Bring on the color

Southern Living, Sep 2002 by Bender, Steve

Black when I was in the nursery business (about the time of Charlemagne), everyone knew there was but one season for planting petunias, marigolds, and zinnias-spring. But many important discoveries have been made since then. We now know, for example, that Muncie, Indiana, isn't the center of the universe and that many so-called warm-weather annuals do great in the fall when planted in late August and early September.

Garden centers have responded to this momentous news and are now stocked with pots of flowers in full bloom. Sure, you'll find the dependable, cool-weather annuals you're used to planting in fall-pansies, violas, snapdragons, and ornamental kale. But you'll also find surprises.

Petunias, for one. We all know what a great show they put on with colorful flowers, but many people don't know that petunias love cool weather. They'll even survive a hard frost. Marigolds, cosmos, and zinnias will bloom like crazy all fall too. Plus, lower temperatures and humidity mean longer-lasting blooms, more intense colors, and fewer problems with insects, mites, and disease.

This sounds fine, you say, but my current flowers are still looking good. Why rip them out now? Two reasons. First, as summer winds down, most annuals start setting seed and producing fewer flowers. By mid-September, they can look ratty. Second, you need to plant your fall annuals early to get them established. If you wait until your current flowers totally poop out, your second wave of color may not give the show you expect.

Because the fall growing season is shorter than the summer one, you should get a head start with bigger plants in bigger pots. Forget cell packs. Think 4-, 6-, or even 10-inch pots of annuals planted in the garden or inserted into containers. This concept is called "instant show"-something else we've discovered since the time of Charlemagne. STEVE BENDER