Black Eyed Susan Vine - Perfect For Beginners

Cheerful.  Delightful.  Colorful.  Joyful.

These are words that are commonly used to praise the beauty of the Black Eyed Susan Vine.  This annual (term used for a plant that bears flowers only once a year) comes in many fascinating colors: orange, yellow, white and peach, among other hues.  They are so named because of the black area in the middle of each flower's petal, which provides a stark contrast between the radiant colors of the flower's edges and the pitch black color of its center.  Such contrast makes this vine even more enchanting.

The Black Eyed Susan Vine is a good plant for beginners in gardening.  They're quite easy to grow.  Seeds are widely available in many nurseries (though be forewarned, the popularity of this type of vine has greatly risen in recent months and sell outs are being experienced by a lot of gardening stores).  Once you have purchased some seeds, please consult the steps below for the proper procedure in raising a Black Eyed Susan Vine.

1. The best time to purchase some seeds is during the last quarter of the year, towards December.  This vine doesn't grow well in cold weather, so you'd have to plant them in container bags or basins for the time being, and keep them indoors.

2. Barbecue sticks would make good support for the young sprouts.  This will train them to grow upwards instead of sideways, as well.

3. After the last day of winter, it's time to transfer your sprouts outdoors.  By this time, they should be strong enough to withstand the relocation. 

4. Remember that a Black Eyed Susan Vine climbs by twining.  Hence, you need some columnar, vertical structures near the sprouts.  Never plant them near flat walls.  They won't be able to climb such surfaces without columnar support.

5. This type of vine needs to be watered well.  Make sure that the soil on which the sprouts are planted is always moist.

6. To increase the nutrients of the soil and to strengthen its water-retention properties, make it a point to fertilize the land every 2 months.  The nutrients from the soil will guarantee longer life for the flowers the vines will produce.

Indeed, growing this kind of vine is one of the easiest in the world of gardening.  Many veteran gardeners actually recommend "Susies" (as they are fondly called) to novice gardeners, because they are simple to grow and because the fulfillment they will give the owner once these vines bear their flowers is an experience that is truly beyond compare.