Pushing Up the Season

In the old days, finding the best of the best hanging planters, annuals and starter veggies typically took place on Memorial Day weekend. But all has been changing as the garden world is getting product placed on the shelves earlier each season.  The big difference: we forget we are dealing with living plant material growing comfortably in a controlled environment (greenhouse or cold frames.) We nonchalantly think that a few, chilly evening temperatures won’t harm these tender, more delicate plant materials. You may get a pass this season if you planted your veggies and your annuals in early May although just last week there were some areas in our region that experienced frost pockets, not hot pockets.

With funky weather patterns this year (isn’t every year funky weather in New England?) the growing season ahead is still to be determined. Let’s switch to woody plant materials; one in particular, Hydrangeas. The warm temps we experienced in February caused Hydrangeas to flush out prematurely but of course, after that early flush, a stretch of cold weather followed its heels. You tend to forget the daily weather cycles until you’re standing in the garden, scratching your head wondering why all your Hydrangeas look like goners. Then there are the fruit trees and that’s a whole other ball of wax that can melt down either way depending on what summer weather and Mother Nature dishes out to us.

Weather is either friend or foe to those who garden and most is out of our control. For what remains in your control, you can take some extra precautions but here’s the true garden dilemma. If you’re waiting for your annual holiday garden spree this coming weekend, you might be disappointed when all those colorful pots, hard-to-find veggies and planters are suddenly picked. As Paulo Coelho reminds us, “Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering.” So don’t wait. Don’t forget. Memorial Day is fast approaching. No more procrastinating. It’s time to plant your garden!

Image of Ben taking inventory of the Brandywine tomatoes – Photo by Ann Bilowz

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