re; Planting times--question from a new gardener
- To: "'perennials@mallorn.com'"
- Subject: re; Planting times--question from a new gardener
- From: M* D* G*
- Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 09:20:38 -0800
We garden in
southwestern Massachusetts, zone 5.
When can perennials go into the ground? Hardy annuals? Dahlias, cannas,
calla lilies? Day lilies?
Some say April. Others mid-May. Others Memorial Day. That's a wide spread
for a relatively short growing season, and I want to be able to get as much as
I can from my first full year of gardening.
****************
Ok, here are some basic things to consider; you are ZONE 5.
Minimum temperatures: -20 to -10°F (-29 to -23°C)
Now when you order your plants, be sure they are at least a Zone 6. You can buy A zone 6 plant if you are skilled at mounding your plants for the winter months. I 'm a zone 8 and I have several plants which are limited to a zone 9 environment. All I do is pile on the mulch to protect these plants. I have never lived in an area where the ground freezes, so I don't know if this will work. If not, the you are stuck with a Zone 5 plants.
When can perennials go into the ground?
Perennials can go in the ground anytime if you can put your shovel in the ground. If you plant them in the heat of summer, then you are required to give them TLC and a lot of water. The best time is in the spring or fall. Remember, zone 5 perennials....
Annuals
Wait till the last frost date. You can plant them anytime and enjoy them until the next frost....then will need to dig them up and buy some more because they are surely dead or damm ugly.
Dahlias, cannas, calla lilies?
Wait till Early MAy and dig them up after the first frost. I don't know if Cannas and Calla lilies can survive a zone 5.
Day lilies?
These are pretty hardy. You can plant these now if you can get the shovel in the ground.
duncan
http://www.backyardgardener.com
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