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Get It Growing for 11/15/24
The familiar saying “out with the old, in with the new” is probably not something many folks associate with fall or winter. The adage is more likely to conjure visions of activities like spring cleaning — and the sense of renewal that comes with that season.
But guess what? In our Louisiana landscapes, November marks the beginning of another season of rejuvenation. Because we typically have mild winters, our gardens can remain full of life rather than going dormant. We can grow a wide range of plants during the cool season, including colorful bedding plants that thrive specifically at this time of year.
So it’s time to say out with the old — in this case, warm-season bedding plants — and in with some new plants that are suited for the cool season. November is the perfect time to make this switch in your flowerbeds and containers.
Your first step is to remove all of the annuals you planted this spring and summer, even if they are still blooming. It may feel like a crime to pull them out, but they’ll soon be zapped by the first frost, which on average happens in November. Pull up any weeds you see while you are at it.
If you are preparing a bed, fill in or smooth out any holes and low spots. You may even take this as an opportunity to boost the nutrient profile of your soil by incorporating a 2-inch layer of organic matter such as compost, peat moss or aged manure. Be sure to add a fresh layer of mulch, too, either before or after planting.
Now, as for what to plant: Pansies are the first cool-season annual to come to many gardeners’ minds. As reliable, attractive plants, their popularity is well deserved. There are several other good choices, however. Here are LSU AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg’s top recommendations for cool-season color.
“In my experience, these are one of the most cold-hardy bedding plants we can use, continuing to bloom throughout the normal winter temperatures we experience,” Stagg said.
Many people used to refer to dianthus as old-fashioned pinks. Numerous cultivars are available. For the backs and middles of beds, Stagg’s go-to selections are Amazon and Jolt, both of which have been inducted into the AgCenter’s Louisiana Super Plant Program. They come in many bright, almost electric colors. These two series were bred with more heat tolerance in mind, meaning they can be planted earlier and will last later into the spring.
Amazon is very tall, reaching a mature height of up to 36 inches, while Jolt is more of a medium height, topping out at about 20 inches.
Stagg likes a shorter dianthus cultivar called Floral Lace for the fronts of beds. “These form tight, shorter bunches, and the color family includes bright white to set the rest of your bed off,” he said.
The roster of Louisiana Super Plants includes two excellent petunias: Supertunia Vista Bubblegum and Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo.
“Bubblegum can get quite large and will create a can’t-miss display of bright pink,” Stagg said. “I plant these in the middle of the bed, and I save the Indigos for the front of the bed, where their shorter growth habit of purple-violet blooms can be seen.”
Landscape petunias come in a dizzying array of colors, including yellow, white and light orange. If you plan to plant in a flowerbed, make sure to ask your local garden center’s staff to direct you to landscape petunias — ones that will spread and make the bed look full. Some cultivars are better for containers; these tend to have large blooms and a smaller, more controlled growth habit.
These compact flowers are a great option for the fronts of beds. One of Stagg’s favorites is another Louisiana Super Plant: the Sorbet series. Violas look like small pansies, and some people call them Johnny jump-ups. They’re available in almost any color imaginable and will bloom throughout winter and spring.
“Their best characteristic is remaining in a tidy clump all winter long,” Stagg said. “They won’t spread out or look stringy as winter wears on.”
These dianthus, petunia and viola selections will all grow well in the ground and in containers. Fall and winter, by the way, are great times for container gardening in Louisiana. Container plants will not dry out as quickly now as in the warm season, so you won’t have to water as often.
LSU AgCenter horticulturist Jason Stagg highlights some of his favorite choices for cool-season bedding plants.
Garden centers are an explosion of color right now. You can find a wide variety of cool-season annuals. Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter
The Amazon and Jolt series of dianthus are cold hardy and can last into spring. Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter
Supertunia Vista Bubblegum petunias are a vibrant choice for cool-season gardens. Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter
Sorbet violas grow in short, tidy clumps, making them a great option for the fronts of beds in the cool season. Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter
