500 early spring seedlings planted in just 1 afternoon.

Spring flower success = planning + execution + 75% good weather luck. It’s been touch and go weather wise this spring and while it’s easy to grow the best looking flower seedlings in the comfort of an indoor, climate controlled growing space, it’s a entirely other story when it comes time to plant them in the ground. Late March is generally when you can plant out cold hardy annual flowers like snap dragons, stock, bells of ireland, bupluerum, forgetmenots, yarrow, sweet william, lisianthus, strawflower IF you have a greenhouse or the protection of low tunnels. These types of barriers guard your baby plants from the harsh winds, drenching cold rains and the real killer: frost. Last Friday was my only opening to plant - a relatively mild day with no rain in the forecast. My seedlings that were started back in early February had been gradually weened off of comfy indoor temps and had even spent some time under natural sunlight (in between March rain and snow events). Their roots were beginning the circle the bottom on their growing cells and if I didn’t get them in the ground soon, they would stall out in protest of their cramped conditions. Spring turns all gardeners and farmers into compulsive weather forecast watchers - the smart phone has enabled us in the worst way. So after checking, rechecking and checking again, I decided to plant the seedlings out (all 500 of them) and water them. Next, I covered them under frost cloth where they will stay for the next two weeks. Hopefully by the time they recover from transplant shock, the ground will start warming up, the sun will emerge and I can begin taking down the frost cloth for a few hours each day. This is the plan. There are no guarantees. All fingers and toes are crossed here. I’ll update you all soon!