by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: February 22, 2009   Last Updated: February 26, 2009

By the middle of winter, I am sure that nearly every gardener in the US and elsewhere is climbing the walls, anxious to get back out into the garden. They are looking forward to everything having to do with gardening, but most of all, they are anxious to plant.

When should anyone plant their spring annuals?

The answer to that is not entirely cut and dry. If you are purchasing plants from retailer, then you will be planting the annuals either in the ground or in containers. Depending on where you live in the country, that can be as early as the beginning of March or as late as the end of May.

HOW TO PLANT THE SEEDS

If you plan to start your annuals from seed, then you have to do so far enough in advance so that by the time its safe to plant things outdoors, the plants are large enough to survive. Another thing to consider is how long it will take the seeds to germinate. Seeds that take a long time to germinate will need to be planted much sooner than other things.

The ultimate easiest way to start seeds is by using peat pellets. These are self contained planting units that don't require that you purchase containers, soil or anything else. They are sometimes sold as part of plastic greenhouse kits. Admittedly, this may not appear to be the cheapest way to go, but when you analyze the cost of purchasing all the other supplies you will need, it may not turn out to be that expensive after all. There is the added benefit that all you need to do is plunk the entire pellet and plant right into the pot or the ground.

Newspaper can be folded in such a way as to make a pot. If an egg is broken in such a way that only the top of the shell comes off, the shell can be used as the container. Peat pots and peat pellets are also possible choices, but they are more expensive. If the quality of the soil into which you intend to plant you annuals is really poor, it may be worth the expense of purchasing peat pellets or peat pots because the the peat moss will be beneficial to the soil.

TIMING OF PLANTING

When you are planting annuals from seed, it's important to consider the timing. First of all, make sure you are certain about the last frost date. Some annuals may be hardier and may be able to withstand some light freezes towards the end of winter, but an unexpected hard freeze can result in the demise of all of your hard work.

Annuals are seasonal flowers, and because of that, they mature much faster than many perennials. One of the advantages of starting your own annuals from seed is

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