2005 Year in Review

When to Plant

Come late April and early May, many people get anxious to begin planting gardens but a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator cautions that several factors need to be considered before taking to the garden.

"Whether or not you should plant depends on the weather, the type of plants you want to put out, and where you live," said James Schuster, who is based in Cook County. "Homeowners living near Lake Michigan can plant sooner than homeowners living out near the Fox River in Kane County or in the Joliet and Kankakee areas."

While the term "frost-free" may be familiar to most, Schuster believes there is some confusion about its actual meaning.

"When first heard, many gardeners think these words mean what they say--no more frost. However, frost-free actually means there is a 50-50 chance of frost on the designated frost-free day," he said.

"Near Lake Michigan, the frost-free date is usually considered to be April 25. Somewhere between one and three miles from the lake and out to Interstate 294, the frost-free date is May 1. West and south of Interstate 294, the frost-free date is May 5."

Plants that can be planted on or before the frost-free date have to be cold-hardy, plants that can tolerate frost and even some freezing weather. Plants that are tender or warm-weather plants should not be planted until three weeks after the frost-free date. Even waiting three weeks after the frost-free date allows for about a 5 percent chance of frost.

Vegetables that are frost-resistant include: leaf lettuce, onions, peas, spinach, Irish potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and radishes. Examples of annual flowers that tolerate frost are: alyssum, pansies, violas, flower kale-cabbage, snapdragons, straw flowers, calendula, cornflower and dusty miller.

Warm-season or tender vegetables are beans, tomatoes, peppers, squashes, sweet corn, cucumbers and melons. Warm-season or tender annual flowers are rose moss, petunias, impatiens, marigolds, geraniums, begonias, dianthus, celosia, coleus, sunflowers and cosmos.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
March 7, 2005