Most local green houses will offer plants early in the year for spring planting. Understanding the hardiness of a plant will provide you with an estimate on when you can plant. In many regions planting frost hardy plants can occur in late March or early April (about 6 weeks prior to the last frost in your area). The following are some common plants that are frost hardy (tolerate temperatures down to about 23° F) and can be planted earlier in the spring to encourage early blooms.

Annuals

• Alyssum
• Coreopsis
• Dusty Miller
• Larkspur
• Pansies
• Snapdragon
• Sweet Pea

Perennial Starts

• Carnation
• Creeping Phlox
• Hardy Hibiscus
• Sedum
• Snowcap Arabis
• Thyme
• Viola
• Yarrow

Vegetable and Herb Plants

• Asparagus
• Chives
• Onions
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Radish
• Strawberry

Once you decide on what plants to use in your landscaping, you can determine when to plant by using your planting region. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a hardiness zone map showing the regions of the United States and the average annual minimum temperatures. These planting zones are often depicted on plant or flower information tags and provide the gardener with the proper planting time frame.

What are some of your favorite plants you like to plant in cold weather?