Let's Talk Timing Your Garden Just Right
Hey Gardening Friends,
Our frost free growing season is just around the corner and soon we'll be able to plant all of our favorite summer flowers, herbs and veggies!!! So we thought this would be the perfect time to talk about things you can and should be doing in the garden and to offer up some helpful tips on how you can get a head start with plants and get the most out of this year's growing season.
Our average last frost date on the Connecticut shoreline is typically right around May 15th. The important word here being average. Our last frosty night can happen before or after this date, it's simply meant as a guideline for planting. If you're anxious to start playing with and planting all of those fun summer plants, you can. You'll just want to keep a close eye on the weather, specifically night time low temperatures. And if you'd rather play it safe and wait until mid to late May so that you don't have to worry about the weather, there are all sorts of things that you can be bringing home and planting right now. So if you're interested in learning more about getting a head start on the growing season or just want to know what can be planted right now, without having to worry, please read on.
Getting A Head Start With Frost Sensitive Plants
You can absolutely bring frost sensitive plants home with you at this point, after all we have plenty of them out in our nursery already. You'll just want to be prepared to play what we refer to as "the weather game". We all have weather people or weather apps that we trust, and the next two weeks would be an important time to pay attention to them, particularly the 10 day forecast. You'll want to be especially mindful of temperatures below 40 degrees. Frost can occur at 38 degrees, it doesn't need to dip all the way to 32 degrees for your plants to freeze. An important thing to know as you're sharpening your meteorological gardening skills. Frost can only occur on clear nights without wind or breezes. And it definitely can't happen if it's raining. So as you're checking that 10 day forecast for low temperatures pay attention to the cloud, precipitation, and wind conditions as well.
So what kind of plants can you absolutely, positively buy and bring home with you right now as long as you're willing to keep a sharp eye on the weather? Take a look below!
Summer Hanging Baskets - This is an easy one. Hang them up outside where you normally like to use them, and if the weather becomes an issue simply bring them in for the night and place them back outside in the morning.
Tropical Perennial Plants - Popular plants like Hibiscus and Mandevilla are tougher than you may think, and all of ours have been hardened off to 40 degrees already, so we're pretty confident that these guys can go out and stay out at this point without too much to worry about. And if you have particular colors of these tropical beauties that you really like, shop now for your best selection.
Summer Veggies and Herbs - Our incredibly popular line of USDA Certified Organic Herbs and Vegetables will be arriving soon, and when they're gone, they're gone. These plants can be brought home now and be placed in a sunny spot outdoors and be moved indoors at night in the event of cold temperatures. You'll want to be especially careful with basil and cucumbers as neither care for temps below 60, so a little extra caution with these guys. And tomatoes? Well, we have to talk about tomatoes. After all, the earlier you plant them the sooner you get to eat them! So, we think it's worth a little extra effort to get them going early. If you plant your tomatoes in containers that are easy to move, go ahead and get them planted. They can be outside on sunny warm days and moved indoors when the weather isn't cooperating. Tomatoes planted in raised beds and in the ground can be protected from chilly weather with a 5-gallon bucket. Just invert the empty bucket over the plants at night to protect them from colder temperatures. But remember to remove it in the morning as things will heat up quickly in there once the sun is up.
Summer Annuals and Flowers - Plants like Geraniums, Petunias, and Begonias can definitely go home with you now. Much like the summer herbs and veggies they can be placed outside in a warm sunny spot and moved indoors at night if cold weather is expected. And if you're using them in pots or containers that are movable, plant them up and bring them in for the night if needed.
Plants That Can Go Home Now...Worry Free!
There are many plants in our nursery that can be permanently placed or planted outdoors right now that will have no issues with cold nights, and actually will benefit from the cooler temperatures we experience at this time of year.
Hardy Shrubs and Roses - Evergreen, deciduous shrubs and flowering shrubs like roses and Hydrangeas can and should be planted right now.
Perennial Plants - It is prime time for planting perennials. Peonies, Clematis, Irises, you name it. If it's a perennial, now is the time to get them in before the weather heats up.
Cool Weather Veggies and Herbs - Lettuce, Kale, Broccoli, Cauliflower and peas prefer spring weather over summer weather, so if they're on your menu, get them in now. And there are many opportunities with herbs at the moment. Mint, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Parsley, Cilantro and Dill would love to get in your pots or gardens now.
