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Crestview Garden Club - Crestview, Florida, Crestview, FL (2026)

10/20/2026

This weeks seed information is on Lemon Drop Basil herbs. These have many uses and grow well You can get these seeds from the Crestview Garden Club seed library located in the Crestview library.

Lemon drop basil and lemon basil varieties

Ocimum basilicum are aromatic citrus-scented herbs known for combining traditional sweet basil notes with a sharp refreshing lemon flavor.

Plant Characteristics & Growth

Flavor & Aroma:

Features an intense, bright citrus fragrance without the heavy anise or licorice undertones found in some other basils.

Plant Size:

Grows into a compact bushy annual reaching 12 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.

Appearance:

Displays vibrant medium-green, pointed leaves and delicate white flowers that attract pollinators like bees.

Growing Conditions:

Thrives in full sun 6 to 8 hours daily and well-drained soil. They work well in garden beds, raised beds, or patio containers.

Culinary & Beverage Uses

Cocktails & Mocktails:

Commonly muddled into a Basil Lemon Drop (combining vodka, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and muddled basil or limoncello) or steeped into lemon-basil iced teas and coolers.

Cooking:

Ideal chopped or minced for fish and seafood dishes, summer salads, salad dressings, stir-fries, and fruit or herb sorbets.

Preserving:

Can be dried for winter seasoning or blended into frozen pestos

10/19/2026

Here’s the latest update on the garden up at the Common Ground Garden in Crestview. I stopped by this morning for a look. Everything is growing nicely.

10/18/2026

Here is some information on mums. These tips are very useful.

Do Mums Really Need Water Every Day?

Key points

Water mums often in fall because their soil dries quickly especially during warm days.
Check dry topsoil or drooping leaves to know when your mums need a drink.
Water at the base and ensure drainage to help prevent pests, mildew, and fungal problems.

It’s tough to picture fall front porches without mums. The pink, purple, yellow, or red flowers are seasonal icons, but they require a lot of care, especially when it comes to watering.

Do you really need to water mums every day to keep them vibrant and fluffy?

Does the guidance differ whether they’re growing in the ground or in planters?

How Often to Water Chrysanthemums

You will want to water your mums every day or every other day in fall and the reason is because mums dry out quickly.

In the early days of fall when daytime temperatures are still hot you might even need to water potted mums twice a day.

When days get shorter and cooler gradually back off on watering or you will end up with an array of other issues.
When the top inch of the soil is dry that’s your cue to water and the best way to check this is by sticking a finger in the container (or the ground) to see if it’s damp.
Another indicator that you need to water is in the leaves which will droop when it’s time to water. Fortunately they are forgiving and will perk back up after being watered.

How to Water Mums Properly

Watering mums requires some finesse because while mums are very thirsty plants they are also susceptible to disease if waterlogged or splashed with water in the wrong places.

For both potted and hardy mums, water near the base of the plant and avoid getting the tops and leaves overly wet as this can attract aphids and foster mildew and fungal growth.

Note any yellowing leaves on your plant; this might be an indicator of disease and improper watering.

Because mums dry out easily mulching helps keep the roost moist and it also acts as a barrier to prevent the body of the plant from getting splashed with water.

You can use a hose or watering can to water mums.

Make sure to thoroughly water and continue until drops fall from the drainage hole at the bottom of your mum container. If you’re using a container from the garden center you will want to remove any foil wrapping and poke additional holes in it so that the planter has proper drainage.

If mums are in the ground, which is common for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9 add water if there is less than 1 inch of rain per week.

More Tips for Long-Lasting Mums

Soaking isn’t the only thing you should be doing to keep your potted mums healthy and happy through fall.

Don’t Buy Them Too Early

Buying mums too early is one of the biggest mistakes people make. Mums are cool weather plants and don’t do well in summer heat.

While it’s tempting to buy them as soon as they appear in the nursery hold off until your temperatures are consistently between 60°F and 75°F. Any warmer and they will dry out more quickly and feel heat stress.

Choose Healthy Mums at the Store

There are a couple of things you should look for at the store when shopping for mums. First know the difference between hardy mums (which you can plant in the ground and they’ll come back next year)

Keep Them Well-Watered

As with other potted plants, potted mums will need to be watered on a regular basis to prevent them from drying out. Aim to water yours at least twice a week, giving them a good soak and consider watering them more often if you notice them drying out more quickly.

Don’t Place Mums in Full Shade

We all love having mums on our porches, but if your porch doesn’t get at least six hours of sunlight per day your mums will begin to suffer.

Be sure to place them on your stairs or on the front edge of your porch rather than too far back to ensure they are getting adequate sunlight. Otherwise, they can get leggy and lose their flowers.

