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A Fine Time for Annual Vines

Top off your summer garden with these easy-to-grow, high-impact blossoming beauties

I think we can all agree that this was the strangest planting season ever! Whether you’re looking to fill gaps in the garden or simply need a boost, fast-growing annual vines are satisfyingly quick—and you get flowers!

Look for 4-inch starts of annual vines at your local nursery or farmer’s market grower (don’t forget to thank them for wrestling errant tendrils on a crop that doesn’t want to stay put). But even if you can only find seeds, these heat-loving plants sprout quickly in fertile, summer-warm soil. Soaking seed for 6 to 8 hours in room temperature water before planting helps soften the seed coat and encourages speedy germination.

It’s best to provide climbing support at planting to avoid damaging roots when placing bamboo stakes or a trellis after plants are up and growing. Or locate your vine next to a shrub that could do with sprucing up in summer—I’m looking at you, lilac. 

Easy to grow, lush foliage, bountiful blooms and nearly instant impact, any of the following annuals vines will top off your summer garden.

Read the entire story in the link below

GROW in The Seattle Times