Harvesting All Of My Gomphrena & Drying It From The Ceiling

Hello! My name is Bethany and I grow things in my rooftop container garden in Chicago, zone 6a. I am by no means an expert, just someone who enjoys sharing my garden journey.
In today's video, I'm harvesting all five varieties of gomphrena and hanging it to dry to use as decor and for winter projects.
Gomphrena varieties I'm growing:
QIS Pink
QIS Purple
QIS Orange
QIS Carmine
Strawberry Fields
For daily updates, follow me on Instagram @chicagogardener

[@robynmoxham4255]

This looks beautiful! What a great idea. I am going to try to grow Gomphrena from seeds directly into my garden in May. 💜

[@ChicagoGardener]

Yay!! Which variety are you growing?

[@superkatertot5425]

I overwintered a pot inside! Three plants in that pot, one is still good, one is barely hanging on. STILL, it gave me joy to see the magenta ones all winter. I'll put the pot back out and see what happens. In MAY.

[@rachelweishaar6085]

Thank you so much for sharing this process. I loved the final shot (for now) of all the bundles hanging inside. Gives me ideas for next year in my own garden. I'll also be looking forward to the wreath and dried flower Christmas tree videos.

[@ChicagoGardener]

I love the color they add inside, especially as it gets darker earlier outside

[@thewakingwall7995]

I feel all your feels! I also grew all the colors this year and have noticed the same with the difference in plant structure. (The white is like the pink, too.) Your drying branches look great!

[@ChicagoGardener]

It’s so interesting to see! Which other varieties did you grow? I may need to add them to my list for next year!

[@thewakingwall7995]

@@ChicagoGardener Everything on the Baker Creek site, minus this new Snow White variety listed…I wonder if it will be different than the Audray White from Johnny’s. From Johnny’s the white and QIS Carmine. From Floret, the Pink…which to me looks the same as Baker Creek’s Salmon Pastel. The BC Mandarin Orange never germinated, so excited to see it next year along with Johnny’s Audray Purple Red. I’ve turned into a Gomphrena monster. ;) Don’t even get me started on zinnias.

[@SusanHilesArt]

The colors of those flowers are just gorgeous. I think I need to add these seeds to my list for next year. Thanks for sharing!

[@ChicagoGardener]

I really do love them! I think I might do even more varieties next year, if I have space 😆

[@scott8838]

Your wall hanging looks beautiful! Great job! 🌷🌼🌺

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you! I’m impressed with how well it’s held up since it’s only attached with command hooks.

[@mauricecostales7417]

First off, I love your videos. I planted gomphrena for the first time this year and it’s now one of my favorites. Like you; I plan on growing many more varieties next year. I have a suggestion, check out 1818 Farms KZbin on harvesting gomphrena. She uses rubber bands (not your normal rubber band use) this way it keeps the bundle tight as it dries and there’s no worry about losing stems,, then it easily hooks a clothespin to hang. Plus, it seems much quicker to tie the bundle together.

[@ChicagoGardener]

Omg rubber bands would be so much easier to use!! Thank you! I’m definitely checking out their harvest video.

[@mauricecostales7417]

@@ChicagoGardener your welcome. I forgot I’m on hubbys ipad. Thanks again for your videos, Patti

[@meep2576]

This is really pretty

[@aimeesgardens]

So pretty!!

[@ChicagoGardener]

Thank you!!

[@flowerpixel]

I bought a qis mixed gomphrena bc of your videos and I think it's pretty heat tolerant. I think the 3 hrs paid off. They look awesome!!! You might like statice too. It dries well. I'm kind of unusual in that I like dried flowers more than typical cut vase flowers. I think they're so pretty. Money plants are also gorgeous

[@ChicagoGardener]

I love dried flowers too! I think it’s bc they last so much longer than cut flowers.

[@Indianciti253]

I have three plants ❣️from india 😊

[@ChicagoGardener]

Which colors!?

[@Indianciti253]

@@ChicagoGardener red. white 😊😊

[@remenikesavan4949]

Do u have sale Comprehensa plant?

[@sabrinagrzelak2465]

Do you drink tea from the gomphrena flowers?

[@ChicagoGardener]

I did! It didn’t really taste like anything 😆