30 Random Gardening Facts for My 30th Birthday
- klasensgreenhouse
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
I recently celebrated a major milestone—I turned 30! Looking back on my 20s, it was a decade full of memories, including getting married, starting the greenhouse and having three children. To kick off my 30s, I wanted to share 30 random gardening facts, tips, and pieces of information that might not otherwise get their own dedicated spotlight.
Whether you are a seasoned gardener with dirt permanently under your nails or a beginner wondering if you're doing it right, I hope you find something new in this list of facts spanning flowers, vegetables, and general garden knowledge.
Deadheading for Longevity: Pinching back or deadheading spent blooms encourages many annuals and perennials to bloom longer into the season or to put on more blooms.
Color-Changing Hydrangeas: Certain hydrangea varieties can change color based on the pH level of the soil, which is why you see both pink and blue blooms.
Butterfly Magnets: Zinnias are among the best flowers for attracting butterflies to your garden.7
The "Burying Their Dead" Technique: Some plants, like argyranthemums, naturally cover wilted blooms with new growth, a self-cleaning mechanism that keeps them looking tidy.
Pollination Strength: Flowers like snapdragons require strong pollinators, such as bumblebees, to pry them open for pollination.
Short Day Plants: Chrysanthemums (mums) are short-day plants, meaning their bloom timing is triggered by the shorter day lengths of fall.
Mid-Season Refresh: Annuals, like petunias, benefit from a light trim in mid-July to prevent them from getting leggy in the heat, helping them bounce back and flourish.
Climate Matters for Dahlias: While dahlias are tender perennials, in northern climates they must be treated as annuals or have their tubers dug up and stored over winter to survive the freeze.
Harvesting Dahlias The "Snap" in Snapdragon: Snapdragons are named for their dragon-snout shape; when the sides of the blossom are squeezed, they snap open and closed to "roar" like a dragon.
Fan Flowers: Scaevola is nicknamed the "fan flower" due to its unique fan-shaped blooms, which add excellent texture to hanging baskets.
Fall Planting for Spring Blooms: Bulbs like tulips and garlic should be planted in the fall so they can overwinter and bloom and be ready for harvest the following season.
Post-Cut Growth: Surprisingly, tulips continue to grow slightly even after they have been cut.
Hydrangea Hydration: When used as cut flowers, hydrangeas can absorb water through their petals as well as their stems.
Light Sensitivity: After being cut, snapdragon stems will naturally bend toward the light, which can lead to crooked stems in floral arrangements if you aren't careful.
Harvest Timing: The best time to harvest most cut flowers is early morning when the stems are fully hydrated, though you should wait for the dew to burn off to avoid moisture sitting on the foliage.
Beneficial Ladybugs: True ladybugs are highly beneficial as they can eat thousands of aphids during their lifetime.
Edible Blooms: Nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible and offer a distinct peppery flavor often used as a garnish.
Harvesting Basil: Basil grows better when regularly pinched back or harvested; however, if allowed to flower, it makes a beautiful and fragrant filler for bouquets.
Companion Planting: Marigolds are frequently planted in vegetable gardens to help deter certain pests.
Cool-Season Crops: Lettuce, spinach, and broccoli thrive in cooler temperatures. Lettuce and spinach can become bitter or "bolt" (stretch and go to flower) when exposed to heat and long days.
Broccoli Secrets: The broccoli head we eat is actually an unopened flower head. If not harvested in time, it will produce bright yellow flowers.
Side Shoots: After harvesting the main head of a broccoli plant, leave it in the ground—it will often produce smaller side shoots perfect for snacking.
Gardener Harvesting Broccoli Deep-Rooted Tomatoes: The tiny hairs on tomato stems can turn into roots if buried. Planting tall tomatoes on their side can help establish a stronger root system.
Avoiding Stem Rot: While burying the stem works for tomatoes, doing this to other vegetables can cause stem rot and kill the plant.
Tomato Splitting: Tomatoes are likely to split if they receive uneven watering or experience a sudden torrential rainfall near harvest time.
Strategic Spacing: Plants grown too close together will stretch and grow taller as they compete for sunlight.
Watering Habits: Most plants grow best when watered deeply and less frequently, rather than receiving a light sprinkle every day.
Morning vs. Evening: Morning watering is preferred because it allows foliage to dry, reducing the risk of plant disease that thrives in lingering moisture.
Roots Need Air: Plant roots require oxygen just as much as they need water. This is why "fluffy" soil is better than heavy, black field dirt for pots and gardens.
What is Perlite?: The white, styrofoam-like particles in potting mix are called perlite. It is a natural volcanic stone used to aerate the soil, improve drainage, and prevent compaction.
Hopefully you enjoyed and learned something new from this random list of gardening facts! I've learned so much about gardening in my twenties. I can only imagine how much I'll learn in my thirties. Maybe I'll do another list of 40 new gardening facts when the next decade rolls around!
Happy gardening! Take care,
Ricki
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