by Jeanne Grunert
Have you had a chance to send away for some free seed catalogs or browse online? If so and you're new to gardening, you may be confused by all the new terms, symbols, and lingo.
If you'll recall, on our first conversation here online, we talked about light requirements. I suggested you take a walk around your garden and assess how much light it gets, keeping in mind that during the winter time the light may change slightly compared to summer (especially if you have a big old tree like a maple or oak whose leaves shade the yard in the summer. That can change your mind about how much light you really get!)
Looking at your seed catalog, you may see some strange symbols. Some look like a black circle all colored in. Some show half a black circle, like a half moon, while others show an open circle. What does this mean?
It's pretty simple, really. A colored in circle means that the plant does welll in the shade. A blank, open circle without coloring inside means the plants likes full, bright sun. A half circle of color means it does well in partial sun or shade. If you see two symbols side by side, the plant's pretty easy going...it can tolerate either type of light.
Light requirements are also written in the description of the plant or seed. There's no standard abbreviation system used throughout the industry, so you'll just need to be aware of words such as sun (self explanator), full sun, part sun, etc.
Like any catalog, read the fine print carefully. Most gardening catalogs provide glowing plant descriptions to entice buyers and a little bit of care information. If you still aren't sure if the plant or seed is right for you, wait until the spring, and visit your local garden center to consult with a professional who can advise you better.
