In the Know, Gardening Lingo

During Garden Month at Blackberry Farm, you may have stumbled across a few garden-specific words and phrases in stories, social posts or conversations on property. But what do they really mean? Here are a few important gardening terms and phrases to seed your gardening knowledge!

Bolting – When a plant is going to start flowering or creating seeds, we call that bolting. For most plants, especially leafy annuals like basil, spinach and kale, you want to use them as much as possible before bolting occurs. If you wait, the leaves won’t be as good, and the plant will begin to reach the end of its life cycle.

Annuals vs. Perennials – Annuals are those plants that grow and sprout once in a single year. Once that year is up, they’ll bolt, and the plant has reached the end of its life cycle. Perennials, however, have a different life cycle. They retain their own root system and part of their own body, so after it reaches the end of its cycle that season, it will actually begin to sprout again the next year. Plants like fruit trees, some leafy greens, like sorrel, and flowers, like Black Eyed Susans, are great examples.

Pruning – This is the process of cutting back with intention or for the health of the plant. If you notice that your plant is getting a little wider than you’d like for the space it’s in, or if you see a branch or leaf that isn’t quite as healthy as it once was, you cut that off to save and preserve the rest of the plant. For some plants, it necessary to prune weight off the plant so it continues to receive the oxygen it needs to thrive.

Tracking the sun – When starting your gardening journey, it’s very important to know your space before purchasing starter plants or seed packets. Knowing how many hours of sunlight you’ll have, and what you’ll need for specific plants, is a must. If you want to plant something that needs direct sun most of the day, make sure you have a spot that can guarantee direct sunlight. Counter to that, when planting something that needs shade, you need to locate a spot that keeps the plant protected from harsh rays throughout the day. Understanding where your space gets morning sun, afternoon sun or no sun at all with trees or structures creating shade pockets, allows you to plan for the best growing.