How soon can I pot/plant my flowers outside?

[ThingsGottaChange]

I know! I'm too impatient! I've got a bunch of flats of different annuals that I want to get out as soon as I can. But, I don't want to screw anything up. I've had them out on nice days to harden off and brought everything back in for tonights cold temps. Ugh! They say May 15 is the last frost date but, if the weather is going to be decent can I start getting stuff outside? I'm in NE Iowa, btw.

Half of the stuff I started from seed in the house and the rest are plugs (re potted in 4"pots) that I had my sister order wholesale. Maybe it's because it's been such a long, dreary winter. But, I need to have my flowers before I go crazy!

Any info is greatly appreciated! :hi:

[ThomWV]

1. Our "Last Frost Date" is May 16th

My wife does the flowers but she's already putting them out. There have been two nights that she has had to pull straw over them for cover, and there might be more nights like that in the next two weeks, but so far they have all done well. The perennials and wild flowers are all doing their thing now and many flowering trees are as well so we really don't miss the annuals just yet.

As for the frost date, I tend to push it every year, but I'm the vegetable guy around here so when I push its generally planting seeds early, not putting in plants early. There is this thing about frost though. I do not know a single thing about frost and why it is so harmful but I do know it is not the same thing as the effect of cold temperatures. Just because it dips below freezing doesn't mean it will frost and I've seen lots of plants survive cold temperatures with little to no damage but die if there was frost involved. I've often thought it might be that there's enough heat in the ground to create a bit of a mini climate close to ground level that stops cold temperature air from hurting the plants as much as the intimate contact of frozen water as with frost, but I simply don't know if that is why or not.

Anyway why don't you compromise with your itch to plant. Today's the 4th, you should wait 'till the 15th, 11 days from now. Split the difference and plant next saturday.

[ThingsGottaChange]

3. Wait until Saturday?!?!?!?!?!?

Kidding. I'll try to hold off on at least the planting in the ground til then. Maybe. No, really, I'll try!

[Blue Gardener]

2. If the ten day forecast looks good on May 6

I would go ahead and plant. At least that's the theory I go with. I'm in SE Iowa and our date is May 10. If we get a late frost you can always cover everything with sheets. I would wait on impatiens though since they are very tender and won't take even a hint of frost.

[ThingsGottaChange]

4. I think I'll just start baskets & planters

At least I can drag them in the house if I need to. But, the forecast looks pretty good. No impatiens this year.

Thanks!