I was curious how many bravely planted before the "official" last frost date for your area and won? What plants have you found to be more hardy in this regard? What plants should not be even tried?
Yes, yes...I'm anxious...
How early have you dared to plant?
we would have started seedlings already but trying to sell this house and move on.
I must say that I am not very adventurous in that area of gardening, I would rather be safe than sorry.
I hate losing plants.
Josephine.
I don't even bother to think about veggie seedlings until march, but I've been planting roses, perennials like they're going out of style
I've started five flats of all kinds of seeds. Yesterday the nasturtium seedlings were 8" tall! I transplanted them into pots on the back porch and hope they make it. All the rest are sprouting, but pretty normally rather than sudden vines. The tomatoes have sprouted, but no true leaves yet after two weeks.
I sincerely suspect I jumped the gun. I couldn't help myself. I really needed the fix. If Puxatawny Phil/Phyllis was right, it'll be OK.
If I was Puxatawny Phil/Phyllis, I'd change my name... : ))
I haven't planted any thing more than Allium Karatviense and variegated Society Garlic. They along with onions, chives, garlic and some herbs will do o.k. when planted early or even late fall. I learned not to be overly protective of some of the potted herbs this winter. We have had many 20 degree nights and it hasn't hurt the greek oregano and even the lemon balm has new growth. I do keep them sheltered on the east up against the house.
I have planted hardy (borderline invasive) perennials late November to early March without problems. I planted bugle weed 'metallica crispa" in a contained bed in December and it has thrived despite being in 70% shade. Warning, do not plant this near grass or flower beds. The same time, I also planted some thrift (sea thrift) in full sun, it has already started to bloom and thrive (it survived our freezes no problem). I've also planted cool/early/late season blooming, full sun perennials at this time (dianthus).---some nurseries label dianthus as an annual, but it behaves more like a short lived perennial 2-4 years for me.
I've always planted roses around Valentine's day.
Last year I planted herb seed (basil, sage, thyme) in a contained 70% sun bed. I planted the seeds directly into the soil late February last year. I guess this was my biggest gamble. There was no late deep freeze last year (although there was that one barely freezing weekend in March). The herbs did great and thrived.
There are some seeds (sweet violets) that require freezing temps (stratification) to germinate. I've planted those seeds in December/November.
Summer blooming perennials, I plant in the early fall so they can develop a good root system.
Anything that is barely in our zone (plumbago for example), I'll wait until after the last frost date.
I transplanted an antique rose , Zepherine Dr...a week before the big freeze in Jan. It is near the house on the south sunny side and has survived so far. My favorite hardy plant is four nerve daisy. It even blooms during the winter, if it has sun. I don't know how it would transplant now but probably with mulch and water it will be ok. It is hard to transplant after May in a sunny location. I am planning to move some shrubs and roses at the end of February...is this a good idea or should I wait? I need to trim them too.
Zone 8b, Heat Zone 9, Lake Sam Rayburn
Folks, it has not stopped raining long enough for me to get outside. My seeds always fall dead to "damping off".
I'll buy bedding plants and have them inground by March15, our average last frost date.
Thank God Spring will soon be in East Texas my favorite season..........new life!
Happy gardening to all
I love the range of opinions!
I think it will be part of the 'fun' to learn what I can and cannot do. I don't think I will stress if I make mistakes, and I will definitely record what works and doesn't.
I'm definitely keeping a journal -- looking over what I wrote down last year has been a big help.
I love the Texas Spring, too, Sudie -- I just wish it lasted more than two weeks! Once it's here, it's suddenly summer for 8 months and that can be brutal.
I'm planning on putting the roses I've had in pots over the winter into the ground within the next couple of weeks, and pruning them as I do it. If anyone knows something about this I'm overlooking, I'd sure appreciate any input -- like, is transplanting time a bad time to prune them? Too much shock at once?
Thanks!
Brigidlily, I am not a rose person, but I do know that roses are hardy and can be planted at this time, especially a potted plant will not be suffering shock in the transplanting since all the roots will be intact.
