Hort Shorts
- Some annual flowers are hardy enough to withstand light frost. If you can’t wait until the last frost date, get a jump on the season with petunias, stock, alyssum and snapdragons.
- The average last spring frost dates in North Carolina range from March 3 in Dare County to May 18 in Yancey County.
- Besides creating better drainage for plants, gardening in raised beds allows you to plant more in a smaller area. So keep the size manageable, with beds no wider than 3 or 4 feet so that weeding and harvesting will be more practical.
- The votes are in, and the purple carrot took the cake. ‘Purple Haze’ was a winner in the vegetable category of the 2006 All America Selections. The carrot, which has a purple peel and orange interior, was judged to be sweeter than other purple carrots.