10/15/2026

Here are some good tips for caring for and growing Christmas Cactus.

Five common Christmas Cactus Mistakes and how to fix them.

If you’ve ever owned a Christmas Cactus that looked healthy but refused to bloom or dropped buds right before the holidays you’re not alone.

Here’s the thing:

Christmas Cactus is easy to grow but it’s not a typical cactus.

Treating it like one is where most gardeners run into trouble.

Theses are the five biggest mistakes gardeners make.

1. Watering It Like a Desert Cactus

This is probably the most common mistake.

Because it has “cactus” in the name, many gardeners assume it needs very little water. But Christmas Cactus is actually a tropical cactus native to humid forests not dry deserts.

If you underwater it the fleshy leaves will start to look limp and shriveled. Overwater it and you risk root rot.

What works better:

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Stick your finger right into the pot. Make sure excess water drains out completely. These plants hate soggy soil but they also don’t want to be bone dry for long periods.

2. Giving It Too Much Direct Sun

Too much direct sunlight can cause leaf scorch, faded color, and overall stress.

They thrive in bright indirect light.

What works better:

An east-facing window is ideal. You’ll get gentle morning sun without the harsh afternoon rays. If your plant is near a bright south or west window just pull it back a few feet or filter the light with a sheer curtain.

Healthy Christmas Cactus foliage should be glossy and rich green not pale or reddish.

3. Missing the Bloom-Trigger Window

This one frustrates a lot of gardeners because everything else seems right.

Christmas Cactus need a specific signal to bloom:
c
long nights and cooler temperatures. If your plant is exposed to lamps, TVs, or overhead lights at night in fall it may never set buds.

What works better:

Starting in early fall give your plant 12–14 hours of complete darkness each night for about 6–8 weeks. Cover with a box after dinner. It doesn’t have to be fancy just consistent.

Cooler night timetemps (around 50–65°F) help too. Once buds appear stop covering it and enjoy the show.

4. Repotting Too Often

Christmas Cactus actually blooms better when slightly root-bound. Frequent repotting encourages leaf growth at the expense of flowers.

What works better:

Repot only every 2–3 years and only go up one pot size. If your plant is in a 6″ grow pot move it to an 8″ pot and not bigger. Use a light well-draining mix designed for houseplants or succulents.

5. Moving the Plant Once Buds Appear

This is the heartbreak moment.

You see buds forming move the plant to another spot and suddenly the buds fall off.

Christmas Cactus hates change once it’s budding.

What works better:

Once buds appear leave the plant exactly where it is. Same light, same temperature, same routine. Even rotating the pot can cause buds to drop.

Keep your hands off is the best approach.

Christmas Cactus Quick Care Checklist

Light:

Bright, indirect light (east-facing windows are ideal)

Water:

Water when the top 1″-2″ of soil is dry – never let it sit in soggy soil

Soil:

Well-draining potting mix (succulent blend works well)

Temperature:

Prefers 60–70°F; cooler nights (50–65°F) help trigger blooms

Bloom Prep:

12-14 hours of complete darkness nightly for 6–8 weeks in fall

Repotting:

Every 2-3 years only and just one pot size up

While Budding:

Don’t move, rotate, or change its environment

Bonus Tip:

Slightly root-bound plants often bloom better

10/13/2026

Today, the Crestview Garden Club participated in the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs - District 1 fall meeting, where we were welcomed into the district. Military service members and their families were also honored at this meeting as part of the 250th celebration of the USA. We also received a $350 grant for the Crestview Garden Club seed library. This is awesome news.

10/13/2026

This weeks seed information is on Nantes Supreme Carrots. These seeds came be found and checked out at the Crestview Garden Club seed library at the Crestview library. Here is also an interesting article written by Amy Grant which has a lot of great information.

Nantes Supreme carrots are a uniform, early-maturing carrot variety known for producing crisp, sweet, cylindrical roots with blunt tips.

Key Characteristics

Root Size:

Grows roughly 7 to 8 inches long.

Texture & Flavor:

Tender, coreless, and very sweet.

Storage:

Storability is better and longer than standard Nantes-type varieties.

Maturity:

Ready to harvest in around 80 days.

Growing Tips

Soil:

Plant in deep, loose, loamy, and stone-free soil.

Sunlight:

Requires full sun.

Timing:

Sow directly in the ground after the danger of heavy frost has passed.

What Are Nantes Carrots: How To Grow Nantes Carrots

By Amy Grant

Unless you grow your own carrots or haunt farmer’s markets, my guess is your knowledge of carrots is somewhat limited. For instance, did you know that there are actually four major types of carrot, each grown for its unique qualities? These four include: Danvers, Nantes, Imperator, and Chantenay. This article focuses on growing Nantes carrots, Nantes carrot information, and Nantes carrot care. Read on to find out just what Nantes carrots are and how to grow Nantes carrots.

