How To Grow Geum. 4 Factors For Success

If you’re interested in learning how to grow geum, there are four factors to consider. Avens or geum may not be the most common perennials, but they make an excellent consideration if you want flowers from late spring to summer. They also offer various colors and are relatively hardy, so you can assume that they are easy to grow without any issues.  

However, it’s best to know your growing zone and expected climate to prepare for potential problems year-round. You can choose the geum species that will suit your area’s conditions or use a greenhouse to mimic their ideal growing conditions. Remember that even though a plant is dubbed easy to grow, you must always put them somewhere stable and supportive of their needs. 

How To Grow Geum. 4 Factors For Success

 

How To Grow Geum For Beginners

 

Factor #1. Ideal location

The first factor to consider when growing geums is the location. Remember that it’s crucial for any plant to start in an environment that will provide them their ideal conditions. Geums thrive well in hardiness zones 4 to 9, which gives you an idea that they won’t do well in dry and hot areas. 

Therefore, you can grow them in the greenhouse where you control the temperatures and other conditions. More so, check the soil you’re using because you want to grow geums in moist but well-draining soil. Otherwise, they’d do well in acid or alkaline soils without problems. 

Depending on the geum plant you have, you can choose a spot that’s either shady or bright. For example, some geum types do well with shade, but others require sunlight. Regardless, extreme heat and direct light will damage the plants’ foliage, so always be mindful. 

 

Factor #2. Maintenance

Geums are relatively easy to maintain, but they will benefit from regular deadheading. Removing the dead and faded flowers after your geums bloom will help them grow more flowers and extend blooming time. At the same time, you must divide mature geums every three years to rejuvenate them and keep the area neat.

As mentioned earlier, some geums require light, and this is beneficial, especially for flowering. However, you want to maintain soil moisture still, especially when it’s summer or if your climate is hot and humid. You can amend the soil with organic matter to improve its retentiveness, but make sure you check it when it gets soggy in winter. 

How to fertilize geums? You can fertilize when you start them and during the growing season to encourage flowering. Afterward, treat them as perennials and lightly fertilize early in spring with a balanced granular fertilizer. 

 

Factor #3. Common problems in growing geum

Geums are not that problematic as long as you maintain a stable growing environment and regular management practices. For example, the emphasis is necessary on regularly dividing mature plants to prevent pests and ensure proper air circulation within the area. Removing dead and dried plant parts will be beneficial not just from an aesthetic standpoint but also for plant health. 

You should also be on the lookout for wet soil in the winter because this can cause root rot. On the other hand, humidity and damp foliage can encourage fungal diseases like powdery mildew. If you noticed infected plants, it’s best to remove them immediately and check your growing conditions. 

When it comes to pests, vine weevils are notorious problems for geum growers. A telltale sign that they might be present is if you notice the end of the stems dying. If so, replant the infested geum onto another spot. 

 

Factor #4. Propagation

The final factor to consider when growing geums is the proper propagation techniques for them. As mentioned earlier, the division is a maintenance practice that you should do every three years. Therefore, this also becomes the most common propagation technique for geums. 

You can dig and divide mature geums every spring or early autumn and replant them in the greenhouse or garden. Ensure that when you divide geums, you will plant immediately to prevent them from drying. More so, don’t use divisions with rotten or diseased parts. 

Some gardeners also use seeds for starting geums. Of course, this will take more time and require more demands than division. However, you can sow them in the greenhouse in late winter or early spring, but some also directly plant in the summer or spring garden. 

 

What Geum Variety Should You Get?

Gardeners often choose geum varieties depending on their flowers. For example, you can check Mrs. Bradshaw and Lady Stratheden varieties if you want large flowers. The former has scarlet red blossoms, and the former gives of yellow ones. 

You can also grow the Georgenberg variety, known for having an extended blooming period in the growing season. 

 

Conclusion

Geums offer different varieties of colorful blossoms and extended blooming periods. But is it possible to learn how to grow geum without issues? This plant is relatively easy to cultivate as long as you bear four factors in mind. 

First, use a greenhouse if your area is dry and humid because geums won’t thrive under these conditions. Using a greenhouse gives you control over the indoor climate. Second is maintenance, where you aim to check the variety’s needs if they’ll thrive under shade or light.

You should also ensure soil moisture and fertilize geums to help them grow and bloom healthily. The third factor is anticipating the potential problems, which are easy to avoid under stable growing conditions and practices. And lastly, learn the proper propagation method for geums. 

 

1 thought on “How To Grow Geum. 4 Factors For Success”

  1. what do I do with it, when all the flowering is over, and mostly died off. Do I cut it all down.

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