top of page
Search

Things You Can Plant In November

acrewoodflowers

Did you know there are many things you can plant right now for color in the very early spring? Sometimes as early as January? It's true! In the Charlotte area, our ground rarely freezes. So as long as the soil is workable (not frozen or overly wet), you can plant! Earlier in the week I was privileged to present on this topic to a local gardening club, so I thought I'd take today's email to dive into it a little bit with you.


Daffs come in so many beautiful varieties. This is Sir Winston Churchill and it smells amazing - one of my favorites.
Daffs come in so many beautiful varieties. This is Sir Winston Churchill and it smells amazing - one of my favorites.

There are three basic categories of things to plant now: Bulbs, Corms, and Roots. In addition to this, now is the perfect time to transplant shrubs and other perennials. 


Some of my favorite bulbs to plant right now are tulips, daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops, and hyacinth. I did a deep dive on bulbs in this blog post here, which goes into fall planted bulbs more in-depth than what I'll cover in this email. Here are a few fast tips on planting bulbs:

  • Choose bulbs that are firm and fresh looking. If they feel hollow or papery, or are covered with excess mold, pass on them. A little mold can be normal, as long as the bulb feels firm.

  • Plant bulbs 2-3x the depth of the bulb. The larger the bulb, the deeper you burry it. 

  • If planting into heavy clay soil, a sprinkle or gypsum and handful of compost in the hole before planting the bulb will help with drainage. 

  • Tulips: Buy "Darwin" variety tulips. They do the best in our mild winters. Plan to treat tulip bulbs as "single-use", meaning they won't reliably come back in our climate. To prevent disease, it's best practice to remove the entire bulb once it's done blooming.

  • If you choose to fertilize, a Epsoma BulbTone fertilizer is a good choice. 

  • Bulbs can be planted in the ground or in a pot with good drainage.


Plant tulips dotted throughout your landscape for glimpses of color or plant en masse for an impressive show (would look great around a mailbox).
Plant tulips dotted throughout your landscape for glimpses of color or plant en masse for an impressive show (would look great around a mailbox).

Next you have corms, which are very similar to bulbs in that they bloom, spend time storing energy for the following year, then go dormant until it's time to wake up again. My favorite corms are anemones and ranunculus. Both require soaking for 4-6 hours in slowly running water before planting. You can choose to pre-sprout your corms in a shallow pan or plant directly into the ground or a planter. Plant both so that their crowns are 1-1.5" below the soil line.


Anemones are extremely cold and frost hardy and require very little protection, often blooming in January and February due to our mild winters. They like part to full sun and moist soil during the growing season. They can be left in the ground to go dormant and as long as squirrels and rot don't get them, and will often come back even better the following year.


Ranunculus are not quite as cold tolerant and require some protection (with a frost cloth) when is gets below 28 degrees. They will reward you with beautiful blooms in late March and early April. They like full sun and well draining soil - they resent wet feet. If left in the ground, they should not be counted on to come back the following year. Instead, pull them out of the ground when the foliage dies back and store in a paper bag in a dark closet (or purchase new corms the following year). Simply soak and replant the following fall. Try to purchase the Amandine series (Renfrow hardware carries them) as they do better in our climate.


There's usually a magical week or two when anemones overlap with ranunculus. That's my absolute favorite week for subscription bouquets.
There's usually a magical week or two when anemones overlap with ranunculus. That's my absolute favorite week for subscription bouquets.

This is the perfect time of year to plant peony roots! They're an extremely long-lived perennial that can be divided every 4 years or so. My favorite variety is the classic Sarah Bernhardt. Plan to support peonies with a peony cage or by staking when they bloom, otherwise the heavy blooms end up on the ground (especially after a spring rain). Dig a hole large enough for the root, then backfill with a mix of compost and native soil. Eyes should be no more than 1" below the soil line and choose a spot with full, blasting sun.


A Google search for "bare root peonies" should turn up some decent results. Look for 3-5 eye roots and stick to herbaceous peonies (versus Itoh or Tree).


If you catch this Easter egg... I've got something peony-related up my sleeve for the spring! Stay tuned :)
If you catch this Easter egg... I've got something peony-related up my sleeve for the spring! Stay tuned :)

I'm often asked what time of year is the best time to transplant shrubs and even small trees. The answer is NOW! This allows the plant to recover from its transplant shock and establish roots all winter before having to face the heat of summer. Make sure to dig the new hole wide and deep enough, and amend our heavy clay soil with lots of compost to help the plant establish. 


Don't fertilize or prune now. Wait until spring! Fertilizing and pruning encourages new growth which can be frost bit during this time of year. Happy planting friends!

0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentarios


bottom of page