Garden Planning - Last Freeze & Frost Dates are Coming!
Whether you're starting seeds indoors or just itching to know when you can kick your houseplants back outside - the last frost date of the season is a moving target that all gardeners grapple with!
Luckily, there are a few tools that we can use to help us understand, predict, and prepare for the changes in weather that will mean growing season is here to officially start. The last freeze of the season is not the same as the last frost. However, both of these milestones can help us make plans for succuessful gardening.
Many seed packets recommend planting a certain number of "weeks before/after frost."
When it comes to finally moving your plants outside, even the best prediction tools may not beat your "gardeners intuition." This is especially true in cases where you know the microclimate of your property and gardens. Watch the weather carefully and make decisions based on your commitment to protecting your plants in cases of sudden changes.
When planting early, always be prepared to cover plants to protect them from pop up frosts in the late spring until you're confident the threat has passed.
Avoid moving houseplants outside until the night temperature is consistently 50°F.
Learn more and find your last predicted freeze and frost dates using the links below!
Freeze Date Tool - Spring & Fall Frost/Freeze Dates
When to Expect Your Last Spring Freeze
Farmers Almanac: 2025 Frost Dates
Get Ready to Plant Cool Season Annuals!
With spring on the horizon, you can provide your garden with a much-needed burst of color by planting cool season annuals. These flowers are tolerant of temperatures down to 28°F and can be directly sown into the ground near the end of March.
Popular varieties include pansies, calendulas, and larkspur. Proper care is species specific, but in general techniques such as dead-heading and proper watering can prolong the blooming period. Always check the seed packet for proper planting depth and timing of planting.
Scouting for Diseases: Black Knot
Winter can be a good time to scout for diseases and pests, even when everything is dormant. The lack of leaves allows us to see stem and bark tissue and check for the presence of overwintering structures such as egg masses of insects, dormant fungal bodies or galls on branches.
Black Knot is a fantastic example of a disease that is best observed when there are not any leaves on the trees.
If you spot large black swellings on your plum or cherry trees, this can be attributed to the fungal disease Black knot. Caused by the fungus Apiosporina morbosa (aka Dibotryon morbosum), symptoms first appear as green galls on branches, eventually becoming black by the following spring. Branches will be become engulfed by the galls, cutting off resources and causing death of the upper stem. Control methods include manual pruning and removal of galls, as well as chemical control when necessary.
Upcoming Events and Things to Do
- Get your seeds and seed starting supplies, locally! While many big box stores can be a great resource for affordable seed and seed starting products, local garden centers throughout the state are starting to provide these products and their expertise as well!
- Maple Weekend - March 15th & 16th, Statewide
- Vernal Pool Hike - March 16th, 2025, Burlington, CT
- Winter Wildlife Eagle Cruises - Wednesdays in March, Essex, CT
- Celebrate St. Patrick's Day! Throughout March, Statewide
- Nutmeg State Orchid Society Show & Sale, March 22 & 23, West Hartford, CT
Educational Opportunities & Workshops
- Attend A Local Garden Club meeting, talk, or workshop
- Check out the UConn Master Gardener Course Catalog - Classes are open to all, cover many varied topics and are offered at various times throughout the spring.
- Black Bears in Connecticut - March 6, 2025, via Zoom
- Gardening in Overtime: Getting the Most out of Your Late Season Display with Dan Benarcik, March 20, 2025 - Zoom
