The Summerland Advocate-Messenger - Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community

Looking out the kitchen window as the new year erupts into an expected cold January, a striking red cardinal has stopped at the bird bath. Flashes of blue can be seen as a flock of bluejays dart around the feeders grabbing at morsels of feed.

The color reminds me that now is the time to study how to make sure I have color in the plants in the garden this summer.

As the winter temperatures force me to indoor time, I need to study up on care for my flower garden.

Using the correct fertilizers can help assure bright blooms and lush greens in your garden. That means learning three numbers.

The numbers are found on plant fertilizer containers. Once you figure out they stand for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, you are ready to figure out the ratio of the numbers you need for your different plants.

Truthfully, I find that more scientific than I like, so I just follow recommendations from growing sites and use what I can purchase already premixed.

You should realize what each number does for your plants and you will get along just fine. The quick explanation is that nitrogen (the first number) is for foliage. The second, phosphorus, is for strong roots and great blooms. The third, potassium, is for overall plant growth and health. All three are needed for plant performance.

Along with studying fertilizers during the cold months, I just happen to have made a gardener resolution to kick off the year. I am going to try at least three new varieties of flowers or veggies in the garden this year.

Yup, seed catalogs are tempting me. The first is a new-to-me pumpkin called gumdrop. I think the name captured my attention before I read the plant description. It is advertised as an 11-13 pound pumpkin with a rich orange color and whimsical shape. There is no way to not be enticed by that description.

Another must try is garlic. I've planted it before but this year I'm going to get serious about it. I'll have to be patient as the bulbs are planted in the fall.

The final try is statice. I haven't planted it for years but dearly love harvesting and drying it for arrangements.

The statice is a recommended transplant flower, so I will have to watch my timing of getting seeds started indoors. Statice can take 110 to 120 days for maturity.

I'm not that savvy on knowing maturity days of plants. I've found that there is a lot of information in seed catalogs. You just have to take the time to read them.

Yup, as the calendar gets flipped day by day towards spring, I am counting how many days until I plant seeds indoor.

As I wait for seed planting, I will just look at the window sills where my amaryllis bulbs are shooting their leaves and buds. Of course I will also keep an eye out my kitchen window as colorful birds hunt for seeds and suet and fill my winter garden with color.