The month of February has been quite warm, with most of the days above average. We even saw the mercury top 80 degrees twice, with one day setting a new all-time high Feb. record.
With such a mild month, it’s no wonder flowers are already blooming. Nature must think it’s spring.
It’s not unusual for plants to grow during mild weather in the winter months. Cory Cross, assistant manager at Daniel’s Farm and Greenhouses in St. Peters, Mo. explains.
“Warm weather warms the ground, seeds start, and perennials grow.” But, when cold air returns, he says, it sends the plants dormant.
Yet perennials can handle the tumultuous temperatures and go dormant a few times with no ill effects. However, bulbs only get one shot.
They use all their energy for the one time and “if they pop too early and we get a freeze, that can wipe them out.”
You might notice some colorful flowers in the area that grow in the winter.
Pansies, planted in the fall, seem to be heartier and can handle the cold weather. Cross says, “They can bloom until temperatures hit 28 degrees and even stay green until zero degrees.”
Stressing, “It’s the moisture they need to survive versus the warmth. If it’s too dry, they die.”
He adds 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 grass, but the cold snap won’t harm them.
If the recent warmth has you itching to get your gardening tools out and hands in the ground, Cross cautions to hold off for now and wait another month.
“April is an ideal time to plant 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 St. Louis area, he says to wait even later, “We tell people to wait until Mother’s Day to put anything in the ground permanently.”
Adding, “This region is notorious for having late-season frost and freezes, but the best advice is to wait until then.”
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