Is it TOO EARLY to PLANT PERENNIALS?
The perennial department staff at garden centres certainly know this is the number one question during the unsettled weather of early and mid spring. Gardeners are dying to get out there and do something, yet they also fear losing things to untimely frost, and with good reason. There is no one hard and fast "time to plant" date that works for all regions, but the staff at garden centre are well aware of local spring weather conditions, so they are the best ones to ask.
Unlike tender greenhouse-grown annuals, most perennials have a fair bit of internal antifreeze and can tolerate more cold weather than you might think. Even if tender new foliage gets hit by a hard frost, perennials are usually capable of surviving this by making fresh leaves again from the roots. However, if the temperature suddenly dips to below about -5 C (roughly 25 deg Fahrenheit) then some action is needed. Use old towels or blankets to give extra protection; these give much better insulating value than plastic sheets.
You certainly can purchase perennials early and leave them in the containers for a few weeks before planting. Leave them outside in a bright spot as much as possible, and do remember to water them two to three times a week or more, if they show signs of wilting. If a sudden frost threatens, just take them to the protection of a garage or shed, or even into the house. Remember to get them back outside again; they really prefer the cooler temperatures of outdoors and the brighter light.
