. (WKYT) – Early spring warmth has likely drawn you outside. Gardening is a popular activity but is it too early to plant? Well it depends.
“I think you can plant now, but it’s what do you want to plant?” said Joe Ellis, owner of Sunshine Grow Shop.
Ellis said most plants can withstand the cooler temperatures at this point as long as temperatures stay above 25 degrees.
“The odds are definitely in your favor to plant things that can take 25 degrees or above,” said Ellis.
There are some plants that you still need to wait on. Ellis suggests doing some research if you are unsure what level of cold a plant can withstand.
“If you’re looking at a plant that you don’t typically see early in the season like a marigold or a SunPatien those are both very popular, and you just suspect that maybe this is a little early, you want to get out your little phone and see what kind of temperature they are hardy to. The word hardy means they can resist that temperature,” said Ellis.
Ellis said big retailers may sometimes rush things out to sell. Smaller shops that focus on gardening will have more knowledge on what can be planted.
“If you’re at some of these big retailers, often times they will jump the gun and they’ll bring in things that they are selling that really aren’t safe to put out,” said Ellis.
Another factor in putting out flowers for planting is, have they been out in some cooler temperatures already?
“So, how long has the plant been acclimated to outside temperatures? You don’t want to get something that is brought in on Friday and sold on Saturday and think it can go out just because oh it can take some cool temperatures,” said Ellis.
Ellis said all plants are good to plant by later this month as long as the extended forecast calls for lows that don’t get below the mid to upper 30s.