Maximum Yield Australia/New Zealand July/August 2020 | Page 32

They are annuals in all zones and bloom
from late summer until the first frost.
You can start them indoors or direct sow
them into the garden after the
last frost. They get pretty huge
and may need staking and
supports to keep standing
tall as the season goes on.
Nasturtiums are a staple
in my garden. They sprawl
and spread with their beautiful,
edible leaves and flowers
that are a spicy addition to
salads. Bees, hummingbirds, and
aphids love them, so they are also
a great trap crop if you are looking for
organic pest-control methods. They are
annuals in most places but can be grown
as perennials in zones 9-11, and bloom
from early summer to fall. You can start
them indoors or direct sow them in the
garden after the last frost.
Lavender is a beautiful and
sweet-smelling addition to
any garden, and bees love
it! It grows well in zones 7-9
and blooms in late spring. It
can rebloom in late summer in
some regions. It has medicinal
benefits and can be used in
many beauty treatments. You
can start lavender from seed
indoors and then transplant
it outdoors after the last frost.
It loves hot sun and dry soil,
so don’t overwater it. English
lavender grows best in cooler climates,
while Spanish and French varieties do well
in hot and humid climates.
Bees love basil when it blooms, although
many people try to prevent blooming by pinching
its flowerheads so they get a larger harvest of leaves
for pesto and other sauces. However, if left to its own
devices, basil will bloom from midsummer to first frost.
It can be grown as an annual in most zones, or as a
perennial in zone 10 and above. Plant it where it will get
six to eight hours of full sun and the soil is rich, moist, and
well-draining. Basil is not only delicious in many meals,
but also has medicinal benefits.
Milkweed is a host plant and the only food source for
monarch butterflies and caterpillars, and should be grown
by every gardener who wants to save this endangered
species. It can be grown as an annual in most zones, and
as a perennial in zones 9-10. It can be started indoors or
sown directly in the garden and will bloom from early
summer to fall.
Bee balm attracts and feeds all your favourite
pollinators — bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds —
from late spring through fall in zones 3-9. It prefers sun
to partial shade and moist, rich, slightly acidic soil.
Zinnias can be grown as an annual in all zones and
attracts bees and butterflies. They bloom 60-70 days
after sowing and can be succession planted throughout
the season until they die back after the first frost. They
prefer sun but will tolerate some shade and need rich,
well-draining soil.
“Since different pollinators are attracted to
different types of plants, you’ll want to include
a variety of flowers that specifically attract
bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.”
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Maximum Yield