Cool Flowers. Lisa Mason Ziegler

and taller stems, and continue blooming longer into the heat and humidity of summer. The early spring planting is certainly a worthy garden member; it just stars a little later and doesn’t perform to the level of a fall planting. So, choose fall planting if it is an option – the benefits are many.

       Winter

      Winter planting is an option in frost-free regions of the Deep South or in gardens where the ground doesn’t freeze in winter. The way to succeed with winter planting is to prepare the soil in the fall and have it ready and waiting for planting time. One of the benefits of winter for the hardy annuals is the consistent moisture – but this constant moisture is also what makes it next to impossible to prepare soil in winter. I like to prepare the area in fall and then cover with mulch to prevent winter weeds and to keep the soil temperature more stable. When it is time to plant during winter, I pull back the mulch to plant seeds directly, or plant transplants right through the mulch.

      A bed of love-in-a-mist ready to burst into bloom.

      Planting seeds directly in the garden. Seeds planted in the dead of winter will most often lie dormant until spring. If you do this, I would pay close attention to marking this planting with plant markers to stir your memory come spring, when they will sprout amongst all the spring weeds.

      Starting seeds indoors. This can be done any time for later transplant in the garden. Providing added protection, like a row cover, will enhance winter growth both above and below ground level.

       Early Spring

      The optimum time for early spring planting is 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. In early spring, hardy annuals are the seeds and plants to lay our hands on when we have the itch to garden. We can turn to this family of plants as the gardening catalogs begin to arrive, tempting us to bolt outdoors and plant.

      Early spring is the time to plant those flowers that are not winter hardy in your zone – you simply plant them in early spring after the worst of winter has passed. I plant all the flowers that won’t survive our winters and many of the same ones I planted in fall, in an effort to extend their bloom time. For best results and because of those early spring showers, it is necessary to prepare the soil the previous fall for an early spring planting. It can be nearly impossible to find a window of dry soil conditions during spring.

      Engaging your garden in early spring can be an exciting time. Exploring among your plantings old and new will reveal surprises you never imagined.

      The timeline you set up for getting started will depend on whether you are planting seeds directly in the garden or starting seeds indoors to plant transplants. See Chapter 5 for the preferred method of seed starting for your flowers.

      Planting seeds directly in the garden. Seed planting in early spring is so rewarding! Warming temperatures and frequent rains result in quick germination. Unfortunately, the unwanted weeds appreciate those very same conditions so they too are on the fast track to sprouting and growing. See Chapter 6 for how to prevent weeds from becoming a problem when planting seeds directly in the garden. I cover all of our new plantings with a row cover for 2-3 weeks to provide added protection from the elements. I find row cover especially valuable in early spring to protect from strong winds and an increasing population of hungry birds present in the garden eager for seeds.

      Feverfew

      Starting seeds indoors. While still in the deep throes of winter, this is a restorative gardening job that many enjoy immensely. To have seeds sprouting and growing indoors during the short days of winter really brings spring anticipation on in a new way. It’s fun to start seeds during or just following the holidays, but unless you plan ahead, you may find yourself without the seeds you need on hand for this early task.

      It’s a good idea to order all your seeds in fall or early winter. You don’t want to have to delay your seed starting for lack of seeds. When spring arrives, you will only reap the benefits of a well-established plant if you have started your seeds at the right time. (Seed ordering is a helpful date to mark on the calendar.) While the growth rate varies between varieties, 6-8 weeks before the planting outdoor date is a good guide to start seeds. Having bigger transplants is not as critical in spring, because plants will grow more rapidly than their fall and winter counterparts when planted in the garden at that time.