Gardening: The First Day of Spring

The Seduction of The First Day of Spring
It's the first day of spring and you're hit with spring fever. The sun is shining and you can't wait to begin gardening. You're anxious to get your hands dirty and to get some plants into the ground. What better way to celebrate the first day of spring than to plant flowers?

First In, First Out
Unless you live in a perpetually warm state like California, Hawaii or Miami, chances are it is way too early to even think about planting flowers even though it is the first day of spring.

If It's Too Cold to Plant, It's Too Cold To Dig
Another guide to determine if it's alright to start gardening on the first day of spring is to use yourself as a temperature gauge. Do you find it is a little on the chilly side and you need a pair of gloves to stay warm? Just imagine how an unprotected plant feels. If it's too cold for you, it's definitely too cold to be doing any digging or gardening even though it's officially the first day of spring.

Say Yes to Pansies, Maybe to Cool Season Plants
The one plant that is tolerant of cool weather are pansies. However, if the forecast calls for freezing temperatures in the next week or so, I would hold off with any new plantings as there will not be sufficient time for the plant to establish any decent root growth. The new roots run the risk of freezing and you'll most likely end up with a dead plant. Other cool season plants that are somewhat cold hardy are snapdragons.

Just Say No to Tomatoes & Other Vegetables
At this time of the year, garden centers and large big box home improvement stores offer tempting rows of plants. You think, wow, they look so healthy, I'm sure they'll do alright in my garden. Just remember, these stores have ideal, covered areas sheltered from the wind and once they get hit with a blast of unexpected cold weather, it is unlikely they will thrive even though the first day of spring beckons the gardening season to begin.

Pass on Summer Bedding Plants
More colorful temptations await in the form of flowering impatien and petunia plants. On some of the better nurseries, they will have signs that indicate these plants should not be set outside until the danger of last frost has passed. It seems terribly inappropriate for stores to be stocking these plants on the first day of spring when it's the wrong time of the year to be planting them.

Why Are Flowers Available in Stores on the First Day of Spring?
I asked a garden center manager why they tease gardeners by having vegetables and flowering plants available on the first day of spring. They acknowledged people are hit by the gardening bug and when spring fever hits, the demand is there. But there are some gardeners who have covered greenhouses who want colorful plants available to them early in the season and especially to celebrate the first day of spring.

How Come Daffodils, Tulips & Pansies Are In Bloom
Crocus and daffodils are some of the earliest flowers that give us a clue that spring is just around the corner. These are cool season plants which have been planted in previous years or in the fall. They have had an entire season to establish a strong root structure which is the basis to supporting proflic blooms. Pansies that have been planted the previous fall/winter which also establish good roots will often rebloom the following spring if the winter was mild enough.

So When Is It Safe to Plant Flowers Outside?
Google your specific city and the term "average last frost date". What should come up is information from either your area's local extension service or weather information that will tell you the average last frost date when the ground freezes at night. Remember, it is only an average and that some years, your area will get a freak late winter freeze even though it's past the official first day of spring. Then give it another couple of weeks before you put your plants out, just to be safe. Not much growth happens anyways until the ground temperature warms to at least 55 degrees. So don't be in a such a rush to plant.

Happy First Day of Spring! Have a great gardening season!