Gardening Tips
It's never too early to garden: Choosing Plants for Spring & Summer
Gardening tips provided by Beth Fausey, OSU Extension ABE Center
www.abe.osu.edu, fausey.11@osu.edu
As we all anxiously await the return of warmer spring-like weather, many of us can hardly wait to start planting spring flowers, bedding plants and container gardens. It isn't too early to garden - provided you choose the appropriate plant material! Bedding plants, tender perennials and even hardy perennials can generally be described as either being cool season or warm season plants. Cool season plants generally perform best when temperatures are consistently cool such as in early spring through early summer and often again in the fall. They will often "burn out" under the warm, humid conditions we experience during the summer. Warm season plants thrive when temperatures and humidity levels rise in the mid to late summer.
Even though some plants can tolerate cool temperatures very well, they may still be susceptible to frost injury. In NW Ohio, our last frost free date can range from mid-April through May 1, and on some occasions, even later. Remember to cover plants with blankets, boxes, frost cloth or other suitable materials when temperatures are expected to dip near or below freezing.
Below is a brief listing of some cool and warm season plants available this spring from your local Maumee Valley Grower. For a complete listing of Maumee Valley Growers, click on the SHOPPING LOCAL link above.
Cool season plants.
Perform best in spring and early to mid-summer when temperatures are cool to moderate.
May perform well throughout the summer when watered well and properly cared for.
Most tolerate light frost well.
Some are hardy and will survive a moderate to hard frost.
- Alyssum ( Lobularia )
- Black-eyed susan ( Rudbeckia )
- Candytuft ( Iberis )
- Dianthus ( Dianthus )
- Diascia/Twinspur ( Diascia )
- Dusty Miller ( Senecio )
- Hellebore ( Helleborus )
- Larkspur ( Delphinium )
- Marigold ( Tagetes )
- Million bells ( Calibrachoa )
- Pansy ( Viola )
- Petunia ( Petunia )
- Phlox ( Phlox subulata )
- Primrose ( Primula )
- Snapdragon ( Anthirrhinum )
Warm season plants.
Perform best in mid to late summer when temperatures are consistently warm. Plant after chance of frost has passed and when soil has warmed.
- Angel Trumpet ( Datura )
- Begonia ( Begonia )
- Canna ( Canna )
- Cockscomb ( Celosia )
- Coleus ( Coleus )
- Cosmos ( Cosmos )
- Dahlia ( Dahlia )
- Fuchsia ( Fuchsia )
- Impatiens ( Impatiens )
- Moss Rose ( Portulaca )
- Purple fountain grass ( Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum')
- Tropical plants and most houseplants
- Banana (Musa)
- Elephant ears (Colocasia)4
- Vegetables such as tomato, cucumber, eggplant
- Zinnia ( Zinnia )
•••••••••
Contact the Maumee Valley Growers for more information (fill in the message and send it)
