Buy tender annuals but hold off planting
- Joe Swift urged gardeners to buy tender annuals and herbs now, but wait roughly two weeks before planting outside because a late cold snap could still hit. - The practical detail is timing: keep plants in pots, harden them off gradually, and remember many UK gardens are only frost-safe toward late May. - It matters because warm spring days tempt early planting, but one cold night can scorch or kill tender bedding plants.
Gardeners are hitting the bit of spring where everything looks ready before it actually is. Garden centres are full, herbs look healthy, and tender annuals are suddenly everywhere. But this week the useful advice is not “plant now.” It’s “buy now, wait a little.” Joe Swift has been telling gardeners to pick up tender annuals and herbs from nurseries now, then hold off planting them out for about two weeks because a late cold snap can still do real damage. ### What counts as a tender annual? Tender annuals are the warm-weather bedding plants that hate frost — things like cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, and many basil-type herbs. They grow fast and give you a big summer show, but they are not built for a cold night. That’s the whole distinction: hardy annuals can cope with chill, tender ones really can’t. ### So why buy them now? Because nurseries usually have the best range right now, and the plants are ready to go. Swift’s point is basically tactical — shop while stock is good, then keep the plants protected a bit longer instead of rushing them into the border. That way you get the varieties you want without gambling on the weather. ### Why is planting now the risky bit? Because early May can still fool you. A run of warm afternoons does not mean nights are safe. Tender plants can get scorched, stalled, or killed by frost and even by a sharp drop in temperature after life in a warm greenhouse or shop. One cold snap can undo the whole “spring refresh” in a single night. ### What should you do with them meanwhile? Leave them in their pots or trays and keep them somewhere sheltered, bright, and reasonably mild. A greenhouse, porch, cold frame, or sunny windowsill works. The goal is simple — keep them growing steadily without exposing them to the full outdoors too soon. Swift’s “buy now, plant later” only works if the plants stay protected in the gap. ### What does “harden off” actually mean? It means getting plants used to outside life gradually instead of dumping them straight into it. The RHS says tender plants raised indoors or under cover need about two to three weeks of acclimatisation to cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and more wind. Think of it like taking off the training wheels slowly — a few hours outside by day, then back under cover at night, building up over time. ### When is it usually safe? In much of the UK, the rough rule is late May, not early May. BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine notes that most areas are past frost risk toward the end of May, which lines up with the “wait another two weeks” advice showing up now on May 5. Local conditions still matter, though — a sheltered city courtyard and a colder rural garden are not the same thing. ### Where does Alan Titchmarsh fit in? His recent advice is aimed at people who want productive, manageable gardens even if they are out at work all day. That pairs neatly with this moment in the season: buy smart, avoid setbacks, and don’t create extra work by replacing frost-hit plants you planted too early. The low-maintenance move is patience. ### Bottom line? If you want summer colour or fresh herbs, now is a good time to shop. But the smarter move is to treat this as a staging window, not a planting deadline. Buy the tender stuff now, keep it sheltered, harden it off, and wait until the frost risk really passes.
