Hi all.

I am in a particularly short growing season in Washington state, and am hoping to find a few pot plants that are somewhat cold hardy and can take cooler evenings.

Does anyone have any flowers you plant too early that usually make it thru just fine?

I am so tired of waiting until Mothers day to fill my large empty planters!!

Have you tried pansies or snapdragons?

Does "cooler" include possible frost? IDK if they would be with perennials or annuals in your area, but I've had Dianthus plants blooming literally constantly for the past 2 yrs. They are in tons of sun though. What is the exposure of your pots?

I'll put my geraniums in the ground in mid-April in my zone 4b garden and they take the cold nights great. Of course, if frost is predicted, they get covered. I noticed when I put them in early like that, they get a head start and really take off when the warm weather starts.

I have really been thinking geraniums too, Kathy. Your experience of them really getting a head start is the exact result I am hoping for. I believe alyssum and asparagus flower will be ok with April temps here. Gary, your snapdragon suggestion would never have occured to me, but it's a great idea, I love snap dragons. I will be watching for those to experiment with too. I do plan to cover them with large plastic bins on nights when ever temps near freezing. They will be in pots. so there is a risk that soil won't be as warm as garden soil. But the containers are on an aggregate patio. Perhaps that will warm the soil enough. I really should have mentioned that the pots will be in full sun, with southern exposure. Thanks for the ideas so far. guys!

Petunias do well in the cold and love the sun and so do calendula

So glad to hear petunias. I am hoping to have alot of the new petunia that don't need deadheading. I am having a bit of concern that I will miss them as the only ones I can find are not labeled, and I can't be sure they are not an old variety. Anyone have a growing I can watch for in the box stores?

So glad to hear petunias. I am hoping to have alot of the new petunia that don't need deadheading. I am having a bit of concern that I will miss them as the only ones I can find are not labeled, and I can't be sure they are not an old variety. Anyone have a grower that I can watch for in the box stores?

"wave petunias" don't need deadheading. Most stores carry them. Dusty miller does good in the cold too - though that is considered a tender perennial actually.

Supertunia is a new one that doesn't need deadheading too.

Sweet peas and stock prefer cooler temps also. Altho I've never done sweet peas in pots before I don't see why they wouldn't work as long as you provide some kind of trellis for them. Mine bloomed all the way into fall even thru our week of 90 degree weather.