There are many plants that Upper Gulf Coast gardeners would love to grow, but that just don't do well for us in what is considered their "normal" season.  Delphiniums, Poppies, English Daisies, Primrose - these are always featured in beautiful garden magazines, but we are always told "you just can't grow them here".

 

That's partially true - we can't grow them here when the catalogs tell us to plant them, or when the online nurseries have them available to ship.  A few of them will actually show up in local nurseries, but by the time they are available to us, they are past their peak bloom time and they are just not worth the risk.  I have seen both Delphiniums and Iceland Poppies available for sale in local nurseries in April - they wouldn't stand a chance!

 

It's only partially true because we can flip seasons and make them work here!  If we plant in October - January, depending on the variety, we can pull off stunning color fall through early spring, when the normal range for these plants is under a blanket of snow an ice.  We really DO have it all.

 

Attached for download is a slide show that shows color images of some of our choices.  Most can, and should be, be direct seeded.  The bulbs listed here can be planted in late December to early January.  Some will require pre-chilling, so you must order in time to accomplish that.  Many bulb companies will start shipping in early October, so it is quite doable.

 

Savvy early-birds can order seeds for DIY transplants to be delivered in July.  Propagation tricks such as vernalization and cold stratification can result in transplants being ground-ready in October for months and months of color, and plenty of cut flowers for holiday entertaining.  Plant a few extra pots to include in a gift basket, and you will be the favorite guest at holiday get-togethers.

 

Just in case we have a severe winter, minimal winter protection is required for the majority of these plants.  A lightweight frost cloth or blanket of pine straw will prevent losses and ragged looking frost-bitten leaves and flowers.  In mild winters, no worries - light frosts should not be an issue once they are well established.

 

Even though a few of these plants may perennialize for you under prime conditions, the plants on this list should be considered as winter annuals.  Since many can be direct sown, this is a very economical effort, and it won't be too painful to turn these under when you are ready for your late spring and summer favorites.