Spring is here, and it’s time to plant – or is it? This early in the season, our weather can vary quite a bit, and conventional wisdom says we should wait a while longer to add new plantings to our outdoor spaces. But whether it’s chilly, warm, or somewhere in between, you can start your planting projects now and continue digging in the soil and sunshine all through the season. It’s all about starting with the right plants during the right temperatures, and here, we share the best plants for each phase of the season.
Plants to Get You Started
Early spring can be cold, and frost is always a possibility until our last average frost date in mid-May. But with plenty of cold-tolerant plants to choose from, you can start some early plantings and even add spring color in both outdoor containers and in the ground – as soon as the soil is workable. Just be sure that your soil isn’t too wet when you plant because walking on soggy soil can lead to compaction.
And although early-spring plants are tough even against a series of light frosts, keep in mind that newly established roots and tender shoots can be damaged at temperatures in the 20’s and below. A protective layer of mulch or a light blanket over the top may be necessary for those last bitterly cold nights.
- Cold-tolerant flowering annuals like pansies, carnations, snapdragons, and osteospermums
- Cole crops including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and kohlrabi
- Trees and shrubs
- Dormant perennials
When May Arrives
By the middle of May, the soil has had a chance to warm up, and the threat of frost is small. It’s time to plant any of your favorite garden, landscape, and container beauties.
- Flowering annuals including geraniums, petunias, coleus, impatiens, begonias, verbena, cosmos, sweet potato vine, zinnias, and more
- Most vegetables and herbs including beans, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, corn, and more
- All perennials including those that are dormant or leafed out
- Trees and shrubs
- Grass seed including warm- and cool-season varieties
When it Really Gets Warm
By May, almost everything you want to plant can live happily outside, but there are some heat-loving plants that would appreciate just a little extra warmth in the air and soil to really do their best. Tropical plants are especially sensitive to cold and need temperatures to stay above 50 degrees – during both the day and night – before they go out. And we know it’s hard to wait, but the annuals and vegetables in this group will thank you for your patience with even more color and production.
- Tropical plants including hibiscus, palms, dracaena, ferns, ficus, mandevilla, lantana, plumbago, ivy, sansevieria, and more
- Heat-loving annuals including blooming vinca, pentas, and sunflowers
- Heat-loving herbs and vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and basil
Let’s Get Planting!
Waiting patiently until later in the spring is hard for winter-weary gardeners – but thankfully we don’t have to. With the right plants at the right times, we can start our spring planting projects now and keep right on going through the season. And if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for in the greenhouse, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help you find what you need. We look forward to helping you make this your most successful and rewarding growing season yet.