As to pruning it might be advisable to wait until danger of frost is past, sometimes pruning and warm spells will stimulate a plant to put out new growth and a freeze could damage it.
I assume this potted plant is being kept outside at this time and is dormant. If it has been kept inside, is not dormant and has green growth, I would wait to plant it outside, since if might be too tender to survive a sudden change.
Josephine.
It really depends on what it is. Perennials I can plant now but when it come to my vegetable garden I always wait until the Red Bud trees bloom. For some reason for the last 25 years that has worked for me in this area.
I am way behind on starting all of my seedings.
These roses never went dormant. I got them in December and just put them in bigger pots and they've been blooming a little the whole time.
I did put one in last night! I turned my compost piles and was able to harvest a wheelbarrow full of WONDERFUL compost -- I'd say it was 75% pure worm castings. I spread most of it on the herb circle (which I'm lining with roses) and couldn't help myself. That blush knock out went in the ground. It has formed a lot of hips which I think I'll trim off this weekend. That rose is a phenomenal bloomer. The roots were beginning to curl around the bottom of the pot, so as far as their growth goes, it's high time to get them into the ground.
Unless we have a freak freeze in the next couple of months, it's spring here. Not getting too hot, but the way the sun is beating down you know summer is on the way. And while I'm ready to get green things growing, I'm really dreading the summer.
My seedlings are going nuts. I really hope I didn't jump the gun. Cool, and even cold is fine -- just no freezing, please!
I agree with you, I hate freezes, especially late ones. I think your roses will be just fine, you can always throw a blanket on them if you have to.
I planted 8 more around the circle last night, and then the sun was down and I couldn't see enough. I have to take a half day off today because the cable guy will be there "sometime after one..." so I'll spend a nice afternoon gardening. If it doesn't rain. It's so nice to have dirt under my fingernails again!
Vossner,
We're in the same zone! What perennials are you planting. I did a flower garden for the first time EVER last summer, with great success from all the knowledge I picked up in DG! But, I'm taking a different direction this summer, growing tomatoes and (hopefully) some other veggies.
I have about 30 Sago Palm seeds in two trays, hoping they will take root, and also 30 Sago plants in various baby stages of growth,. I have decided to concentrate on them, and whatever survived the winter. Not as much of a budget as last summer, and want to spend on the tomatoes. I have 5 EBs and a tray of seedlings I'm growing (again, hopefully). I did want to add some inexpensive color to the yard, so I'll plant some caladium bulbs, which I know should've been planted by now!! I have geraniums, lots of ferns, begonias, and three hot pink bromeliads that survived the frost. I have two plumeria that were given to me as cuttings, that seem to be catching on.
Any suggestions for some cheap color would be appreciated!
P.S. I tried daylilies, but they never did take off last summer. Also, I love geraniums, which attract bees. But I hear bees are good to have when you're growing tomatoes!
gymgirl, IME, planting DLs in the summer has been a mostly disapointing experience, as that's the time they're most susceptible to crown rot. Best time is early spring or fall for us, so try again at those times. This year, as far as seeds I'm doing bulbs in the amaryllis family, alstromeria (not germinating yet) castor bean and caeselpinia (pride of barbados). I've tried growing petunias from seed, but they're so cheap at the garden center, I've been buying them lately.
suggestions for cheap color: LA iris, caladiums, cannas, periwinkle, ruellia, hibisicus (if you find a good sale). I don't plant my caladiums until late March/april. Seems like rains rot them if I plant too early.
vossner is right. You want the soil to warm up a bit before planting caladiums. I generally wait until April. Remember how big those Sagos get when you plant them. They are not little plants. Don't put them up against anything - wall, screen, side of house, etc....they need to be in the open. February is a good time to plant DLs. Don't wait until they are blooming. They really suffer in the heat of summer then.
If the daylilies survived, they will bloom better the 2nd year. That is the case with perennials. They need the first year or so to get established. The old saying is the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap...
This message was edited Feb 9, 2007 7:26 PM
I find gladiolas to be cheap color also, just don't buy 75 bulbs and plant them together like I did. It's overkill....
also, ruellia can get out of hand, it is a grow happy plant. I find that whacking mine every feb. helps it keep controlled. also the seedlings are easy to pull out if they come up in an underirable place. If you have a spot where you can't grow anything else, then plant ruellia. If your real estate is at a premium, then I wouldn't waste it w/ ruellia.
