The calendar says it’s September, but our weather is still
saying it’s summer. Thanks to the South Valley’s Mediterranean-type
climate, September and October are usually not only great months to
do outdoor activities, but also fantastic months to garden.
The calendar says it’s September, but our weather is still saying it’s summer. Thanks to the South Valley’s Mediterranean-type climate, September and October are usually not only great months to do outdoor activities, but also fantastic months to garden. Anybody who lives along the coast in Santa Cruz, Monterey or San Francisco will tell you that “Indian summer” comes in September and October.
What does that mean for local home gardeners? Well, we are in that “in-between season.” In regard to bedding plants – those budded and flowering plants that come in six packs, 4-inch pots and even 6-inch or gallon containers – garden centers still have summer bedding plants, but fall/winter bedding plants are also making their way onto display benches.
So, here’s the dilemma: Should you buy summer bedding plants a little too late or buy winter bedding plants a little too early?
I solve this problem this time of year by buying a few of both. I know the summer bedding plants will continue to grow and bloom without any problems until at least the end of October. And I know that fall/winter bedding plants could be damaged or even die if planted too early and if we get unusually blistering weather.
So, I only plant a few fall/winter bedding plants, knowing that I don’t want to risk losing my investment. But I fill in bare spots in the garden with still-blooming summer bedding plants. After an especially blistering summer, many summer flowers that we planted last spring have pretty much petered out.
Don’t be afraid to plant more summer bedding plants, especially since you’re assured of getting at least another two months of color out of them. We can laugh at our friends back East. Many are beginning to put their gardens to bed about now, but we have a whole new garden season with our in-between season.
So don’t get completely fooled when it comes to buying bedding plants during this in-between time of season. You can only buy wisely by knowing the difference between summer and winter bedding plants. Unfortunately, the little plastic labels that come with bedding plants don’t tell you. So, here’s a cheat sheet for you.
Summer bedding plants include impatiens, petunias, marigolds, geranium, ageratum, salvia, coleus, alyssum and lobelia, to name a few. Winter bedding plants include pansy, viola, snapdragon, stock, Iceland poppy, calendula, primrose, primula and dianthus, to name a few.
The key is to not be afraid to plant bedding plants during this in-between season. Just be smart about how many and what kinds you plant. At the same time, add generous amounts of organic compost, redwood soil conditioner, peat moss or some other soil amendment to your tired soil. Plants need well-draining soil to get off to a good start, especially since our weather is still warm. It will save you in the long run and reward you with more flowers that bloom faster.
