by Anna Harrison

Created on: January 22, 2009

It is always wonderful to see those first glorious annuals appear at local stores and stands. They are bursting with much welcome color, which is a treat for the eyes after the long dreary winter. The temptation to take a few home right away should be resisted, though. Stores usually start stocking annuals much too early for the buyers to be able to plant them in their gardens. If they are purchased too soon, they will have to be kept inside until the temperature is warm enough to transplant them. For those of us who invest in lots of flats of these flowering plants, this is simply not possible.

Who hasn't taken a walk through the garden department in early spring, just to see a bunch of withered, frost-bitten plants that should never have been put outside? It is such a shame to see all of those once beautiful flowers drooping and dying. Usually they do not receive the proper care, and are not watered frequently enough or covered at night. It is hard to understand why businesses lose so many plants unneccesarily, not to mention their lost sales. No one wants to buy flats of half dead annuals.

The best time to invest in most annuals is late spring, after the danger of night time frost is over. Some annuals, like pansies, are particularly hardy and the exception to the rule. They are tough enough to withstand moderate frost, and can be set out much earlier than most. Snapdragons, dianthus and little johnny jump ups are tough varieties, and can tolerate colder temperatures.

Most annuals are more sensitive to cold, and will protest chilly weather by shriveling up and wilting. Sometimes this can be corrected by bringing them into a warm room and watering well. Often the plants will never recover and will fail to grow well. They will have yellowed leaves with brown edges and will be more susceptable to disease. More often than not, they end up dying. Some common varieties of annuals that are particularly sensitive to cold are marigolds, impatiens, and dahlias, along with many others.

Even after the weather has warmed, annuals should be hardened off before placing in their permanent home outdoors. They should be left outside for a few hours to begin with, in a sheltered spot without too much direct sun. Usually annuals are started in climate controlled greenhouses, and are not used to extremes of heat or cold. Hot temperatures will cause them to wither up just as quickly as cold will. The time the plants are left out should be extended gradually, until they are finally out there permanently. This special care will result in healthy, vibrant plants with lots of colorful blooms.

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