With spring now officially in full swing, April’s Barry’s Cactus Club box has a cactus waiting to spring out to meet you!

This time, we have the Red Foxtail Cactus (Vatricania guentheri).

This guy is certainly no April fool - his kind can be found climbing hills as high as 800-1300 meters above sea level in Eastern Bolivia. In the wild, he can grow as tall as two meters and 10cm in diameter.

This foxy fellow gets his funky name from his cephilium. This is an area of long, red, fine spines, usually starting on one side of the stem, eventually covering the top of the plant, making him resemble a foxtail. It is here, at this magical woolly bed of red hair where yellow flowers and edible fruits grow!

Caring for the Red Foxtail Cactus

Care for this fellow by keeping him in the sunshine. Now that spring is here, he will be thirsty - and this guy is slightly more thirsty than the rest! Check out our recent watering blog where Barry shares his top tips on keeping your cacti hydrated during the growing season.

Let it grow, let it grow!

In this month’s box you get not just one, but two types of seeds which are perfect for getting into the spring gardening spirit. Best of all, both seeds can be sown in April.

Teddy bear sunflower seeds

The teddy bear sunflower in full bloom! Photograph by Jennifer Poindexter

Nothing says summer is coming like sunflowers, and you’re in for a treat! The teddy bear sunflowers get their cute name because of their fluffy, golden yellow petals which bloom in abundance like golden pom-poms! Unlike ordinary sunflowers, the teddy bear sunflowers grow to a smaller and more manageable 2 to 4 feet tall, making it a perfect addition to gardens big or small. Their stems produce beautiful bushes of lush green leaves, transforming even a cosy courtyard into more of a green paradise.

Mini pumpkin seeds

With these special seeds, you too can grow your own miniature pumpkins! Using markers and your imagination, they work perfectly as beautiful decorations for the Halloween festivities. Or, if you’re feeling peckish, they are the perfect ingredient for baking or to cook your very own mini pumpkin pie.

You can start growing your sunflowers and pumpkins indoors or directly in the garden!

Choose a nice, sunny spot in the garden or indoors e.g. a windowsill.
Use your finger to create a dip and plant one or two seeds about 1.5cm deep in your pot, or in each area you want to grow them in your garden.
Water as needed to keep the soil moist until the plants are established. Those pumpkins are thirsty, so they will need plenty of water.
Watch the sunflowers grow and flower from July to September, while those mini pumpkins can be harvested in the Autumn - just in time for Halloween!

Not yet part of the club? Join by visiting barryscactusclub.com

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