After a stretch of mild weather, I noticed some bulbs sprouting in my yard. Is this normal for February? 

What You Need To Know

  • Bulbs can sprout when the ground becomes warm

  • Some plants can survive cold weather

  • It's ideal to wait until Mother's Day to put permanent plants in the ground 

I sought some expert advice on winter planting.

I spoke with Cory Cross, assistant manager at Daniel’s Farm and Greenhouses in St. Peters, Mo. He gave me the rundown on why we see some flowers in the winter.

Perennials

Some perennials, plants that live over two years, can become confused by the brief warm weather. 

"Warm weather warms the ground, seeds start and perennials start growing, but then the cold knocks them down again and sends them dormant," Cross explains. 

Perennials can come up early then go dormant a few times, but bulbs only get one shot. They use all of their energy for the one time and "if they pop too early and we get a freeze, that can wipe them out."

Winter flowers

You might notice some colorful flowers in the STL area that grow in the winter. 

Pansies, planted in the fall, can survive cold weather. "They can bloom until temperatures hit 28 degrees and even stay green until zero degrees." It’s the moisture they need to survive versus the warmth. If it's too dry, they die. 

Evergreen trees can also tolerate the switch from cold to warmth. "You might notice a little growth during a mild stretch on the evergreens and even your grass, but the cold snap won’t harm them."

When to plant

April is an ideal time to plant some hardy vegetables, like kale, broccoli or collard greens. A late season cold won't affect them, and a spring planting will mean a fall harvest.

As for when to plant flowers in the STL, "We tell people to wait until Mother’s Day to put anything in the ground permanently. This region is notorious for having late season frost and freezes, but the best advice is to wait until then."