Question
QUESTION: I currently live in Wisconsin and took over working in a garden crew with people who are developmentally disabled.  We have a pretty nice greenhouse to use in the winter and was wondering if it is possible to bring in our marigolds during the fall and keep them alive in the greenhouse?  We would like to reuse them for next year with the hopes that they will be nice and full!  Any tips?

ANSWER: I can give you a theory, Sandra, and I hate to do that.  But my only other option here is to reject your question, and I want at least to give you my best guess.

Which is:  Marigolds, as Annuals, possess plant growth hormones that get them to germinate, grow to maturity, flower and set seed in the space of a few months.  That's a tall order for a plant.  Most likely, life in the fast lane is not going to endure simply because you protect it from frost and provide bright light and long days.  That life is fast, furious, and short.  There is no dormancy hormone -- these plants have no use for dormancy.

Normally I would be able to give you a reference study or two or three or more that backs up a statement like that.  I could name you the hormone and which other plants produce it.  I could tell you exactly when and why it is released.  But I am finding none of these details today.  When I do, I'll give you a better answer.

Meantime, go ahead and grow your Marigolds indoors and see how long they survive.  Even better, take some seeds (assuming these are not sterile of course) and grow THOSE in a pot alongside the Summer of '07 plants.  Otherwise, I know of no way to divide them or sustain growth beyond God's own specs.  It can't be done.  But you can try.

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QUESTION: Do geraniums do ok lol?  I am trying to save the place I work as much money as possible.  (non-profit org.) They spent 900 bucks on plants last year and they look like crap to be honest.  I saw that we had a greenhouse and thought maybe growing from seeds or trying to save what we have already might be a good way to go.  Thank you for your help!

Answer
Seeds are a great idea, Geraniums would work but they need hard pruning and eventually end up looking like trees.  If your Marigold seeds are not sterile, they will grow next year -- just let them go to seed, dry and save.  Then plant them next spring and see what happens.

Avoid bulbs -- tulips, daffodils especially.  They rarely survive and need a lot of careful handling at crucial times. They do not come back all the time - diseases, pests, some are just one-hit wonders. Scilla seem to be an exception to this rule.  And they are incredibly cheap.  Best prices and merchandise are from Van Engelen in Connecticut, which sells large quantities for a song.  Crocus are fairly reliable and another very exciting sign of spring.  The Scilla (small blue and white and pink) tend to spread which is also nice; ditto, Muscari.  Don't plant them in the Lawn; the foliage is sliced off when the Lawn is mowed and the plants are badly weakened by that.  They are however great in a border.

Vegetables are another good possibility.  Carrots (esp baby carrots) can be lifted and dusted, tomatoes and broccoli are very easy. If you have an organic garden you don't have to worry about bugs; beneficial insects take care of those.  $900 is an awful lot of money to spend on plants that you don't see again.

I would think that fragrance would be a treasured trait in flowers among your crew.  

A single Hosta plant can be divided and will turn into scores if you do this every 2 or 3 years.  See if someone you know has these; they should be 'thinned' anyway and you will be doing them a favor.  They have usually unimpressive flowers, but a few, such as Hosta plantaginea, are highly fragrant.  Divisions must be watered every day until they take off.  You can do this in the autumn, roots settle in during the winter, and in the spring they come up very strong.

I guess I should assume the greenhouse is unheated.  But it will at least extend the growing season.  Perennials planted now as seeds will be ready to bloom next summer.  Come up with a list -- there are so many -- and I'll give you my prediction about how practical they would be.

Sunflowers are annuals but the seeds can be saved, birds love them, people eat them salted, and if planted next year they too will come up big and beautiful.  If you still have time, you can plant these now.

Cool weather vegetables you can grow outside and later in an unheated greenhouse:  Broccoli, Lettuce, Pumpkins.  It's nice to have Pumpkins around Halloween, especially if it's still warm enough they have not been frost-ruined.  I am not sure what the first frost is in your area but if you protect them, esp in a greenhouse, they may survive.

Tomatoes and most melons need a lot of heat to be worth anything.  Strawberry plants are famous for not producing much, but I have not found that to be in the case -- they spread like mad, and you can pick unblemished Strawberries right off the vine and eat them right there.

Herbs are also a nice touch in any Garden.  Basil is really nice in Italian food and you may even use these plants as fundraisers.  I can't think of anything more charming.  Try to get some donations of things liked cracked pots and damaged merchandise from local merchants at the end of the season -- maybe they can get a tax deduction if your organization is nfp.

Awesome work you're doing.  Whatever would we all do without people like you in the world?  Good luck and I'm happy to answer any more questions you have.  Thanks for writing.