Planting Annuals in the Spring
Spring planting timing is the single biggest factor in how well annuals perform — plant too early and tender varieties can be lost to a late frost; too late and you lose weeks of bloom time.
Knowing Your Frost Date
Every region has an average last frost date, and knowing it is the foundation for timing any spring annual planting correctly. Hardy annuals can go in a few weeks before that date, while tender varieties should wait until it has safely passed.
Local extension offices and garden centers are reliable sources for this date, since it varies significantly even within the same general region.
Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar — many annuals establish poorly in soil that's still cold, even after the air temperature has warmed considerably.
Easing the Transition
Hardening off nursery-bought or homegrown seedlings — gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over about a week before planting — reduces transplant shock considerably and helps young annuals establish faster once they're in the ground.
