Plant the Supers in Early October – They Will Give Winter the One Two Punch

I remember April 3rd, like it was yesterday it was the day the Ruby-throated hummingbirds returned to my house. Oddly it was a feast of the Superbells^® calibrachoas. This story, however, started the first week of October which is when I planted them, as well as Supertunia^® petunias, and Superbena^® verbenas. I’ve been doing that for three years!

I’ve been touting this for zone 8 and warmer for a couple of years. To be honest after what I have seen I would definitely try in Zone 7 too. The problem however lies in the producer, the garden center and then in a large part you the gardener. In other words. Are you a believer?

So, my first hummingbird was April 3, but my first butterfly of 2022 was January 9, it was a large pristine Cloudless Sulphur, on Superbells^® Grape Punch^™. The winter turned pretty cold for a few weeks, a few
23-degree mornings and a boatload of days in the mid and upper 20’s. There was really no problem and we entered a really warm period kicking everything into a state of growth and blooms.

Spring had sprung so to speak and we found ourselves with blooming azaleas, loropetalums, flowering quince and camellias of course. The long-range forecast was looking favorable and then suddenly, well you can guess. The forecast seemed to drop on a daily basis predicting really cold temperatures for the morning of March 13 and a freeze on the 14th. I suppose it depends on whose thermometer you use but at my house it was 21 with others close by hitting 20-degrees.

I was speaking at the Dirt Friends Festival in El Dorado, Arkansas that weekend and was helpless to try and protect. I did enjoy their episode of winter, acting like a kid taking pictures and videos of the snowstorm in their art district. It was beautiful.

I was expecting the worst when I returned home and sure enough, the azalea blossoms were toast. When I looked in the backyard, ‘The Garden Guy’s’ paradise, the Superbells and Superbena verbenas were still blooming profusely. The Supertunias which had been budding up, suffered no damage either.

So, this brings me to, April 3. The three Ruby-hummingbirds I had that day flew back and forth feasting on Superbells^® Pomegranate Punch^™, Grape Punch, Dreamsicle^®, and Yellow. These flowers are so extraordinarily colorful they bring joy but add hummingbirds and swallowtails and you may start to do the garden happy dance or in my case I grab the camera.

Almost everything I am talking about was planted in mixed containers, which is a further testimony to their ability take on winter in the south. I always have a few Superbena verbenas in the ground as they give me a perennial performance. will always be in containers with good sunlight.

Be creative designing your mixed containers whether they be baskets, window boxes, bowls, urns or extravagant clay pots like olive jars. This is also the time to use the best potting soil, nothing heavy with clay soil from the garden.

Since the ‘Supers’ are such prolific bloomers, they are counting on us as gardeners to keep them fed. During the warm growing season most of us water on a daily regimen which will leach out the nutrients. You can use controlled release granules per your formula recommendation but don’t be afraid to use a-dilute water-soluble fertilizer at least once a week like most of the commercial landscapers.

I have been asked many times if I cover my containers or move them to a protected location and the answer is, no. I do make sure they are watered, I don’t want them to go into one of the deep freezes thirsty. My hope is that you will find or order the ‘Supers’, Superbells calibrachoas, Supertunia petunias and Superbena verbenas for fall planting you will be amazed come spring.  Follow me on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration.