100 degrees on Thursday. To plant or not to plant?

12 years ago

It appears that the Twin Cities are again forcasted to have a triple-digit high on Thursday.

I'd planned on doing a lot of planting today and tomorrow... I need to finish up a front bed and get a dozen hosta in the ground. But this may put a damper on things.

I plan on soaking the soil as much as possible between now and Thursday, but I worry about transplant shock in the heat. So, I'm tempted to bring all the nursery stock inside for the day.

Oh, couple the heat with 5-20 mph winds this week and there's gonna be some major transpiration happening in the gardens.

If you were me, would you hold off planting?

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Comments (10)

chris-e
12 years ago
I wouldn't go out in 100 degree heat for anything! I usually wait until it is under 90 to garden, I can't stand stand high heat and humidity! (and I live in the wrong place for that!)

Put whatever you need to plant in a completely shady area and water it a lot.

chris
anitamo
12 years ago
I would wait if you could. I know time is of the premium, but if you can wait until the heat wave is over, your plants will thank you.
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hosta_junkie
12 years ago
If you are in a position to hold off, I would if I were in your place. The heat and wind will not be kind to newly transplanted plants. I moved a few sedum and hollyhock yesterday to a new mailbox area, and despite giving them a good soaking, they are very wilted this evening, no doubt in part from the windy conditions today. (And before the hosta police come after me, the area is too close to the roadside curb and accompanying salt from our lovely Minnesota winters to entrust any of my hostas in that location!)
thisismelissa
Original Author
12 years ago
Oh, I'm not talking about planting on the hot day, I'm talking about planting TOMORROW, when it's supposed to be 78!!!
hostaholic2 z 4, MN
12 years ago
Are you talking about pot grown nursery stock or bareroot or recently potted plants? Divisions? If you are talking plants that were purchased growing in pots you could probably get away it provided you willing to keep them watered through the heat. Divisions, recently potted plants are bare root plants.. I would hold off.
thisismelissa
Original Author
12 years ago
Oh, no no no.... potted nursery stock! Nothing even recently bare-rooted.
jamiedolan
12 years ago
Plant Away!

Keep watered on the hot days.

Mulch well.
nutmeg4061
12 years ago
you could do the actual work part of it before the heat comes, digging your holes and planning what goes where, etc. Then, actually plant them after the heat breaks.
But, if the heat won't be long lasting, with plenty of water they will probably be fine.
If it's a rare or expensive plant, I'd probably baby that one and wait.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
whats the point of working that hard.. in that heat ...

if you are having a garden show ... just sink pot and all for the show ...

then plant when the temps will not kill both you and the hosta ...

of course.. you wont kill the hosta ... but it might not be prime for a show [which would defeat the purpose of planting it anyway] ... so leave it in the pot ..

BTW ... a collection of pots of new things.. can be a big attraction at a show .. everyone is interested in whats new.. and where you are going ... garden tours.. are not really about obsessive compulsive house cleaning ... if you know what i mean ... a collection of pots... can be 'in the right spot' .... in and of themselves ...

ken
hostaLes
12 years ago
In Arkansas I often didn't have much choice. But I never watered the ground before setting in the plants; I did it when planting as follows. I would dig the hole oversized, fill it to the top with water after adding root stimulator if I chose, and let all of the water soak in. (sometimes in the hardpan it seemed to take forever). Then I would set the plant into ammended soil, adding water when the hole was half full and top watering when the hole was filled to ground level. The middle watering reduces the settling that can result in the crown being too deeply set and forces air out of the soil. Plant away Melissa, as long as you can handle the heat yourself safely.

Les

100 degrees on Thursday. To plant or not to plant?

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100 degrees on Thursday. To plant or not to plant?

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