I always get excited about double flowering geraniums ’cause those fluffy blooms look like tiny roses. Last year I totally messed up the timing though – planted too early and lost half to frost. So this spring I got serious about figuring out exactly when these babies should go in the ground.
My First Attempt Disaster
Back in February when we had that weird warm spell, I rushed to plant twelve seedlings from the nursery. Seemed smart at the time – but nope! Cold snap hit early March and destroyed them all. The leaves turned mushy overnight like wet lettuce. Learned the hard way geraniums can’t handle even light frost.
Round Two Testing
After that disaster, I became obsessed with soil temps. Bought this cheap meat thermometer to check daily:
- March 15: Dirt at 42°F – way too cold
- April 10: Still only 48°F – plants would shiver
- May 1: Finally hit 55°F at sunrise
Planted my second batch May 3rd once night temps stayed above 50°F. Used milk jugs as mini greenhouses just in case.
Patience Pays Off
Checked those plants every morning like a worried parent:
- First week: No growth but leaves stayed green
- Day 10: Tiny new leaves popping out
- Three weeks in: Actual buds forming!
By mid-June they exploded with pink and red flowers. Made last year’s scraggly plants look pathetic.
My Big Realization
The magical window seems to be when maple trees unfurl their leaves in your area. For us that’s always early May. Planting any earlier just wastes money and plants. Now I wait until neighbors start mowing their lawns regularly – that’s nature’s calendar telling me soil is ready.
