Marianne's Response

How to keep your annuals before planting during colder weather

I live in New Castle PA. I have flower plants to transplant outside however, it has been unseasonably cold with very heavy rain. The ground is absolutely a muddy mess. How can I keep these plants alive in my house so I can plant them outside when conditions improve?

Posted by Sandy Beatty on May 19, 2014

Marianne's Response

Lots of sunlight but cool temps will keep your annual flowers happy until the weather calms down. The perfect spot for them would be on a covered porch or patio so they can experience the cool nights. Another idea is to put them in a wheelbarrow, or tray, and move them outdoors during the day and into an unheated garage at night. Indoors many flowers will suffer and reach up for more sunlight making them leggy. Cold weather is fine, as long as it does not frost. You can also put them into large pots outdoors with potting soil so they don't have to grow in the mud right away. Adding peat moss or compost to your muddy soil will also help it to recover sooner from the wet and wild weather. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti