Crop Rotation Group
Umbelliferae (Carrot and root family)
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Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Yes. Hardy down to -4ºF (-20ºC).
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Feeding
Drench with a liquid organic fertilizer when plants begin to grow tall in late spring or early summer. Feed again in midsummer after the first big flush of flowers.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Start seeds indoors and expect seeds to germinate after 10 days. Set plants out after the soil warms when they are 6 weeks old. Handle carefully, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Or, direct-sow seeds where you want the plants to grow in spring. Young plants need water when they are actively growing, along with careful weeding.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Ammi plants tend to lean over as they gain size, which turns them into a cloud of white blooms and soft foliage. Ammi is a more refined plant compared to Queen Anne’s lace, and sheds far less pollen when used in cut flower arrangements. Ammi lends a pristine touch to arrangements composed of cosmos, dahlias, and other summer flowers. The blossoms of A. visnaga, called toothpick ammi, often have a green tint. In wet weather, the thin stems sometimes struggle to hold up the large flower umbels.
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Harvesting
Gather stems just as the umbels open fully, and condition them in cool water. Removing spent blossoms keeps the plants in flower longer.
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Troubleshooting
Rabbits like to nibble on young ammi foliage.
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