Electric Lime coral bells were among plants damaged in the Hoosier Gardener's garden. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Even though this past winter was hardly noticeable and spring has raged between 80-degree and 29-degree days, the best time to plant warm season plants is May 10.
Most of what we eat are warm season crops: tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, beans, corn, eggplant, sweet potatoes and melon.
If you feel like you must plant something, go for cool season crops. These include cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, peas, lettuces, radishes, potatoes, collards and Brussels sprouts. These can be planted in March and April.
Basil and rosemary are frost tender, but parsley, sage, thyme and oregano can be planted early
Among annual flowers, warm season plants include geraniums, impatiens, petunias, salvias, coleus, zinnias and begonias. May 10 is best for planting these.
Osteospurmums, pansies, California poppies, larkspur and bachelor buttons are annuals that can take a bit of spring chill.
The summer-like temperatures have pushed growth on almost everything in the garden. The plunge back to the 20s more than likely took a toll on several perennials, shrubs and fruit trees.
If coral bells (Heuchera) got nipped, just snip off the damaged leaves. New leaves will flush out over the next few weeks. The foliage on late blooming bulbs, such as giant allium, also took a hit, but the flower buds seem fine. Don’t remove the damaged bulb foliage until it turns yellow or brown and falls flat.
Some ground covers, such as pachysandra, myrtle and ivy also may have been zapped. Cut back damaged pachysandra because the dead parts may contribute to disease. Other ground covers will out grow the damage.
Big leaf hydrangeas likely lost their flower power with the April frosts and freezes. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
All those lovely, finicky big leaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) that came through our mild winter unscathed probably will not fulfill our expectations of lush pink or blue blooms. Temps in the 20s took a toll on them, too. I suggest waiting a few weeks to see if any flower buds show up. If not, but them back as needed in early summer.
Indeed this has been a roller coaster spring! I’ve heard reports of smokebush being damaged as well and mine are no exception. Most of the zapped plants will live but, as you say, not live up to expectations. Did the lower branches with flower buds on your hydrangeas also get frosted?
It has been a freaky year already. Thanks for the reality check on planting.