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When to Plant What
Lots of new and even not-so-new gardeners have trouble knowing when it's
safe to plant. Weather varies greatly from one spring to the next, so
it's not always possible to give planting time by date, but rather it
may be better to go by daily high and nightly low temperatures. Watch
those nighttime lows! It's easy to get fooled by sunny days, think it's
safe to plant annuals, and not realize until your new baby plants look
limp and black that it was freezing every night because of those clear
skies.
Here's a basic, not all-inclusive, not 100% reliable, best-guess list
of what to plant when.
Any time the soil is neither frozen solid nor baked solid:
Pansies (virtually indestructible plants!)
Perennials
Bulbs in their seasons
March - as long as it's not freezing every night:
All of the above plus:
Alyssum
Cineraria and Senetti
Cyclamen
Diascia
Dianthus
Martha Washington or Regal Geranium
Osteospermum (African Daisy)
Fairy Primrose (P. malacoides)
Ranunculus
Snapdragon
Stock
April - nights in the mid 30s to mid 40's, days in the 60's:
Anything listed above, if still available, plus:
Wax begonia
Dahlia
Fuchsia
Gazania
Geranium, upright and ivy
Heliotrope
Marigold
Mimulus
Nemesia
Petunia
Phlox
Schizanthus
Verbena
May - Nights in upper 40s to 50s days in 60s to 70s:
All of the above, plus:
Tuberous begonia
Browallia
Coleus
Impatiens
Lobelia
Nicotiana
Salvia
Globe Amaranth
Portulaca (moss rose)
Torenia
Vinca
Zinnia
Remember there is no such thing as "average" weather. Averages
are reached by going to all extremes and then pooling the results.
Calendar
What's Happening at Egan Gardens in 2008
Le Tour Special offers:
Free Sedum plant to all comers
Enter a raffle for a Fall Magic container of your choice, up to $80 value
2008 Le Tour des Plants schedule of events:
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Sat. Sept 13, 2 pm
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Landscape Design Principles
What you should think about before anything goes in the ground.
No charge |
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Sun Sept 14, 2 pm
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Planting Containers for Fall
and Winter
A hands-on class. Make your own planter while learning design techniques
and plant choices. Cost is for materials only. |
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Thurs. Sept. 18, 2 pm
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Euphorbia Euphoria
Showcasing a group of drought-tolerant, deer-proof, really interesting
plants.
No charge |
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Sat. Sept. 20, 2 pm
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Building and Planting a Green
Roof
An eco-friendly trend that’s really pretty, too.
No charge |
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Sun Sept. 21, 2 pm
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Garden Design for Year Round
Color
Spring isn’t the only season; enjoy your garden in fall and winter,
too.
No charge |
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