What are Nantes Carrots?

Nantes carrots were first mentioned and described in the 1885 edition of the Henri Vilmorin family seed catalogue. He stated that this carrot variety has a nearly perfect cylindrical root and smooth, almost red, skin that is mild and sweet in flavor. Revered for their sweet, crisp flavor, Nantes carrots are rounded at both the tip and root end.
Additional Nantes Carrot Information

Carrots originated over 5,000 years ago in present day Afghanistan, and these first carrots were cultivated for their purple root. Eventually, carrots were divided into two categories: atrorubens and sativus. Atrobuens arose from the east and had yellow to purple roots, while sativus carrots had orange, yellow, and sometimes white roots. During the 17th century, a favoring for orange carrots became the vogue and purple carrots fell out of favor. At that time, the Dutch developed carrots with the deeper orange carotene pigment we know today. Nantes carrots were named for the city on the French Atlantic Coast whose countryside is ideal for Nantes cultivation. Soon after its development, Nantes became a favorite of the consumer due to its sweeter flavor and more tender texture. Today, there are at least six varieties of carrot that bear the Nantes name, but Nantes has come to represent more than 40 members of carrots with medium-sized, cylindrical roots that are both rounded at the top and bottom.

How to Grow Nantes Carrots

All carrots are cool weather veggies that should be planted in the spring. Nantes carrots are harvested from late summer through fall. Sow seeds for carrots with other frost tolerant crops as soon as the soil has warmed in the spring and all danger of frost has passed. Prepare a bed that has been plowed down to a depth of 8 to 9 inches. Break up clumps and rake out large rocks and debris. If you have a very clay laden soil, consider growing the carrots in a raised bed. Plant the seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep in the early spring. Space rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Germination may take up to two weeks, so bring your patience. Thin the seedlings to 3 inches apart when they are an inch tall.

Nantes Carrot Care

When growing Nantes carrots, or really any type of carrot, keep an eye on the irrigation. Carrots germinate best in warm, moist soil. Cover the soil with clear polyethylene while the seeds germinate. Remove the film when seedlings appear. Keep the bed damp as the carrots grow. Carrots need moisture to prevent splitting. Keep weeds cultivated from around the seedlings. Be careful and use a shallow cultivator or hoe so as to not injure the roots. Harvest of Nantes carrots will be about 62 days from direct sowing when they are around 2 inches across, although the smaller the sweeter. Your family will love these sweet carrots, packed even higher than store bought carrots with vitamins A and B and rich in calcium and phosphorus.

10/11/2026

Here is an interesting article on 10 indoor plants that are hard to kill. If you have a black thumb, then some of these might be for you.

10 Indoor Plants That Are Hard to Kill

Think you've got a black thumb? These plants may thrive anyway.

Some people seem to have a knack for encouraging green things to grow all around them. They have a sixth sense for just when to water and every room in their house is filled to the brim with happy healthy vibrant houseplants.

Then there are those who buy a new plant filled with hope (and a little trepidation) only to finally toss it a few weeks or months later when it's shriveled and brown and they've finally given up.

If you count yourself in the latter category (or you're just looking for something low-maintenance) then this list is for you.

Do you spend some part of every month traveling? Are there no good sunny windows in your house or apartment? Is watering on a regular schedule just not your thing?

These plants seem to thrive on neglect. Some just don't need to be watered very often. Others can handle super low-light situations. You can think of them as like the cats of houseplants they're fine with a little attention but they can also take care of themselves.

Give them a try. Because everyone deserves to have some plants in their life.

Cast-Iron Plant (Apidistra elatior)

Also known as "bar room plant" these sturdy guys have a reputation for thriving under neglect. Water them when the top few inches feels dry and that's about it.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

These glossy dramatic plants are among the easiest to grow. They'll take a variety of light situations and don't need to be watered often at all.

Water ZZ plant few weeks when it feels mostly dry.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos is as sturdy as they come. Although it prefers medium light it does just fine in low or even artificial light. It'll do fine in drafty or dry air and as long as you don't overwater it it will be fine.

Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

Philodendrons in general are tough to kill and this neat-looking beauty is no exception. It's perfect for beginners and won't mind at all if you forget to water it for a week or two.

Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

Snake plants are nearly impossible to kill. They don’t mind low light levels at all and they only need watered every few weeks.

In fact overwatering is the only sure way to kill this plant.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum)

This is one of the easiest plants you can grow. Aglaonema survives on very low light levels and has beautiful silvery or pink-streaked foliage. Let it dry out between waterings.

