Ready, set, plant!
May 10th is the average date of last frost in central Maryland, and that means it (should be) safe to plant tender annuals and vegetables!
Here is advice from the Universitty of Maryland Extension on getting those seedlings into the ground.
One of the most important dates for gardeners is the “ frost-free” date. The average frost-free date for central Maryland is May 10th. This means that frost sensitive annual flowers and vegetables such as: salvia, marigolds, zinnias, petunias, begonias, tomatoes, peppers, beans, sweet potatoes, etc. can be safely planted.
(It also means it is time to move tropical plants outdoors.)
The average frost date is about a week earlier for Baltimore city and southern Maryland. It can be as late as June 5th in western Maryland. Keep in mind that these dates are ‘averages’ and there is a slight chance that a late frost, although mild, could occur after the last frost date. If light frost is expected simply cover the plants with paper bags, newspaper, quilts, or floating row cover.
If you started your own flower and vegetable transplants indoors remember to ‘harden’ them first for a week or two before planting them outdoors. This is important because plants grown indoors under lights when planted directly outdoors will get burned by the UV radiation. The result is badly damaged or dead transplants. Young transplants must also acclimate to cooler temperatures and wind.
The “ hardening-off” of seedlings/ transplants involves gradually getting seedlings adjusted to the wind, sun and temperatures outdoors. This term simply means to toughen the tender succulent cells of young plants. Begin the process by placing the plants outdoors in a location where they receive filtered sunlight, never direct sun and out of the wind, and bring them in at night. Gradually over a course of ten days to two weeks expose the plants to more sunlight. By the end of this period they are ready to be planted into their permanent spot.
Young plants purchased from a nursery or grown outdoors in a cold frame are already hardened and can be planted directly into the garden.
