Gardeners always know theirplanting zone, and the local lore around the date its safe to plant outside.
Around my parts, thats Mothers Day.
In more northern parts of the U.S., its Memorial Day.
We use those dates to backtrack and decide when to start seeds inside.
But these dates, while not arbitrary, are also not written in stone.
That’s why Im suggesting you watch the weather, not the calendar, for your summer planting.
Start seeds too early, and your plants become large, leggy and rootbound inside.
These tender summer plants have temperature requirements, and spring is notorious for surprise frosts.
But thats all it isan average.
The real indicators we should be paying attention to are soil temperatures, overnight temperatures and sunshine.
Instead, that temperature represents the shift of seasons, and it slowly warms as the ambient temperature does.
To sustain summer plantings, the soil needs to be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
While plants may survive in temperatures below that, they wont thrive.
Any weather reporting site likeWundergroundorWeather.comwill report on these overnight temperatures.
Spring is still the rainy season, and plants benefit from all that free water.
There are greenhouses, both permanent and temporary.
If you dont have a greenhouse, you’re free to buy a temporarypopupto put over your bed.
you could consider coldframes, which are outdoor beds with removable covers.
There are zones with completely different timetables, like the southeast or really northern states.
Rely on the indicators.
