Sam: Six to eight hours of bright sun; fertile, well-drained soil; and regular watering are key. I plant in mounded beds that are 5 to 7 inches high. They are made by mixing together compost or decomposed chicken manure and sand. Plants are spaced 2 feet apart--3 feet for really large selections. At planting
I may add a little water-soluble fertilizer, such as 20-20-20. In March I feed with a slow-release product such as Osmocote Vegetable & Bedding 14-14-14. I also supplement with a water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer every other week until June and then stop feeding them when flowering ends. Each year, I add more organic matter, such as mushroom compost or cottonseed meal, to the beds and supplement with gypsum.
