I live in Cincinnati, and I plant perennials pretty early- often April or early May. I usually wait until mid-May to plant tender stuff.

Karen

The idea is to not expose either seedlings or plants to the frost. Assuming it takes a week to 2 for seeds to sprout and if your last frost date is say 3rd week of May, you might be able to plant seeds in 1st week of MAY. Is this understanding correct? Usually the packet instructions say, plant after danger of frost has passed away.

I'm confused by your question.

If your last frost date is 3rd week in May as you stated, if you plant out tender annuals 1st week of May, then you are planting them out before your danger of frost has passed.

Perennials that have more than their seed leaves, should be OK my the second week, possibly the first week in May, based on your above statement.

Planting annuals, tender annuals before the 3rd week in May, as stated in your question, is a very risky idea. Doesn't take a lot of frost, to kill off tender annuals.

Also remember that "one man's zone 6 is not the same as another man's zone 6."

You need to deal with and work with your zone 6 environment and weather conditions and not someone elses zone 6 environment and weather conditions. there is far to much of a variability between them.

That's why it is always a good idea to not just include your zone on your member page, but actually your location as Karen does.

When she posts it always shows the following kqcrna z6 SW Oh, which tells us that she is zone 6, in SW OH.

Mine shows zone 5 MA.

When we have far more info available about your location, then we can provide more info to help you with your questions.

Fran

I'm in Europe, but I've been planting out my perennials for the last few weeks, once they develop their first or second set of "true" leaves.
If there is a risk of frost, you can just stick a leftover top of a bottle over them, but I haven't been doing that and mine are just fine!

"The idea is to not expose either seedlings or plants to the frost"- not an issue with hardy perennials. They handle it just fine, as do HARDY annuals. I normally have them planted by now. This year it has just been slowed down by weather. I've planted some, as well as nursery-bought perennials.

I only wait for tender annuals, which will be harmed by frost. In our current 10 day forecast, the coldest low temp at night is in the 50s. If the seedlings were ready, and if it would stop raining, and if my soil wasn't MUCK, I'd plant out the tender stuff too. This year, everything is delayed by cold weather and constant rain.

The problem with waiting too long here is that we often seem to have no spring. Seems to go from cold to hot in a day. It's tough to plant seedlings in 90+ degree temps and burning sun. They don't handle that well.

Karen

Karen,

When you say you wait for tender annuals till mid may and plant perennials in April. Are you talking here about transplanting or sowing in containers or direct seeding?

The idea is to not expose either seedlings or plants to the frost. Assuming it takes a week to 2 for seeds to sprout and if your last frost date is say 3rd week of May, you might be able to plant seeds in 1st week of MAY. Is this understanding correct? Usually the packet instructions say, plant after danger of frost has passed away.

What?!?!?

Winter Sowing is all about the seeds and seedlings getting Ma Nature's temps, but they're safe inside their containers to protect them from critters, bugs, etc. Anything that sprouts is ready to plant. You don't have to wait for a frost-free date. Your early sprouters are generally perennials and hardy annuals. Get them into the ground asap.

The packet instructions are meant for indoor germination which is not Winter Sowing. Take that packet info and toss it away with the milk jug caps. It doesn't relate to the method.

T

Trudi,

That's very soothing to know!!! You meant to say whether it is perennials or tender annuals, as long as they were sprouted by winter sowing then you can plant them in ground as soon as the seedlings are big enough to be planted in ground which is usually when you see true leaves and this is regardless of the ambient , because you thinking is, they would not have sprouted if the ambient wasn't right and once they are sprouted they are conditioned appropriately.

Can you give your insight on approximately when you transplant your vegetables, annuals and perennials?

Well, my Tithonia, Salvia (Yvonnes, Coral Nymph, Lady in Red), Ipomoea (Cardinal Climber, Split Personality), Tropical Milkweed, Basil, etc. have all sprouted, and are growing well because I put the containers up against the foundation of the house on the south side, so they are in a warmer protected location. But I wouldn't plant them out until about mid or late May. They are tender annuals and there is still a chance we will get a hard frost here in New England. Besides they're also heat lovers and it really doesn't heat up here til around June 1.

A freak late frost happens occasionally here, so the local wisdom I've heard says to wait until Memorial Day weekend. Although cloches or covers could be used if you've planted out already.

Jaggu, you're overthinking this. All WS seeds sprout at their own right time, so at your convenience get them planted when you can. I've already got my cold-season veggies and herbs in the ground. I've got flats of flowers to plant too. I could have gotten the flowers into the ground sooner but I've been reworking the beds and now that they're most done I can plant at anytime I want. If I hadn't decided to redo the beds I would have planted the flowers when they had only their seed leaves, not the true ones. I can also get my toms transplanted this week, which I have to do because I have to travel next week.