European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 31, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                From the cover Quot i continued from the cover an inborn German Talent a hardly a said Erich a Koberna a Man with master gardening credentials. Neither nationality nor a Green thumb is required he said to grow window Box blooms that will make your neighbors Green with envy. A a a a a a a a a a a Koberna owns Skob Crnak a Blumn Garten a Grcen House Flower shop in Alsbach on the Berg Strassl where it is said that German Spring first arrives. The business has been a family Enterprise for 60 years and includes 960 Square meters of Glass covered horticulture. A we Purchase seedlings and bulbs from Denmark Holland Spain and Italy a said a Koberna who completed his masters in England under the supervision of a brother of the Queen Mother. A the was president of the British gardening club a said a Koberna a and my stay a three quarters of a year a was a wonderful period. I had the privilege of visiting All the Royal  even though the Bergstrasser Scherry Trees already Are beginning to Blossom a Koberna said it is not yet time to Start that window Box artistry in Germany. A window boxes should not be put out until late april or Early May a he advised. In Italy and the rest of the Southern parts of Europe you May want to Start in the next couple of weeks gardening experts said. But budding gardeners in England  Start their win Dow Box efforts until about the latter part of May or even Early june according to a professional Gardener there. But More on that later. In Germany last years geraniums a window Box favorite Are still taking their basement naps a Koberna said. They generally Are tucked away in dark cellars at the approach of Winter. A before they Are set out in the Spring they should be allowed to awaken slowly inside the Home in a spot that is not hit directly by the Sun a a Koberna said. A then their roots should be gently spread out and they should be placed in new Earth. A Rich potting soil Strong plants and above All a Good fertilizer Are the basics of thick flourishing window Box Flowers a he continued. A geraniums Are easy to grow for the Novice m it 111 1 i Iii a. The Best of choices and there Are 25 different varieties to choose from. Hanging varieties can be delightfully showy.�?�. Other Flowers can be used such As fuchsias and petunias a which make a pleasing mixture. In Germany its possible to buy 13 Gallons of cheap potting soil for As Little As around 5 Marks about s3. A a done to advised a Koberna. A the result probably will be scrawny  a Good potting soil he said generally will Cost about three times As much but will be Worth it. Bavarian boast that natural fertilizer is the secret to their extravagant Lustrous window Box blooms. But a Koberna said gardeners will do All right without Bovine Aid. A no need to visit cow pastures a he said. A there Are commercial fertilizers on the Market that bring the same results. Look for one that is just for Flowers a generally the Best fertilizers he said need Only be applied once every three months. When it comes to watering the plants Skober a said most Amateur gardeners pour it on a almost drowning their Flowers. Water Only when. The soil has really become surface dry he advised now that you have set your healthy plants in the right soil Given them that Vitamin shot via a Good fertilizer placed them where they receive the appropriate amount of Sun and Are treating their thirst what More can be done a trick them a said a Koberna and smiled. A a you must snap off every Flower at its Stem As soon As it begins to fade. If plants accomplish their reproductive process they will Stop shooting out new blooms. Done to let them go to seed. Force them to  for England wait until the threat of a real Frost has disappeared a late May or Early june said Ray Waite a fourth generation professional Gardener. Waited who has written several books including a gardening in ornamental containers a for Britain a Royal horticultural society a recommended just about any soil that a not too Rich. Something like a peat or organic based compost is Ideal because it is Nice and Light and does no to put too much weight on the window Box. If your Box is in a not too sunny area Plant. Some of those Staple fuchsias or begonias but pc Tunis French marigolds and geraniums like to bask in the Sun Waite said. A Good a filler Plant that gives a cascading effect and will hide your window Box is the hanging Lobelia. A Plant fairly thickly not too lean so you get a Good splotch of color fairly quickly a Waite said. And to keep that pretty effect longer do regular a dead heading a or the removal of dead foliage. Said Waite echoing a Koberna. Also part of proper maintenance is a a Good general feed once a week with any fertilizer a Waite said contradicting a Koberna. Waite also advised regular watering but he cautioned that the boxes Are elevated so the soil needs to be checked often during hot Windy weather. Those Flowers May need water once a Day he said. Amy Geiszler Jones in the United kingdom Bureau contributed to this Story. A amps Michaal Abrams an example of window Box artistry in Dambach la Ville  6 a a sunday March 24, 1991