This 'n That Thursdays: 2018 Garden Picks of the Year, Part 1

From Style Estate

Today we begin the series of weekly posts covering all of the 2018 gardening picks of the year I have found, starting with the National Garden Bureau's selections.  Each year the NGB selects a favorite in four different categories - perennial, annual, bulb, and edible.  Below are the 2018 choices:

Coreopsis verticillata (from NC State Extension)

The NGB 2018 Perennial of the Year is Coreopsis, commonly called "tickseed" (Coreopsis spp.).  This shrubby perennial is native to the Americas, with flowers ranging in color from pale yellow to deep burgundy.  Some of the species are annuals, but the most common garden perennials are Coreopsis verticillata, C. auriculata, and C. grandiflora.  Coreopsis is considered drought-tolerant, preferring well-drained soils and full sun.

For its 2018 Annual of the Year, the NGB chose Calibrachoa, or "million bells" (Calibrachoa spp.).  This semi-hardy annual is native to South America.  Although only fairly recently introduced as a garden plant, it has quickly become a favorite, particularly for containers and hanging baskets, thanks to its prodigious production of numerous brightly colored flowers which resemble miniature petunias.  Calibrachoa prefers well-drained soil (water only when almost dry) plus full to partial sun, and can tolerate light frost.

The NGB 2018 pick for Bulb of the Year is the tulip (Tulipa spp.).  A garden favorite for centuries, these spring-flowering bulbs come in a dizzying array of hues, with a history that is just as colorful.  There are over 150 species of tulips with more than 3,000 varieties.  Plant tulip bulbs in the fall - they look best when planted in groups of 12 or more.  While tulips will rebloom, their first bloom is their best, and they are often treated as annuals rather than perennials.

For its 2018 Vegetable of the Year, the NGB selected the beet (Beta vulgaris).  This Mediterranean native has been cultivated for centuries, and is now grown around the world.  Though probably most familiar as a processed canned or pickled vegetable, beets have become more popular as a fresh vegetable, whether eaten raw in salads or prepared and cooked at home (roasting is one of the most popular cooking methods).  Beets are high in fiber, vitamins A and C, and iron.  Young beet leaves can also be eaten, either raw or cooked.  The color pigment in red beets is often used as a dye, especially in foods as it is safe for consumption.

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Next week I will present Part 2 of the 2018 gardening picks of the year.  Meanwhile, weather permitting, you might as well get busy planting your beets and tickseed, and hanging your baskets full of million bells (save the tulip planting for the fall, however).  Happy gardening, everyone!