Okay Philly area gardeners: When do I start planting? (Philadelphia: university, living)

[CarbonCountyLiving]

I'm ridiculously excited that I have two window boxes to plant this spring. Problem is, coming from upstate, I have no idea when I should start planting. (I want to do it now!! But I know I can't...)

I know Philly is USDA zone 7A but I have learned from experience not to always go by that, especially given the crazy winter we've had. So Philly gardeners, when do you start planting your containers and window boxes?

I'm also interested in joining a community garden. I found a few on the PHS website but if anyone knows of any others that are in Center City/SWCC, please let me know!

[criedman101]

I usually start around the last week of March when it starts to warm up and the first bees have rolled out.

[Clark Park]

Originally Posted by CarbonCountyLiving

... I know Philly is USDA zone 7A but I have learned from experience not to always go by that, especially given the crazy winter we've had.

Actually Philly straddles 3 different Hardiness Zones: the cusp of 6B/7A (Valley Forge, Haverford, etc.), 7A (most of NE and NW Philly), 7B Center City and parts of West Philly, and the cusp of 7B/8A (University City, parts of South Philly and the Airport). Check with the Philadelphia Horticultural Society.

Did you know Philly is technically the northernmost point of the "Sub-Tropics"??? I kid you not. Look it up.

I agree with criedman. Wait just one more week, a few days after the first day of spring.

[Ohiogirl81]

I wait until May 1 for in-the-ground stuff, and April 1 for potted plants, although I have pansies on the front porch right now. One more month to procrastinate ... erm, prepare the soil for planting ...

[CarbonCountyLiving]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Actually Philly straddles 3 different Hardiness Zones: the cusp of 6B/7A (Valley Forge, Haverford, etc.), 7A (most of NE and NW Philly), 7B Center City and parts of West Philly, and the cusp of 7B/8A (University City, parts of South Philly and the Airport). Check with the Philadelphia Horticultural Society.

Did you know Philly is technically the northernmost point of the "Sub-Tropics"??? I kid you not. Look it up.

I agree with criedman. Wait just one more week, a few days after the first day of spring.

Oh yeah? I'm going to go put my bikini on and lie out then

[cattusbabe]

I usually spend the last two weeks of March for clean up and ground prep and then plant after the 4/29.

[LibraGirl123]

General rule of thumb when planting annuals (flowers, not seeds) is don't put them in before Mother's Day...otherwise, you risk having them killed by a late frost. Happened to me one year, and I lost all of my impatiens.

[CarbonCountyLiving]

Originally Posted by LibraGirl123

General rule of thumb when planting annuals (flowers, not seeds) is don't put them in before Mother's Day...otherwise, you risk having them killed by a late frost. Happened to me one year, and I lost all of my impatiens.

That's what I followed upstate, but I thought maybe with the slightly warmer climate...

[Gerania]

The safe planting date for tender annuals in Philadelphia is May 15th. That said, you can plant at the beginning of the month and nine times out of ten, everything will be fine.

I don't know when LibraGirl lost her impatiens, but I remember that in 2005 or 2006? that I didn't plant tomatoes until June. It was a very cold, rainy spring.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by CarbonCountyLiving

Oh yeah? I'm going to go put my bikini on and lie out then

You'll get a nice even windburn!