From nutrient-packed veggies like broccoli, carrots, and kale, to delicate flowers like hollyhocks and forget-me-not, biennial plants give you two years of beauty and a bounty of fresh superfoods. But before you buy biennials, here are some tips for planting biennials so they start out strong.<\/p>
A biennial <\/strong>is a plant that takes two years to complete its life cycle. Biennials are usually vegetables or flowers that use the first year to establish strong roots and rosettes of foliage before putting on a spectacular show of blossoms and fruits in the second year. In the fall of the second year, biennials produce seeds and die. <\/p> These seeds germinate the following spring for fresh biennial seedlings, and the two-year cycle continues.<\/p> Biennials are a happy medium between annuals and perennials. Annual plants<\/a><\/strong> display beautiful flowers but only grow for one year, while perennial plants<\/strong> live for years but take a long time to establish roots and begin blooming. Biennials are hardier and longer-lasting than annuals, while still providing more instant blossoms and fruits than perennials. In fact, many biennial vegetables are harvested during their first year. <\/p> Itching to fill your veggie garden or start a fresh flower bed? Biennials are your new lawn superheroes. Here are some of the top veggie and flower biennials for a delicious, stunning summer season.<\/p> Biennials for your vegetable garden: <\/strong><\/p> Biennials for your flower garden: <\/strong><\/p> Most biennials should be planted in early spring<\/strong> as soon as the ground is workable, but different biennial plants have specific windows for optimal planting. <\/p> For example, cool-season broccoli and kale should be sown before the last frost of spring, while warm-weather biennials like sweet William and dill should be planted in late spring or early summer, after the threat of frost has passed. <\/p> If you live in a warmer southern climate, you can sow some biennial seeds in early fall<\/strong> for a winter or early spring harvest. If planting in fall, sow seeds at least six to eight weeks<\/strong> before the first predicted frost to ensure roots are established before the cold snap. <\/p> Check the growing instructions for your specific biennial plant before sowing seeds. Below are timing guidelines<\/strong> for popular biennial vegetables.<\/p> Beets<\/strong><\/p> Broccoli<\/strong><\/p> Brussels sprouts<\/strong><\/p> Carrots <\/strong><\/p> Celery <\/strong><\/p> Collards<\/strong><\/p> Dill <\/strong><\/p> Fennel <\/strong><\/p> Kale <\/strong><\/p> Onions<\/strong><\/p> Parsley<\/strong><\/p> Rutabaga<\/strong><\/p> Swiss chard<\/strong><\/p> Before you buy a bounty of biennial seeds or young plants, set your yard up for success by choosing the right biennials for your region and making a design plan for where different plants will grow in your yard or garden. <\/p> \u2013 Order a soil test from your local cooperative extension<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p> A soil test gives you information about your soil\u2019s pH and nutrient levels and what type of soil amendments<\/a> are necessary for healthy plant growth. Some biennials like broccoli prefer slightly acidic soil, while other biennials like sweet William prefer slightly alkaline soil. If you have alkaline soil but want to grow broccoli, you may need to spread an amendment like elemental sulfur to lower your soil\u2019s pH.<\/p> Order your soil test in fall, so you have time to get the results, amend your soil, and let the amendments enrich the soil over winter for healthy spring planting.<\/p> \u2013 Choose plants that grow in your USDA hardiness zone<\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p> Some biennials like kale and rutabaga grow as biennials in warmer southern climates and as annuals in colder northern climates. If you want plants that will grow for the full two years, pick out biennial seeds suited for your USDA hardiness zone. <\/p> \u2013 Think about sunlight and water needs. <\/strong><\/p> Most biennials prefer full sun, but some biennials like Canterbury bells and lunaria can tolerate partial shade or dappled sunlight. Design your garden so that sun-loving biennials grow in bright, open areas while shade-tolerant biennials grow under trees and in the darker corners of your yard alongside shade-loving perennials<\/a>. <\/p> To prevent overwatering and underwatering, plant your biennials in groups based on their water requirements. This eco-friendly, water-saving practice is known as hydrozoning<\/a>.