I bumped myself back this year because of it being so warm too. From Mothers Day to May Day.

I grow mine from seeds from the previous year. Mostly. I sew seeds in the ground and pots in March and I also grow some under lights in my basement. If they grow and are then zapped, I replace them with the ones in the basement. I typically collect about 1000x more seeds than I need. I had some annuals survive my zone 7 winter. I was surprised to see them sprout from their roots. They were way too big to have grown from seed.

Although we have a generally mild climate here in the UK, it is not inconceivable to experience late frosts and wild temperature swings so I don't trust leaving anything outside until the end of May although I may well do the 'out in the day, in at night' much earlier. Am currently acclimatising tomatoes, but have only just started sowing things like zinnias, tithonias, helichrysum and mina lobata and the like.

Our forecast to May 18 shows nothing below 7C/45F.

(Heck I might even bring out our tomato plants for a couple of hours for some "real world" temperature and wind).

Yea, I'm not going to plant them yet, I don't trust that there's not going to be a frost, usually 3rd week of May and I'm confident things are in the clear. A lot of folks around here traditionally shoot for Mother's Day weekend. I might start planting in pots on the patio, I can cover those quickly if needed. I still have other chores to get done first, so realistically by the time I get done with all that it won't be until mid-May anyway.

Interesting, mxk- down south here in CT, lol, Mother's Day is the traditional "safe time" to plant as well. I would think we would have different times!

This year I already purchased most of my annuals for pots. That's unusual for me, but the last few years stores are selling stuff so early - kind of like the Christmas decorations selling before Halloween is over, or Easter candy selling in February. And then when I wait, there's not much selection. So I bought early this year.

The ironic thing is, I'm not even sure I trust the Mother's Day rule this year. Even though supposedly our last frost date was May 2nd. It's just been such a wonky weather/termps season. I might start planting out my winter-sown annuals in the garden, just because they're bursting out of the containers anyway but may wait on the pots. All the flowers on on the driveway where it abuts my foundation, in a sunny spot so it's a bit warmer and protected there, and I can run out with a big sheet and cover it all at once if need be.

:)

Dee

They may shoot for Mother's Day, but they don't always win that gamble -- we have indeed gotten frosts into mid-May. I'm not about to go out there with blankets to cover bedding plants and all that -- a pot or two on the patio fine, but not everything. I'd rather just wait until we're definitely in the clear.

I was at the nursery today and did pick up some annuals because these two places I went to are an hour drive for me and I don't want to make another trip, I am looking for some trees. Didn't come home with any trees, though.,,

Being zone 7B, I typically will drag the seedlings in and out all winter long. They were outside more than they were in this year. What a crazy winter that was!

We never get more than an inch and a half of snow at a time, melting the next day. The big snow we had was over 8 inches this year, and lasted enough days that I was stir crazy? I can't even figure out what's going on.

All the rules are being broken.

How's it going with the tender annuals? Had a complete disaster with french beans which I mistakenly sowed in modules. I always have a struggle with watering in the greenhouse - the top of the pots is bone dry but the bottom is too wet...or I don't get enough water in and the bottoms of the pots is as dry as the top...and all are in different size pots at different stages so it is almost impossible to keep tabs on everything. Just moved all the seedlings out onto my garden bench -the only place to sit - and already getting the usual summer anxiety over keeping too many seedlings alive.

Otoh, zinnias, tithonias and callistephus are all up and I managed to get a number of plants in the ground ...although tormenting myself with dozens of little pots (balanced on top of other pots) all around the garden. I dunno - I work hard all year for these few months...which are generally filled with seedling stress and fretting over the inevitable attrition. I wonder why I do it...

Starting over with beans while I still haven't even got courgettes and squash started cos we had such a long cold spring (the tomatoes just sat for weeks). Sigh. Like being a parent of toddlers or teenagers - no let up.

"How's it going with the tender annuals?"

I'm still taking them in and out daily. Couple days ago it was around 80 and sunny, yesterday it struggled to get out of the 50s and was misty all day; I kept the annuals in the house yesterday, warm temp lovers like basil would have balked. I might start planting a few things that can take things on the cooler side at night like geraniums and herbs, we're still in the low to mid-40s overnight which, again, the warm temp lovers will balk at. Until the soil really warms up they're not going to do anything and may rot out (which has happened to me before even in mid-May, learned a lesson the hard way there). I think things are going to finally break next week, which is typically how it goes and why I don't plan to plant out until the 3rd week of May.

I have to start my melon seeds today or tomorrow, I don't plant melons out until beginning of June and the soil is thoroughly warmed, they HATE cool, damp soil, it will set them back the entire season. Another lesson learned...