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Lucky bamboo can take very low light levels. It’s actually a type of dracaena with the lower leaves stripped off to resemble bamboo. This plant is grown in either soil or water. In soil keep it slightly moist. In a vase of water change the water weekly. That's all you need to do.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

With dramatic arching leaves and variegated foliage spider plants like high light but can adapt to low light levels. In high light it may produce “babies” you can snip off and plant to make new plants, but that’s less likely in low light.

You can let it dry out between waterings.

Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)

The dramatic markings on this plant make it a must-have. Although it likes moderate light it can adapt to low light though it will grow more slowly. Interestingly the plant gets its name because the leaves curl up as if in prayer at night.

Haworthia (Haworthia spp)

This little plant maxes out at just 6 to 8 inches tall. The striped foliage make it a nice plant for end tables or night stands. Because it’s a succulent it can go several weeks without water. In fact most succulents are hard to kill.

10/09/2026

With this bad weather coming in. Please be safe and hunker down for this. Hopefully everyone and everything will be okay.

10/07/2026

This is an excellent example of the hard work that the Crestview Garden Club can accomplish. We planted plants at the Flower Basket Florist in Crestview back in June of this year. Enclosed are the pictures of work in progress and the video of the finished product. Thank you to Stephanie for taking this video. Also a big thank you to are leader Jillian. You make all this possible.

10/06/2026

This weeks seed information is on Key Lime Marigold. These are beautiful flowers and are low maintenance. You can get these seeds from the Crestview Garden Club seed library located at the Crestview Library.

Key Lime Marigold (Tagetes erecta) variety with small bright yellow-green blooms that thrive from summer to fall. Unlike traditional marigolds this variety is scentless, making it perfect for gardeners who prefer low-maintenance non-fragrant flowers. With its delicate fern-like foliage and continuous blooming habit it adds vibrant color to garden beds, borders, and containers. The edible petals offer a mild citrus-like flavor ideal for garnishing dishes and enhancing salads.

Key Features:

Bright Yellow-Green Blooms – Unique and eye-catching, perfect for adding a pop of color.

Compact & Bushy Growth – Ideal for small spaces, edging, and potted displays.

Pollinator-Friendly – Attracts butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects.

Edible Blooms & Leaves – Adds a mild citrusy hint to culinary dishes.

Pest & Deer Resistant – Naturally deters aphids and nematodes.

Low Maintenance & Heat Tolerant – Thrives in warm dry conditions with minimal care.

Non-GMO & Open-Pollinated – Great for seed-saving and sustainable gardening.

Perfect for:

Borders & Edging – Creates low, bushy mounds of long lasting color.

Containers & Window Boxes – Thrives in potted displays for patios and balconies.

Pollinator Gardens – Provides nectar-rich bloomsfor beneficial insects.

Edible & Herb Gardens – Culinary-friendly petals for garnishing and infusing flavors.

Low-Maintenance Landscapes – Flourishes in hot, dry climates with minimal watering.

Growing Information:

Plant Type: Annual

Mature Size: 24-36 inches tall, 12 inches wide

Light Requirements:
Full sun (6+ hours daily)

Watering Needs:

Low to moderate (drought-tolerant once established)

Hardiness Zones:

Grown as an annual in zones 2-11

Soil Type:

Well-draining, moderately fertile soil

Days to Bloom: 60-80 days

Pollinator-Friendly

Pet Friendly Mildly toxic if ingested

How to Grow & Care for Key Lime Marigold:

1️⃣ Start from Seed – Direct sow after the last frost, or start indoors 4-6 weeks early for a head start.

2️⃣ Choose a Sunny Spot – Full sun promotes compact growth and abundant blooms.

3️⃣ Well-Draining Soil is Key – Prefers light loamy soil but adapts to most conditions.

4️⃣ Water Sparingly – Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings—overwatering can cause root rot.

5️⃣ Encourage More Blooms – Deadhead spent flowers
to extend flowering throughout the season.

6️⃣ Enjoy a Long-Lasting Display

Pro Tip:

Pair Key Lime Marigold with vegetables like tomatoes and peppers to repel pests naturallywhile adding a touch of edible beauty to your garden

Best Uses for Key Lime Marigold:

Companion Planting – Protects veggies from pests like aphids and nematodes.

Pots & Hanging Baskets – Compact habit makes it ideal for patios and urban gardens.

Pollinator Gardens – Supports bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects.

Edible Landscaping – Garnish drinks, salads, and desserts with colorful petals

Drought-Resistant Landscaping – Thrives in hot, dry conditions.

Crestview Garden Club - Crestview, Florida

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