Joan's Gardening Tips: Early Spring Planting

One of the biggest concerns of early spring planting is frost. The “latest frost” date for this area is the middle to the end of May. So, in spite of the warm weather we had earlier this spring, April is still a risky time to plant.

Some plants are more tolerant of cold nights and spring frosts than others. Pansies are one of the few flowers you can plant this time of year. They will even tolerate a light snow. Field grown pansies are particularly hardy, due to having been seeded the previous summer and set out in the field around the end of August so they have a chance to grow a bit and develop strong roots before going dormant for the winter. They are often mulched with salt marsh hay for a little insulation from the cold. When the hay is removed after the weather warms up in the spring, they are ready to grow and flower profusely. Field-grown plants are usually bigger and flower more than the six packs that are often grown in greenhouses for distribution to larger nurseries and discount stores.

In the vegetable category, you can plant things like peas, spinach, radishes and onions this time of year, but it’s best to hold off on beans, tomatoes and other summer vegetables until the danger of a late frost has passed.

If you don’t know that your new plants have already been growing outside, it’s a good idea to “harden them off” to get them accustomed to the climate and amount of sunlight in your yard before you plant them in the ground. This is especially true for seedlings that have been started indoors, or in a warm greenhouse. Plants that are not hardened off might get frostbitten or scorched by the sun. Scorched plants turn white or brown. If the plants aren’t killed, they will certainly be set back in their growing process.

To harden off new plants or seedlings, place them outdoors for several hours on mild days. Select a shady, sheltered area at first. After a few days, you can give some sun in gradually increasing amounts. If you expect cold temperatures or a frost at night, you should move the plants to a sheltered location, such as a south-facing farmer’s porch, or your garage.

Hardening off generally involves moving your plants around, so keeping them in a wagon or cart will help. You will need to begin the process at least two weeks before the plants are to be set out in the garden. Some nurseries have “cold houses” that they use before setting plants outside, but that only shortens the amount of time you need to harden them off. You should still give new plants at least a week to get used to the climate in your yard before planting them.

This process may sound like a bit of a pain in the neck, but it will protect the investment you have made in your plants and gets them off to a stronger start.