Getting Ready for Cool Season Flowers

Late summer is the time to start preparing for winter color. With September being one of our hottest months, it’s a challenge to start thinking about cool season flowers. This much “lead time” is required however, in order to locate or grow plants and prepare the site.

Annual and perennial flowering species that are adapted to our winters are lumped into a group known as the cool season bedding plants. The most important considerations when growing them is the selection of the right plants and planting dates.

In general, they should be transplanted to prepared beds by mid-October. Being established several weeks before cold weather arrives allows time to develop enough vegetative growth to sustain many flowers. Fall planting requires that orders be placed right away, or at least gardeners should have a good idea of who will have the desired species by this time.

Gardeners can grow their own transplants of the cool season flowers from seed. This can be enjoyable and can also help to ensure a supply of plants at the proper planting time.

The germination and growing of these plants is similar to growing vegetable transplants. The amount of time required for producing some of the flowering plants to the right size for transplanting is somewhat longer than for vegetable bedding plants - from 5 to 10 weeks depending upon the species.

Some nurseries and garden centers offer the cool season flowers as bedding plants in 2 to 4 inch containers. Choose only those species and varieties that tolerate our winter weather conditions. These include petunia, pansy, snapdragon, delphinium, dianthus, China Doll carnation, violas and digitalis.

Prepare plant beds at least 3 weeks before transplanting. Spread a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic materials such as peat, manure or compost and till to thoroughly mix with the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Also apply a balanced garden fertilizer at 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet prior to planting and repeat on a monthly basis. Controlled release fertilizer can be used instead of standard garden fertilizer. It provides a more continuous nutrient supply and requires less frequent application.

Space plants at recommended intervals and avoid planting deeper than the top of the root ball. Follow up with a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch on the soil surface around plants, but don’t allow the material to come in contact with the base of plant stems.

Good follow-up maintenance yields lots of color from the cool season flowers during an otherwise drab time of the year. Supplemental irrigation, fertilization and the removal of spent blossoms can enable the plants to flower from late winter through May.

Question of the Week: Is it too late to prune blueberry bushes?

Answer: Major pruning of blueberry plants should not be done this late in the season. The ideal time to do any necessary pruning is as soon as possible after harvest.

Blueberry plants bear most heavily on the previous season’s growth. Any pruning must therefore be done after the berries are picked, but early enough that new growth and flower bud formation can occur before winter.