Proctor's Tips: See the new 2012 plants today

KUSA - It takes years for a new variety of plant to reach the home gardener. Years of breeding and testing go into producing a single new form or color of petunia or coleus. Retail nurseries get a chance each summer to check out potential new introductions at test gardens - such as those at Colorado State University - throughout the country. This helps determine which plants they'll order for spring sales the following year.

Here's a preview of some of the 2012 introductions that you may find at garden centers next spring.

Look for new colors of popular bedding and container plants such as petunia, verbena, begonia, gazania and coleus. Verbena "Empress Lavender," for example, forms a compact plant nearly covered with pale lavender flowers. Petunia "Watercolor" is bright lavender with a darker purple center.

Gaillardia "Gallo Peach" is a compact form of the perennial Indian blanket flower with pretty peachy blossoms. It can be grown as an annual. Two forms of perennial Pestemon may also be grown as annuals. "Riding Hood Red" and "Riding Hood Delphinium Blue" produce compact spikes of tubular flowers that will probably be irresistible to hummingbirds. These have proved to be very popular at this summer's trials.

I got the chance to grow and test the new coleus "Wasabi" this summer. I'm definitely sold on its bright chartreuse foliage and excellent branching habit.

Angel flower (Angelonia) has yet to become a hugely popular annual, perhaps because the plants haven't displayed much vigor. The "Archangel" series may change that. "Archangel Pink" produces many spikes of mauve pink flowers and may prove to be a heat-resistant container plant. There are also white and purple versions.

Also look for plants with difficult names next year. Asystasia "Cream" is a pretty trailing plant with large tubular pale yellow flowers. There is also a mauve pink version. Your guess on how to pronounce Asystasia is as good as mine. Clitoria "Azul Petite" is a compact form of a tropical climber with brilliant blue, pea-like flowers. Let's just call it the blue pea, shall we?

These new arrivals are courtesy of Tagawa Gardens. There is a very limited supply of new introductions that you can purchase. Become a part of the testing process yourself. Perhaps you'll find a new introduction that will become one of your favorites next season.

Plant Hyacinth Flowers All Year — How to Grow Hyacinths Indoors ...

Hyacinth flowers are a beautiful and fragrant addition to any garden. From deep purples to soft pink, the delicate flower clusters are reminiscent of the warm, heady spring and summer days that every gardener looks forward to. Wondering how to grow hyacinths during the winter? Hyacinth bulbs can be planted and grown indoors with a technique called forcing. With a little effort and preparation, these spring bulb flowers can enliven the winter indoor environment.

A clean, drainable pot, proper soil, good-quality bulbs, and a cool, dark environment are all that is required to grow hyacinths indoors. For the pot, clay, ceramic, glass, or even plastic is fine, as long as it is large enough (four to eight inches in diameter is fine) and the bottom has adequate holes for water drainage. If the container was previously used, be sure to clean it out very well. With a clay pot, soak for two hours before planting. This will saturate the vessel so the clay will not absorb water from the soil, robbing the hyacinth bulbs of necessary moisture.

The soil for growing hyacinth flowers should be porous enough for good soil drainage. Equal parts of potting soil, sand, and peat moss make an ideal blend. Fertilizer is unnecessary as the bulbs themselves provide all the nutrients for the growing plants.

Fill the pots partially, then place the hyacinth bulbs into the soil with the tips pointing upwards. Do not force them into the dirt, as they should be loosely set into the pots. The bulbs themselves can be placed near one another, even touching. Usually, a four-inch pot will hold one bulb, a six-inch pot, three, and an eight-inch pot can be used to grow four or five hyacinth flowers.

Add more soil so that the tops of the bulbs are just above the surface, leaving one-quarter inch between the top of the soil and the edge of the pot. As soon as they are planted, add enough water to saturate. It is important during the entire forcing process never to let the soil dry out in order for the hyacinths to thrive.

Where should hyacinth bulbs be kept for indoor winter growth? In order for these flowers to sprout roots and grow, they need to be in an environment that is similar to what it would be like if they were in the cold, damp early spring soil. In order create this growing environment for the hyacinths, it is necessary to keep the pots in a cool, dark area, such as an unheated basement, the garage, or even the refrigerator. They should be kept at a temperature ranging from 35 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit. This cold storage period lasts for a minimum of 12 to 13 weeks.

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