Even before most trees leaf out, forsythia flowers emerge.
Forsythia means planting time.
When the forsythia is blooming it’s the “all clear” sign: a bright yellow beacon telling us that the soil and daytime temperatures have warmed up enough for us to start planting our gardens. Not everything, mind you, but we can plant a lot:
Plant when Forsythia blooms
- Hardy perennials, shrubs, trees and roses.
- Annual sweet peas. Annual pansies, violas.
- Edibles: peas, spinach and cool vegetable crops.
- Berry bushes and perennial vegetables like rhubarb and asparagus.
- Hardy bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, grape hyacinths, in a container for a seasonal display.
- Pre-planted pots of flowering bulbs can be planted right into your garden. They’ll put down roots and come up again next season. It’s a good trick for those who didn’t get a chance to plant bulbs in the fall. (Like me!)
- Perennial Herbs: sage, thyme, oregano
Wait for May 24th, or later
- Heat-loving annual vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, eggplant cucumbers and melons.
- Tender herbs like basil