-1 hybrids are fantastic, and we are one of the few growers to raise these beautiful varieties ourselves.
Zinnia angustifolia	10-12". Bloom all summer. Excellent for use as a ground cover or border plant.

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