Good morning! Well, we are now all convinced that Maine is a fickled mistress with snowstorms in April and July temperatures in May. But, if you have lived here more than a few years, you also expect just exactly that. The warm weather is bringing out the gardener in everyone, and all those greenhouses are beckoning with the colors and smells of the promise to come.

Entering greenhouses and seeing all those six-packs of plants is also a promise – a promise of what might come if they are treated properly. So, here are some steps to help ensure that those little six-pack plants grow into their glorious potential:

A few buying tips to start with: Make sure to match the ideal growing conditions of the plants to where you plan to put them; do not buy plants that wobble when gently shaken. That means they are root-bound. Try to buy seedlings that are green and bushy. Don’t buy them because of the many flowers they have; and finally, for containers, buy plants that have the same light and water requirements.

When you get them home: If they have not been hardened off, move them outside for a few hours each day and add time each day. Do not put them directly in the hot sun for the first few times. Make sure to keep them watered, and this might mean as much as twice a day. Watch the weather and be prepared to bring containers into the garage for the night or to cover annuals in the ground until all threat of frost is past. Now, the old-timers will tell you that this is after the last full moon of May, and they tend to be right.

Time to plant: Pick an overcast day if possible and water all the plants thoroughly before putting them in the ground. This will allow you to get them out of the pots without damaging too many roots. If the plants are potbound, try to tease the roots apart and lay them out rather than down when you plant them. This will encourage them to grow out and make them stronger.

Here’s a hard one, but your plants will thank you later. If you have purchased plants that are tall and leggy – and by tall, I mean at least twice as high as their pot – cut them back by half. This will make the plant branch out, and the more branches, the more flowers later on. Make sure to use good potting soil for your containers. I do recommend those that have long-term time release food in them. Remembering to feed flowers can get hectic, and this kind of potting soil helps with that memory problem. I do feed mine about every two weeks, even with this kind of soil.

When you do your containers, water the plants well but do not feed them. Leave them alone for a week to 10 days and then feed them. I use an organic fish fertilizer because it is much gentler on new roots than chemical, high nitrogen fertilizers. There are several products out there, and they will say fish emulsion, seaweed product or a combination on the label. When the plants have really gotten going, about a month, you can bring out the usuals like Miracle-Gro – and they will love it.

Try not to let them dry out, keep feeding them, and when they start to not be as green and bushy, it is time to pinch them back.This really helps to keep them healthy. Remember to take off old flowers, which also helps keep them going.

Blooming, colorful flower-filled pots can do more to brighten any day and now is the time to get started. So, good luck.

Just a note from the hill: I am happy to announce that the hummers have returned. As I sat writing this column, I heard an odd sort of peeping coming from my living room. Since we leave doors open for animals to come and go, this odd noise could mean any number of things at my house. When I walked into the living room, the swish of my cat Angus’ tail could be seen behind a plant and quite close to the mysterious noise. Angus turned and ran at the sound of my raised voice, and I found a little hummer on the floor. As I smoothed its feathers, I walked it outside to a pine tree that serves quite nicely as a resting place for traumatized birds, whether from Angus or a head-on collision with a window. When I went to place him on a branch, it raised its head and lifted off with a happy chirp but not without circling in front of my face for a moment. I’ve rescued lots of critters over the years but, thank the Lord, each time it still makes my heart do a little happy dance.

Until next time, take an outing to a local greenhouse and just inhale when you enter – it will make you smile. Enjoy the sun’s warmth on your back as you plant your flowers and weed flowerbeds. The sun even makes weeding not so bad. Spend a few quiet moments praying for those that Memorial Day honors and watch for wildlife – they make our world a much better place.

Happy gardening!

Jody Goodwin has been gardening for more than 20 years. She lives in Turner with her husband, Ike, her two dogs and two cats. She can be reached by writing to her in care of the Sun Journal, 104 Park St., Lewiston, Maine, 04243-4400 or by e-mail at [email protected]