Is there a way to know when your ground is warm enough....

[December99]

To start planting???? I have purchased some more seeds for some wildflowers and other plants that I want to put in my back around my patio in spots that I still have open. These are plants that require full sun and these spots get alot of sun. But they say not to plant until the ground is near 50 degrees. So how can I tell when it's time????? I was assuming to just wait until the beginning of May but there is another project I need to start on at that time and want to get these planted as soon as possible. Any suggestions?

Oh..I also bought some columbine that I would like to plant in the front of the house but that ground is partial shade/sun and there actually is still some snow/ice laying there....I'm assuming that won't warm up as quickly as the back so how do I know when it's okay to plant there too?

Thanks

[amid chaos]

OK, I admit it...I was out with the meat thermometer recently.

[Snowwark]

Hi Chris :)

Here's a link for you with first and last frost dates for Illinois. You may want to hold off a bit yet, depending on which area you live in.

If there's still some snow/ice in the bed, I'd probably still wait awhile.

Are your local garden centers, newspapers, promoting planting now? You can always use them as a guide also. :)

Frost Dates for Illinois (http://www.victoryseeds.com/frost/il.html)

[Snowwark]

Vanessa, I've thinking about this ever since I read it this morning....a meat thermometer??? :teeth:

You know, I can just picture it....lol...:p :)

[DixieDreamer]

The soil tempature for planting is different for every variety of plant. Some plants REQUIRE a cooler soil and colder nights to germinate. Other plants must have a warmer environment to germinate and survive as a seedling. The best advice I can give is to know your area's last and first frost dates... and then read the package of the specific plant. Does it say "plant out after all danger of frost is past?" or does it say "as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring"? Items like spinach, peas and onions do better with an early start... as do some wildflowers.

[December99]

Thanks guys...some of them do say to wait until all possibilities of frost are gone. And believe it or not...the high today is to be 85 but the high by Thursday is to be 45 (gotta love IL). So I guess I was good as not to have planted some of the seeds that I so wanted to plant yesterday. I'll wait a few more weeks....I'm just so ancy to get this stuff out so it can start growing.

You know the funny thing....I would have never pictured me being like this 5 years ago!!!!! ROFL Now I go out daily to check my plants and can't wait for the buds on my tulips to open!!!!

[NHMickey]

We here in NH first have to wait for the snow to clear. The ground was doing good here for a bit but we got a light frost two nights ago. And the state got snow up north. So by the fall I should have spring blooms.

[justjulie]

The guy at the nursery told me you need two solid weeks of above zero nightly temperature before you can safely plant. We haven't had that here yet and there's still heavy frost on the rooftops in the morning. If anyone's got it, send some warm air up here please!

[Snowwark]

H Justjulie! :) The long May weekend is always kind of a guidline for us, isn't it!

[justjulie]

Hey Snowwark! Traditionally I've always looked forward to the May long weekend for buying and planting and just getting in that Spring Spirit but I think I might be buying and hiding my purchases in the garage until Jack Frost decides to stay away for good.

Any favourites for the garden this year - I'm really looking at the "goblin" blanket flower to compliment my red and yellow brick house!

[Snowwark]

Justjulie, you must be a little further north than I am. :)

You know, last year I wanted to get "Goblin" blanketflower, and DH nixed it ...he didn't like them! :rolleyes: Just this past weekend we looked at them again at one of the nurseries, and now he thinks they're nice!!!! LOL....men...;) :)