<\/p> \u2013 Spread compost in fall. <\/strong><\/p> Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic matter like compost or manure in fall so it breaks down over the winter. In spring, it\u2019ll give plant roots a rich nutrient boost as soon as their roots dig into the soil. Use a spade or trowel to work the compost into the soil to a depth of 4 to 8 inches. <\/p> If you are planting your biennials in fall, spread compost in late summer, at least two weeks before planting your seeds or seedlings. <\/p> \u2013 Plant on a cloudy day. <\/strong><\/p> Plants need sunlight to grow, but the hot sun can be stressful for seeds and young plants \u2014 like taking a big gulp of scalding coffee right after waking up. Comfortably introduce your plants to the garden by planting on a cool, cloudy day. <\/p> Most biennials can be directly sown<\/strong> into the soil, or you can transplant<\/strong> seedlings that you have started indoors or purchased from your local garden center. Direct sowing is the easiest method (just scatter seeds and water!), but transplanting guarantees a higher success rate. Here\u2019s how to sow and transplant biennials. <\/p> Some biennial seeds germinate more quickly if they are soaked in hot water before planting, as the water alerts the seeds that they have enough moisture to grow. If soaking is recommended for your biennial seeds, soak them one or two days in advance. <\/p> Follow the instructions on the seed packet to sow seeds in rows at the proper distance and depth. For example, broccoli seeds should be planted half an inch deep into the soil, 3 inches apart. <\/p> Plant your seeds in a sunny location protected from high winds, especially if you are growing long-stemmed plants.<\/p> Using the back of a rake, lightly pat down the soil to ensure seeds have strong contact with the ground.<\/p> Biennial seeds need consistently moist soil to successfully germinate. Water your biennials daily for the first two weeks, until most seeds have sprouted. Then, switch to watering once or twice a week, keeping the soil moist but not wet. <\/p> Once seedlings have grown 2 to 3 inches tall, use scissors or garden snippers to thin out overcrowded seedlings, following the spacing guidelines on your seed packet. For example, rutabaga seedlings should be thinned out to grow 6 inches apart, and broccoli seedlings should be thinned out to grow 12 to 20 inches apart. <\/p> Once seedlings are 3 inches tall, spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch<\/a> like straw or grass clippings around your biennials to prevent weeds, protect roots, and retain soil moisture, so you have healthier plants and less watering on your to-do list. <\/p> Spread rings of mulch around your plants, making sure the mulch does not touch the stems of your biennials, as this can lead to disease, stem damage, and rot. <\/p> Transplanting requires more planning and digging than simply spreading seeds, but you won\u2019t have to worry about seeds failing to germinate. You can grow your own seedlings or buy them from a local garden center. <\/p> Harden off<\/strong> your seedlings two weeks prior to planting, and water deeply<\/strong> right before you begin the planting process. You don\u2019t want your plants to be thirsty when they enter their new home!<\/p> It\u2019s tempting to dig all your holes at once, but only dig holes one or two at a time to prevent the soil from drying out before you plant each biennial. Use a shovel or spade to dig the hole twice the size of the root ball<\/strong>, slightly deeper than the plant\u2019s pot depth.<\/p> Gently remove your seedling from its container and set it in the hole. Then, backfill the hole with soil. Once you\u2019ve backfilled half of the hole, water it to settle the soil. Fill the rest of the hole with soil and gently firm the earth around the stem with your hands. <\/p> Pro Tip: <\/strong>Mix compost or manure into the soil before backfilling to give your plant roots a nutrient boost as they get established. <\/p> Deeply water your biennial seedlings to eliminate air pockets in the soil and acclimate your plants to their new environment. Having the right amount of water will prevent stress on the plant.<\/p> Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch around young plants. Remember, keep the mulch away from the stems of your plants.<\/p> Once your biennials are safely in the ground, they won\u2019t ask too much from you. However, it\u2019s important to give them some routine TLC to encourage vigorous growth and bountiful harvests and prevent disease and stress. <\/p> Water biennials daily for the first two weeks after planting. Then, transition to once a week in the cool spring weather and up to three times per week in the summer heat, keeping the soil moist (but not wet, as soggy soil can cause root rot). Biennials typically need 1 to 1.5 inches of water<\/strong> per week. <\/p> Popular biennial plants<\/span><\/h3>
When to plant biennials<\/span><\/h2>
Biennial vegetable timing<\/span><\/h3>
Prepare to plant biennials<\/span><\/h2>
How to plant biennials<\/span><\/h2>
How to directly sow biennial seeds<\/span><\/h3>
1. Prepare the seeds<\/span><\/h4>
2. Spread the seeds<\/span><\/h4>
3. Tamp down the soil<\/span><\/h4>
4. Water seeds<\/span><\/h4>
5. Thin out seedlings<\/span><\/h4>
6. Spread mulch<\/span><\/h4>
How to transplant biennial plants<\/span><\/h3>
1. Dig the first hole<\/span><\/h4>
2. Plant your seedling<\/span><\/h4>
3. Water thoroughly<\/span><\/h4>
4. Mulch around your plants<\/span><\/h4>
How to care for biennials<\/span><\/h2>
Water weekly<\/span><\/h4>
Fertilize<\/span><\/h4>