Toil the soil, but don’t plant the petunias
Sunday is Mother’s Day. Again this year, we are being asked to travel as little as possible, and, in some cases, stay in our communities. That can make it hard to pick up that special something for mom.
May I suggest a gift card for a local garden centre? When the time is right, mom can pick up something to admire or grow and eat all summer long.
While our thoughts – and hopefully little of anything else are in the garden, I want to remind you that should be the case for a little while longer. I am as guilty as the next gardener; one sunny, windless day and out go the pots.
If you have seedlings ready for the garden, don't be in too much of a hurry to put them in the ground. It's still very early, in fact, too early in most cases.
When it comes spring frost, we are dealing with average dates; they do fluctuate from year to year, so instead of telling you when the delicate posies should go outside, I'll let you decide based on the 30-year "average last frost dates” across the region.
NOVA SCOTIA
Yarmouth May 1 Halifax May 6 Kentville May 16 Shelburne May 14 Sydney: May 24
NEW BRUNSWICK:
Saint John: May 18 Bathurst May 19 Fredericton May 20 Grand Falls May 24 Moncton May 24 Edmundston May 28
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Summerside May 9 Charlottetown May 17 Tignish May 23
NEWFOUNDLAND
Deer Lake May 22 St. John’s June 2 Grand Falls June 3
I can’t stress this enough: these dates are averages! To be safe, I would plant or transplant temperature-sensitive plants 10 days after your average last frost date.
Calculations are one thing, experience is another. Many believe that you do not put any delicate plant material outside until after the last full moon in June.
Don't like having to wait? If you lived in Thompson, Man., your wait would be far from over. There, the average last frost date is June 15th – four days later than in Whitehorse.
Even if it’s too soon to pretty up your garden, it's a perfect time to prep and plan!
Happy Gardening!