SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Barely cover. Press lightly into soil.
Starting Indoors:
Sow in pots 10 weeks before last frost date, setting out in spring when soil is still cool. Keep at 65-70°F until germination is complete, then grow on cool with 50°F nights.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow in early spring or fall in mild winter areas (zones 8-10).
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
2 weeks before last spring frost
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Mountain garland is part of the large Clarkia genus, named for William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. He sent seeds of this showy wildflower to England in 1840, and today, it has transformed from a simple beauty into a bouquet of doubled flowers on tall stems tailor made for cutting. The open-petaled flowers open from the bottom to the top on tall racemes. It thrives under cool spring conditions; most flowering is over by mid July or when the heat of summer intrudes. Grow in cutting gardens and sow drifts with California poppy, globe gilia, and baby blue eyes for springtime borders in very well-drained soils. Cut for bouquets, which are notably long-lasting in a vase and can be dried.
Watering Details:
Water regularly until established, then only during dry spells.
Soil pH:
Slightly acid to slightly alkaline
Fertilizer:
If soil is poor, mix in a few inches of compost prior to planting.
Diseases & Pests:
Root rots can develop if planted into poorly drained soils or there is an excess of rain.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Harvest when lower blooms start to open. Flowering proceeds up the stem.
