It’s not too early to be catching spring fever. If you’re a
veteran home gardener, you know the routine all too well by now.
You get this itch to run to the garden center and buy instant
color. We’re talking bedding plants here
– those budded and flowering plants that come in six packs,
4-inch pots and even 6-inch or gallon containers.
It’s not too early to be catching spring fever. If you’re a veteran home gardener, you know the routine all too well by now. You get this itch to run to the garden center and buy instant color. We’re talking bedding plants here – those budded and flowering plants that come in six packs, 4-inch pots and even 6-inch or gallon containers.
The good news about bedding plants is that they provide instant color. Plant a few in a container and place it on the front porch or rear patio, and you can brighten up the dreariest day. Plant a dozen or so in your garden, and you’ll forget all about the cold, frosty mornings and wintery rains.
The bad news about most bedding plants, though, is that they’re temporary. You see, most bedding plants are considered annuals. Annuals usually grow, bloom and live for around six months, and then die.
And while you can buy annuals year-round, you do have to be careful about what you buy now. That’s because it’s still a little too early to plant summer bedding plants like impatiens, petunias, marigolds, geraniums and more. We’re still likely to get frost, which can damage tender bedding plants meant for summer weather.
And while you can still buy and plant winter bedding plants, it may not be a good idea to waste your money on them. That’s because flowers like pansies, violas, snapdragons and primroses are likely to die when the weather turns hot.
Thus, the dilemma is whether one should buy summer bedding plants a little too early, or buy winter bedding plants a little too late. Of course, I solve this problem each year about this time by buying a few of both. I know the winter bedding plants will continue to grow and bloom without any problems until at least June. And I know that summer bedding plants could be damaged or even die if planted too early and we get unusually frosty mornings. So, I only plant a few summer bedding plants, knowing that I don’t want to risk losing my investment.
So don’t get completely fooled when it comes to buying bedding plants this in-between time of season. You can only buy wisely by knowing the difference between summer and winter bedding plants. Unfortunately, the little plastic labels that come with bedding plants don’t tell you. Thus, here’s a cheat sheet for you.
Summer bedding plants include: impatiens, petunias, marigolds, geranium, ageratum, salvia, coleus, alyssum, lobelia, to name a few.
Winter bedding plants include: pansy, viola, snapdragon, stock, Iceland poppy, calendula, primrose, primula, dianthus, to name a few.
The key is to not be afraid to plant bedding plants during this in-between season. Just be smart about how many and what kinds you plant.