Because Ruellia will cover that real estate.
I prefer to plant my Daylilys in the fall..also best time to divide..they have all fall/winter to get established/re-established and bloom better the next year rather than those planted in Spring..Ruellia is so invasive in my gardens..anything with the name "Mexican" in it should come with birthcontrol pills!!..I am constantly pulling up seedlings!!..grrrrrrrrrrrrr.....Jeanne
LOL!!!!!!!
ROLFLMBO!! Bad girl!....
Thanks for the info ya'll. My Sagos are in small pots. Not ready for open ground just yet. Will start spraying with NEEM for the leaf scale as soon as the weather warms up, but before the April showers. Just a waste then as the rain washes it right off...
Yesterday and today I planted in milk jugs my winter sowing.I hope I have timed it right.
I have been busy throwing frost cloths on everything. I vowed I wouldn't do it again for the rest of the year..Then, I broke down tonight when I heard tomrrow morning is suppose to be the coldest so far here in the city. So...instead of starting seeds...I have been busy protecting status quo. I have planted some Zinnia seeds in the front garden, and will start a variety of seeds this weekend...provided I can clear some of the pampered plants out of the green house so I can use the grow light.
I have a feeling it's going to be a light switch summer. Turn on the light and it's summer so to speak..skip spring. I hope not. I have dozens of projects to get started on.!
Even so...I have noticed that some things are blooming regardless. Pear trees, cestrums and a few bulbs. I think they are being rebelious like I feel. :)
Rj
Late last fall, I planted a bunch of Bachelor's Buttons - hoping maybe I might get some winter blooms if we had a light winter. Well, didn't get any blooms, but the plants are now about a foot tall and have not been even slightly damaged by all the freezes we have had. I planted a mix of colors behind my roses in a bed about 40 ft. long. Can't wait for them to bloom!
Mary Kathryn
It is 17 degrees here today, hard to think about growing anything, just hoping to keep alive what I have.
This is what it feels like here this morning.
That is a lovely jungle you have there Rjuddharrison!!!
Why thankyou. I kind of feel like bull dozing this morning, but I'm sure a couple of days in the 60's will have things on the mend
What a night! It was supposed to get down to 31, and the airport (about 20 miles south of me) had a record low of 25. My pond froze over! It hadn't in all the cold weather we've had this winter. My cat (Ms. Louisa May Alcat) drinks from the pond in the mornings, and it had her so confused! Here she is, taking refuge among the teapots.
Very cute! aren't cats funny? they have to have everything just the way they like it, or no deal!
rjuddharrison!!!! Hey, guy, how've you been? Been missing you from the Forum! How's the pond and all the tropicals doing in your gorgeous yard?
I've switched over to veggies for the summer. Not much in the way of other plants, except what survives this crazy Houston winter!
Be in touch!
Houston, TX
Oooh! I cringed when I saw the photo. All those teapots......rjudd - Is that a papaya?
Hey girl!... just thought of you yesterday as I was reading my friends letter from Nairobi. African stories!
The jungle took a big hit this morning, the icing (pun intended) on the cake of a wet, cold winter that already had things stress. Need a vacation!
Why yes Ceejay, that is papaya...Do you have some? Want some?
Thanks, rjudd, but I have quite enough things to protect already! And this winter has worn me out! Does your fruit ever ripen for you?
No kidding...I swore I wasn't going to cover anything for the rest of the year, but fortuneatly comon sense took over and I covered alot of things last night..but the brugs will drop all of the leaves, so will the Papayas, the palm treen has dark leaves.. I was having visions of a mini bull dozer this morning., clear, start again.
The papayas do rippen and last summer produced the sweetest most flavorful papayas in quite some time.
I might need to swing by and pick up a papaya or two this summer. Let me know when they're ready and I'm make a trip out to the Heights! Want to go back to Buchanan's and this'll be an excuse to get in the neighborhood.