- 1). Look for painted tongue at your local greenhouse. If they don't have it, it's best to start it from seed indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your region's last frost date. Painted tongue is very much a cool-season annual that does best before hot, humid weather hits.
- 2). Choose a spot with full sun to light shade and moist but well-drained soil.
- 3). Transplant seedlings into the garden about two weeks before your region's last frost date.
- 4). Mulch to keep the roots cooler longer.
- 5). Keep soil evenly moist.
- 6). Pinch off spent blooms to promote further flowering.
- 7). Discard plants when they get ragged after heat hits.